Maryland mandates short-term rentals to have fire and smoke detection

Starting this summer, Maryland will require short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO properties to meet stricter fire safety standards.

Gov. Wes Moore on Tuesday signed the “Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act” into law, mandating that such rentals include working fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, along with other safety measures.

This legislation comes amid mounting concerns about the state of renting in Maryland and public officials’ insistence on placing guidelines to protect those seeking accommodation.

The law also requires every county to inspect short-term rental properties for compliance. While Republicans support the safety requirements, they say the state should help cover the costs of enforcement rather than leaving the burden solely to local governments. Still, local officials have largely welcomed the law, saying it will give them better oversight of rental properties and allow them to recover inspection costs through fees.

Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.