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College Park, MD

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STR Regulations for College Park, Maryland

Overview: Are STRs allowed in College Park?

Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in College Park, MD, but they are tightly regulated. To operate legally you must obtain both:

  • A City of College Park Short-Term Rental License (Ordinance 23-O-09, Chapter 144), AND
  • A Prince George’s County Short-Term Rental Host License (administered by DPIE under CB-11-2018)

Additionally, any hosting platform (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) must hold a County Platform License. City law expressly requires platforms to verify and require proof of the City STR license before listing a property.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in College Park?

College Park hosts earn a median $25,015/year with $128 ADR and 65% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $37,630+ per year.

See the full College Park market breakdown

How to start a STR business in this market

Step-by-step (condensed)

  1. Confirm eligibility

    • The property must be your permanent residence (you must have the Maryland Homestead Tax Credit at that address).
    • Ensure your HOA or condo association allows short-term rentals; if not, you cannot participate.
    • Confirm zoning and building code compliance (especially for basement/habitable space authorization with DPIE).

  2. Assemble required documentation (see next section)

  3. County license first (recommended)

    • Create an account in the County’s Momentum portal.
    • Submit a Short-Term Rental Host Application and pay fees.
    • Upon payment, you will receive a 90-day temporary license; if approved, it converts to a permanent license after review.

  4. City license

    • Contact College Park Department of Public Services to request the city application/requirements.
    • Submit the City STR license application with required attestations and documentation.
    • Upon approval, you may operate. Display the city license and required postings inside the unit.

  5. Platform compliance

    • Provide your City STR License to any hosting platform before listing (City 23-O-09 §144-10).
    • Platforms must be licensed by the County and will verify your city license.

  6. Ongoing compliance

    • Maintain a guest log, post rules, keep life-safety devices current, honor parking and occupancy caps, and file any required taxes.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

City (College Park) — 23-O-09 (Chapter 144)

  • City Short-Term Rental License application, including:
    • State Sales Tax & Use Registration number
    • Proof of ownership and Homestead Tax Credit filing for the unit
    • Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 (or platform insurance if approved and at least $1,000,000)
    • Photos as proof of:
      • Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom, sleeping area, and on all habitable floors
      • Properly maintained and charged fire extinguishers (mounted, not near stoves; top not higher than 5 feet)
      • Floor plan indicating fire exits and escape routes, posted inside the unit
      • Emergency contact posting and license posting inside the unit
    • Attestations:
      • Compliance with all codes (City Chapter 125, property maintenance, electrical, plumbing, building)
      • HOA/condo compliance (and provide notifications if required)
      • Off-street parking: at least 1 space for every up to 3 overnight guests
      • Two outdoor trash and one recycling receptacle with tight-fitting lids
      • No outstanding taxes or liens; no code violations
      • Current host contact information (physical address, cell, email)
      • Emergency contact (other than host) within 15 miles (physical address, cell, email)
      • List of all platforms you intend to use
      • Intent to apply notification sent to neighbors within 300 feet and to associations
    • Guest log (to be submitted with renewal)
    • Posting of house rules (approved by the Department) by the main entrance
    • Payment of city fees

County (Prince George’s County) — Short-Term Rental Host License (DPIE)

  • Short-Term Rental Host Application via Momentum portal
  • Homestead Tax Credit eligibility confirmation (Maryland)
  • Photos/life safety documentation (see above)
  • Liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000)
  • Off-street parking availability
  • Neighbor/HOA notifications (forms and process available from DPIE)
  • Human trafficking training completion (videos and quiz)
  • Attestation that all habitable spaces are approved by DPIE; basements/habitable spaces must be authorized by DPIE
  • Attestation that the property is free of taxes, liens, and code violations
  • All applicable fees (see DPIE Fee Schedule)

Platforms

  • County Platform License via Momentum portal
  • County requires platforms to verify and maintain City license status for hosts

State (Maryland)

  • State Sales Tax & Use Registration number (needed for city application)
  • Hotel taxes are collected/remitted (see state-level section below)
  • Lead paint law compliance (for pre-1978 housing; see state-level section below)

Specific regulations (College Park, County, and State)

City of College Park (23-O-09, Chapter 144)

  • Maximum stay: no rental for more than 30 consecutive days
  • Maximum days per calendar year:
    • Owner-occupied: up to 180 days/year (total across all stays, not in addition to non-owner-occupied)
    • Non-owner-occupied: up to 90 days/year
    • You may not combine the 180 and 90 day allowances; cap is 180 days with owner present
  • Occupancy caps: no more than 8 guests total; no more than 3 guests per bedroom
  • Rentals fewer than 24 hours or by the hour are prohibited; no overlapping bookings
  • Life safety: detectors, extinguishers, posted floor plan and emergency contacts, and applicable fire safety code compliance
  • Parking: at least 1 off-street space for up to 3 overnight guests
  • Waste: 2 outdoor trash + 1 recycling receptacle with tight lids
  • Taxes/liens/violations: property must be clear of all outstanding taxes, liens, and code violations
  • Posting requirements: license, emergency contact, and house rules by the main entrance
  • Guest log: maintain a log of all guests and dates; provide at renewal
  • Contact updates: notify the city within 5 business days of any change or face denial/revocation
  • Challenge to affirmations: residents/owners within 300 feet and associations can challenge certifications within 30 days; referral to Advisory Planning Commission is possible
  • Enforcement:
    • City may inspect with reasonable notice; failure to allow inspection is a violation
    • License can be suspended, revoked, or denied for nuisance, code violations, stop-work orders, fraud/misrepresentation, or failure to maintain continuous compliance
    • City will notify platforms of suspended/revoked/expired licenses or denials; platforms must remove listings
  • Penalties (examples):
    • §144-3A/B: Failure to obtain occupancy permit — $1,000
    • §144-3C: Failure to prevent occupancy without a permit — $1,000
    • §144-3D: Failure to secure tenant acknowledgment — $100
    • §144-3E: Removing placard — $1,000
    • §144-9 Short-Term Rental License violations — $1,000 per day
    • §144-10 Violations of incorporated County Code — $1,000
    • §144-11 Chapter violation — $100
    • Continued violation of §144-3C every 30 days = separate municipal infraction

