City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Ocean City, MD
How Ocean City regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Townwide rental license plus STR supplement
- Occupancy cap in R1/MH: 2 per bedroom + 2
- 60 min local contact
- R1/MH moratorium repealed Feb 17, 2026 — no active cap
- Minimum-stay referendum rejected 2025
Based on: Town Code Ch.14 Art.V (Rental Housing / STR), amended by Ord. 2025-01 and Ord. 2025-28 (R-1/MH moratorium, REPEALED
Summary of the rule
Annual Rental License + Noise Control Permit townwide for any rental term
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Ocean City · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.