The Baltimore City Council enacted the Strengthening Renters' Safety Act which takes effect on January 1, 2026. The Act is intended to identify owners of multi-family properties who have repeated and recurring violation notices and/or citations and establishes criteria for priority inspections of such sites.  Based on priority inspection findings, priority dwellings may be subject to denial, suspension, or revocation of a rental license.

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As part of the Act, the Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) is required to identify all properties that meet the criteria of a “priority dwellings,” put those properties on notice, and then select the high violation properties that must undergo a series of “priority inspections.”

Priority inspections must occur at least twice a year.   Owners and managers of the high violation properties will also be required to attend individual meetings at DHCD headquarters. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is priority dwelling?

A “priority dwelling” means a rental dwelling with 20 or more dwelling units or rooming units, where two or more of the following criteria applied during the previous calendar year:

• Property was issued a Violation Notice that remained unabated for more than 90 days.
• Property was issued four or more Violation Notices during the previous year.
• Property has been subject to a certain number of recorded 311 calls realted to health and habitabiltiy for a reantl dwelling.
• HUD's National Inspectoin (INSPIRE) score for either of the two most recent inspections was less than or equal to 79.

How will priority inspections take place?

DHCD will conduct a series of “Priority Inspections” on the most concerning Priority Dwellings. These inspections will require DHCD inspectors to review a certain percentage of all units in the Priority Dwelling.  This inspection will occur at least twice a year, separated by four months, and notice of the inspections must be posted by the property owner or manager.

What are property owners of the high violation locations required to do?

The property owners and managers of the high violations selected for Priority Inspection will be required to:

• Attend individual meetings at DHCD Headquarters with the Commissioner’s Designee.
• Property owners and managers are required to post their rental license number in common areas, lease agreements, and advertisements.
• Post notice in a public area when they are notified of a failure to obtain a rental license.

Is there a sample public notice for landlords to post when failing to obtain a rental license? 

Yes. Download a public notice for posting.

What is the penality for failure to post a rental license?

Failure to post a rental license is a $250 citation.

How long is a rental license active?

The Renter’s Safety Act removes the tiered system of rental licensing and replaces it with a flat two-year term for all rental licenses.

What happens if a property with a rental license is sold to a new owner?

Rental licenses can no longer be transferred. All property sales of rental properties will require a new rental license within 60 days of transfer of ownership.