Rental Housing Licenses
The Town considers rental housing a commercial enterprise subject to licensure and oversight duly authorized in the Town Charter. We encourage responsible ownership and management of rental housing within the Town, particularly as the public health, safety, general welfare and economic vitality of the community is directly impacted. This includes preservation of quality rental housing that blends with traditional owner-occupied neighborhoods.
A license is required to lease rental housing units within the Town of Hampstead. There are two classes of rental licenses, single-family dwelling licenses and multi-family dwelling licenses. It shall be unlawful to operate rental housing within the Town under an expired, revoked or suspended license. Licenses are good for up to two years and expire on August 31st of odd numbered years. Applications may be found below or may be picked up at Town Hall. Licenses for multi-family dwellings should be prominently displayed in a public area of the rental property. In the case of a single-family dwelling rental unit, it is sufficient if a copy of the license is provided to the tenant.
Landlord’s obligations to maintain premises and provide services
Rental Housing is addressed in Chapter 80 of the Town Code. The landlord shall reasonably provide for the maintenance of rental housing. This includes complying with all applicable provisions of all Town regulations and ordinances governing the maintenance, construction, use or appearance of real property, including compliance with the Carroll County Minimum Livability Code. The landlord shall also keep all areas of the building, grounds, facilities and appurtenances in a clean, sanitary and safe condition consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. Rental housing may be inspected upon receipt of a complaint and as deemed necessary by the Town Manager. The landlord is also responsible for providing receptacles for the removal of garbage and recycling. Failure to fulfill these obligations may lead to a municipal citation and possible fine. Multiple violations or failure to remedy violations may lead to a charge of a Disorderly House Nuisance and revocation of a rental housing license.
Town Code Violations
Chapter 95 of the Town Code lists the nuisances that are regulated by the Town and are subject to enforcement. While the violations may be based on the actions of the tenants, the party responsible for any violations is ultimately the property owner and landlord. Any municipal citations and/or fines will be issued to the property owner. It is the responsibility of the landlord to inform their tenants of these regulations. The most common areas of nuisance violations are:
- Trash - Make sure your tenant is aware of their trash and recycling pickup day. If recycling bins are needed, they are available by calling Town Hall at 410-239-7408 or by submitting a request online. Trash containers should not be taken to the pickup location more than 24 hours before collection and should be returned to their storage location no more than 24 hours after collection. Trash containers should be stored in such a place and manner so as not to be seen from the street. The existence of any offensive or dangerous accumulation of weeds, trash, dirt, filth, waste shrubs, lawn or yard trimmings will be considered a public nuisance and may lead to a municipal citation and fine.
- Noise - Quiet time in the Town of Hampstead is between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Mondays through Fridays, excluding legal holidays, and between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and legal holidays. Any production of loud noise, music, vehicle noise or other unreasonable noise may lead to a municipal citation and fine.
- Parking - No motor vehicle shall stop in any street, avenue or highway in such manner as to hinder or delay traffic. Motor vehicles shall not be parked on a sidewalk, curb, grass surface, or in front of a private or public driveway with the exception of loading and/or unloading. No motor vehicle shall park in such manner as to interfere with the safe and un-restricted movement of traffic and removal of snow. No person shall use any portion of any street or municipal parking lot for long-term storage of any motor vehicle. No vehicle shall be repaired in any street except in case of emergency. All motor vehicles must display valid registration plates at all times, including while parked in private driveways and private lots.