Maryland Lawmakers Pass First-in-the-Nation Statewide Safety Standards for STRs

3/31/2026

Maryland lawmakers have passed the nation’s first statewide safety standards for short-term rentals, requiring properties to include smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and evacuation plans. The bipartisan bill, named the Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act, was inspired by the 2022 deaths of two sisters in a rental fire and aims to prevent similar tragedies. The law also mandates emergency contact information, annual inspections by local authorities, and compliance verification by platforms.

Bethesda Magazine (03/25/26) Jacqueline Kalil