Prince George’s County (CB-11-2018; DPIE administration)

  • County requires a Short-Term Rental Host License for hosts and a Platform License for hosting sites
  • Owner-occupancy and Homestead Tax Credit are required to establish the unit as the host’s permanent residence
  • Habitable spaces must be approved by DPIE; basements/portions of basements cannot be used as bedrooms without authorization
  • Life-safety measures required (detectors, extinguishers, posted floor plan); all construction must be permitted
  • Neighbor and HOA notifications required prior to issuance
  • Off-street parking required
  • Human trafficking training required
  • County issues temporary licenses (Host: 90 days; Platform: 30 days), converting to permanent licenses after review
  • County may inspect and enforce; failure to allow inspection can lead to citation or license action
  • Enforcement and penalties codified by County Code CB-11-2018; platforms must remove hosts with suspended/revoked/expired licenses

State of Maryland

  • Sales and Use Tax: short-term rentals are generally subject to Maryland sales tax (6%) unless a specific exemption applies. Hosts should register for Sales & Use Tax with the Maryland Comptroller and collect/remit the tax as required.
  • Hotel Tax: Prince George’s County imposes a hotel tax (typically 7–8% combined state/county rate, subject to change). Hosts should confirm the current rate and remit through their platform or directly to the county as applicable.
  • Transient Rental Taxes: certain municipalities may impose additional transient rental taxes; verify whether College Park or Prince George’s County add local transient rental taxes in addition to the hotel tax. The City’s ordinance does not impose a separate city transient rental tax in the provided documents.
  • Lead Law: Maryland’s Residential Rental Property Lead Law requires lead risk reduction compliance (including free lead paint testing and risk reduction activities) for pre-1978 rental housing. Review the MDE checklist and fact sheets (linked below) to ensure compliance.

Contact information (local authority)

City of College Park — Department of Public Services (Licensing/Occupancy/STRs)

  • Phone: 240-487-3500
  • Website: www.collegeparkmd.gov/
  • Physical Address: 4500 Knox Road, College Park, MD 20740
  • Note: Request the STR license application packet from the Department of Public Services and submit per their instructions. In-person or email intake may be used for the City’s application.

Prince George’s County — DPIE (Enforcement Division for STRs)

Maryland Comptroller (Sales & Use Tax Registration)

Links to source pages

Notes and practical tips

  • Start with the County (Momentum) to secure your host license and temporary operating window, then complete the City application to satisfy the City’s requirements and platform verification.
  • Maintain rigorous records and posting compliance; City enforcement can revoke licenses and bar reapplication for 3 years in some cases.
  • Confirm current tax rates (hotel tax and any local transient taxes) with the County and Maryland Comptroller before listing.

Next step

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College Park

Market Saturation Score

036912
Oversaturated
11/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
11–12 declining months: sustained YoY revenue decline - market is oversaturated.
View Full College Park Market Analysis

Photos of College Park

Overview of College Park

College Park, Maryland sits in Prince George's County just northeast of the nation's capital, roughly 10 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. Home to about 32,000 residents, the city has the energetic, youthful feel of a college town, anchored by the flagship campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, one of the largest public universities in the country. The city blends that academic atmosphere with the convenience of a commuter suburb, served by the College Park Metro station on the Green and Yellow lines and by easy access to the Capital Beltway. It functions as a practical gateway to Washington for visitors who want a quieter, more affordable base than the city center, and it sits within easy reach of Baltimore as well, about 30 miles to the northeast.

A natural starting point for any visit is the University of Maryland, College Park campus itself, a sprawling green space with public art, the performing arts venues of the Clarice Smith Center, and Big Ten athletics at SECU Stadium and the Xfinity Center. Game days and commencement weekends draw large crowds, and the campus's restaurants and bookstores are open to the public. The campus is essentially contiguous with the city center, and most of its main attractions are within a short walk or drive from any College Park address.

Just south of campus, the National Archives at College Park is one of the area's most distinctive draws. This is the main research facility for the U.S. National Archives, holding the vast majority of the nation's permanently valuable federal records outside of textural documents, including motion pictures, sound recordings, and electronic records. Researchers, genealogists, and history-minded visitors make regular trips here, and it is only a few minutes by car from central College Park.

For outdoor time, Lake Artemesia offers a paved loop trail circling a scenic 38-acre lake on the south side of the city, popular with joggers, cyclists, and families. It connects to the broader Anacostia Tributary trail system and is within walking distance of the College Park Metro station. A short drive east brings visitors to Greenbelt Park, a wooded National Park Service campground and day-use area in neighboring Greenbelt, with miles of hiking trails and a campground that draws travelers passing through the D.C. region.

College Park is a compelling base for short-term rentals because it offers a rare combination: a genuine college-town atmosphere, immediate Metro access to Washington's museums and monuments, and quiet suburban streets with parks and trails. Guests visiting family at the university, attending conferences, working with federal agencies, or touring the capital find a comfortable, well-located alternative to staying in the District itself, with the bonus of easy day trips to Baltimore, Annapolis, and the Chesapeake Bay.

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