The official Annapolis City Code.

17.40.010 · Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to establish standards for the operation of short-term rentals within the City of Annapolis in order to preserve the character of residential neighborhoods, protect the supply of long-term housing, ensure public safety, and provide for the orderly collection of applicable taxes and fees.

17.40.020 · Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings given:

1. Short-Term Rental means the rental of all or any portion of a dwelling unit for a period of fewer than thirty (30) consecutive days, in exchange for compensation, to a person other than the owner or a permanent occupant of the dwelling unit.
2. Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rental means a Short-Term Rental in which the owner of record maintains the property as their primary residence and is physically present on the premises for not less than one hundred eighty-three (183) days within any calendar year.
3. Non-Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rental means a Short-Term Rental that does not meet the definition of an Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rental.
4. Hosting Platform means any person or entity that facilitates a Short-Term Rental transaction between an operator and an occupant in exchange for any form of compensation.

17.40.030 · License Required. No person shall operate a Short-Term Rental within the City of Annapolis without first obtaining a valid Short-Term Rental License from the Department of Planning and Zoning. Each dwelling unit shall require a separate license. Licenses shall be renewed annually and are not transferable. Application requirements, fees, and procedures are set forth in § 10.30.

17.40.040 · Permitted Districts. Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rentals are permitted in all residential zoning districts subject to the standards of this Section. Non-Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rentals are permitted only in the C1, C2, MX, and WMX districts and are subject to the conditional use procedures of § 17.90.

17.40.050 · Operational Standards. Every Short-Term Rental shall comply with the following:

1. The maximum number of overnight guests shall not exceed two (2) persons per bedroom, plus two (2) additional persons per dwelling unit. Children under the age of three (3) shall not count toward the maximum.
2. The operator shall designate a local contact person who is available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week, and who is capable of responding to the property within sixty (60) minutes.
3. One off-street parking space shall be provided for each bedroom rented, except where the property is located within the C1 or C2 districts.
4. Outdoor amplified sound between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. is prohibited.
5. Special events, including but not limited to weddings, receptions, and commercial gatherings, are prohibited unless a Special Event Permit has been obtained pursuant to § 5.60.
6. The exterior posting of the Short-Term Rental License number and the local contact person's phone number shall be visible from the public right-of-way.

17.40.060 · Taxes & Fees. All Short-Term Rentals shall be subject to the City's hotel rental tax as provided in § 7.20. Hosting Platforms with an active agreement with the City may collect and remit such taxes on behalf of operators.

17.40.070 · Enforcement. Violations of this Section are subject to the penalties set forth in § 17.100, including but not limited to civil citations, license suspension or revocation, and injunctive relief. Three (3) or more verified violations within any twelve (12) month period shall be grounds for revocation of the Short-Term Rental License.

17.50.010 · Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to encourage the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units as a means of expanding the supply of small-scale, affordable, and flexible housing within existing residential neighborhoods, while preserving neighborhood character and infrastructure capacity.

17.50.020 · Definitions. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) means a second, smaller dwelling unit located on the same lot as a single-family primary dwelling, which may be attached to, internal to, or detached from the primary dwelling, and which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons.

17.50.030 · Permitted Districts. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted by right in the R1, R2, R3, and R4 residential districts and in the MX mixed-use district, subject to the standards of this Section.

17.50.040 · Standards. An ADU shall comply with all of the following standards:

1. The primary dwelling unit on the lot shall be owner-occupied for not less than one hundred eighty-three (183) days within any calendar year.
2. The maximum gross floor area of the ADU shall not exceed eight hundred (800) square feet or thirty-five percent (35%) of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling, whichever is less.
3. Where the ADU is detached, the structure shall be located within the buildable area of the lot and shall comply with the dimensional standards of § 17.60.
4. Not more than one (1) ADU shall be permitted per lot.
5. One (1) additional off-street parking space shall be provided unless the lot is within one-quarter (¼) mile of a fixed-route transit stop.
6. Use of an ADU as a Short-Term Rental is prohibited.

17.50.050 · Historic District Properties. ADUs proposed on properties within the Historic District shall additionally comply with the design standards of Chapter 9 and shall be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission.