Rental Licensing Ordinance

Questions about the Residential Rental Licensing Program

When do I need to register?

• Properties must be registered on or before January 1, 2024, in order to rent or offer to rent a unit. 

How much does it cost?

• $240 per unit for a two-year license.  
• This applies to Single Family, Townhome, Condo, and Duplex units which must be registered individually.
• Apartments must be registered by building and you will be prompted to list out the alpha numeric designation for each unit.
• The charge will remain $240 per unit. 

How do I pay?

• Pay online with Credit Card or eCheck.  
• You may also bring a copy of the payment letter with cash,  check or money order (made payable to, “The City of Frederick”) to 140 W. Patrick Street Monday-Friday 8am-2pm.  Please add the record number in the memo.  
• Once payment is processed, you will receive a digital copy of the license.           

Are licenses refundable or prorated? 

• No, the license is valid for 2 years from the date of registration beginning on January 1, 2024.

Do I need to register a short-term rental? 

• Yes, all properties must be registered unless they meet the exemption requirements.  

What if one of my rental units meets the exemption?

• All non-exempt units must be registered (Ex. Units 1,2 and 4 must be registered and if unit 3 is exempt, leave it off.) 

What happens next?

• Please ensure your property remains compliant with the Rental Licensing Maintenance Standards. 
• You will receive notification prior to your expiration date to renew your license every two years.  
• Properties will be selected at random beginning January 1, 2024, for annual inspection.  If selected, you will receive notice prior to inspection. 

About the Residential Rental Licensing Ordinance

Within the City of Frederick, it is estimated that there are more than 10,500 dwelling units currently being rented. Many of these units were built before 1980. Conservation of existing rental housing stock is of tremendous importance, as it provides necessary naturally occurring affordable housing. However, there may be units that violate the City’s Property Maintenance Code or other technical codes. Moreover, the City does not have comprehensive information about the location, ownership, or condition of many units. The lack of information about these units, and the health and safety of the tenants residing in them, is of concern to housing advocates and officials.

Relying on a complaint-based enforcement program may not be adequate to ensure that residential rental units are safely maintained. Tenants may not report complaints due to fears of landlord retaliation and/or fear of government authorities. They may also face language, culture, or education barriers that deter them from using complaint-based programs. Substandard housing conditions are linked to a wide array of significant health problems - especially in children, the disabled, and the elderly. They also threaten the physical, social, and economic stability of surrounding structures, neighborhoods, and the City as a whole. 

It is in the public interest that all residential rental units comply with certain minimum maintenance standards. The most effective way to obtain compliance with such standards is through licensing with periodic inspections of residential rental units.

• Ordinance G-23-09: Residential Rental Licensing and affordable housing conservation
• Ordinance G-22-12: Establishing minimum maintenance standards for rental housing units in the City of Frederick