On December 19, 2007 the Baltimore County Council passed Bill 87-07 requiring that all buildings or a portions of a building that contain one to six dwelling units, intended, or designed to be rented, leased, let or be hired out to be occupied for living purposes be registered and licensed with Baltimore County.
Purpose: To establish a licensing program in the county in order to create an additional procedure for the enforcement of county codes and regulations to protect and promote the:
- public safety
- health and
- welfare
- You need to have the home inspected. A ‘home inspection” requires the inspection sheet (PDF – to be completed and signed by a licensed inspector) for the compliance of one or more of the components of an existing residential building with the health and safety requirements established by the Director.The Home Inspector must be licensed with the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulations.
- Return the following together:Rental Application (PDF) – complete
Applicable lead inspection certificate
Inspection Evaluation Sheet (PDF) – completed by licensed home inspector or Registration Exemption Affidavit (PDF)
Application fee (on application), with payment coupon (PDF)Note: Original signatures must be in Blue Ink.
- These items are then forwarded to the Code Enforcement Bureau for review.
- Upon review and approval, the Bureau of Code Enforcement will register the property and send you the license.
- You must renew every 3 years and you must have the property re-inspected upon renewal.
Forms (PDF) are also available at all public libraries and senior centers, or Room 213 County Office Building- Bureau of Code Enforcement, 111 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21204.
What will the home inspector look for?
- Smoke detectors
- Electrical system – no apparent visual hazard(s),
- All plumbing is functional – with no apparent visual hazard(s)
- All windows operational – all windows designed to be opened are operational
- All combustion appliances are properly vented (i.e. furnace, hot water heater, dryer)
- Secondary means of escape from sleeping areas exist – no exterior health or safety hazards
The Inspector Guide Checklist is a comprehensive draft of things the inspector will check for.
