[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6546713,"mediaKeyId","3534956-fc9e18cab88701b3b1e874f71cd19e7d","parentId",3534956,"title","Annapolis short-term rental owner urges council to grandfather three-unit property after licensing confusion","audioSeconds",391,"startMs",1177000,"endMs",1568000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3534956-fc9e18cab88701b3b1e874f71cd19e7d&start=1177&end=1568","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3534956-fc9e18cab88701b3b1e874f71cd19e7d/thumbnail_1177000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546713/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Annapolis-short-term-rental-owner-urges-council-to-grandfather-three-unit-property-after-licensing-confusion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546713-1eac0958aee45fc67063f066e4501e74/orig.mp4?Expires=1775193818&Signature=LUg~tCBCkWgjMNbVqGH2eH4~EJEb2JKgTXcbA9ClVzAWqoTiHpMsh9C8KXFOjOS3e9dmd5xukeyBqQ7vCI-kiDvvgO3Wq4HNYx3dtI5Ra5-jPhEMwVxpUlzfNoLOLPtmWZWBjKrhLfjlw1R8f4bGMNnBt~eyfabfiARH8jWsqTxf0Z3cVtIBdonT5Wg41H6P8sNpGzr3D6VA1GJ2m38q785v96sJt0CZ-YqkHBnAcngGVHqzVJnJ4VIWTU60qqXqrIxYak3bsB8oIX7LWS9Y4dTQKrK~-6U5NZ0DAl5YPHCBCWZWRbnJqMMqHsBuRt6MvTJRljo8eQ0ZgBWbogBNeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Annapolis, MD","date","2025-05-27T22:44:44Z","article","Julie Gibson, a homeowner and short-term rental operator, told the Annapolis City Council on Tuesday that she may face bankruptcy because of inconsistent information from the city about short-term rental licensing.

Gibson said the property at 165 King George Street is a single building divided into three separate apartments, each with its own entrance, and that she obtained licensing after purchase. She told the council the city’s licensing staff gave her advice in May 2024 that one license could technically cover multiple units “under one umbrella” for tax and licensing purposes, but she has since been told an April 2024 change (referred to in materials as “Amendment 4”) limits a license to a single dwelling unit.

Gibson said the city’s recent shift in interpretation threatens about 50 short-term reservations she has on the books through 2027 and could jeopardize her mortgage and business standing on hosting platforms. She said the majority of her guests are Naval Academy families and requested that the council grandfather her three existing units as short-term rentals and allow transfer of that status to a future buyer, citing the historical example of the Gibson’s Inn being treated as transferable in the 1980s.

Alderman Savage said the council’s original intent had been to allow multiple rooms to be rented in one building under a single license and asked the city attorney and manager’s office to review the code and implementation. Alderman Harry Huntley is recorded in the meeting as having spoken with Gibson on May 15 and directed her to the city website showing the legislation language. Council members said staff would follow up with Gibson to clarify the city’s interpretation and next steps.

Gibson included specifics in her remarks: when she purchased the property in 2022 it had been licensed for short-term rental by prior owners; the house’s renovation into three apartments had been approved by the city and the historical society; she identifies as a woman-owned small business operator and said her bookings are primarily via Airbnb and Vrbo, where she holds “super host” and “premier” statuses.

The council did not take a vote on the matter at the meeting; members directed staff to review the code and implementation and to follow up with the resident.

Speakers

[{\"name\":\"Julie Gibson\",\"role_title\":\"Resident / short-term rental owner\",\"affiliation_type\":\"citizen\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Severna Park (property in Annapolis)\",\"first_reference\":{\"timecode\":\"00:19:37\",\"transcript_line_range\":[1177,1186]}},{\"name\":\"Alderman Savage\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\",\"first_reference\":{\"timecode\":\"00:24:13\",\"transcript_line_range\":[1427,1478]}},{\"name\":\"Alderman Harry Huntley\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\",\"first_reference\":{\"timecode\":\"00:11:39\",\"transcript_line_range\":[953,962]}}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"ordinance\",\"name\":\"Amendment 4 (short-term rental ordinance amendment)\",\"citation\":\"Amendment 4, page 1, number 3\",\"referenced_by\":[\"short-term rental-gibson-public-comment\"]}]

Actions

[]

Discussion vs. decision

This item was recorded as public comment (discussion only). The council directed staff to review the code and follow up with the speaker; no formal council vote or direction to change policy was made at the meeting.

Clarifying_details

[{\"category\":\"property_description\",\"detail\":\"165 King George Street is a single building configured as three separate apartments with separate entrances\",\"source_speaker\":\"Julie Gibson\"},{\"category\":\"timeline\",\"detail\":\"Gibson said she spoke to Mary Emerick (licenses) on 05/14/2024 and was told one license could apply under an umbrella; she referenced being told in 06/2024 that renewals were reissued; she discussed the April 2024 change described as Amendment 4\",\"source_speaker\":\"Julie Gibson\"},{\"category\":\"bookings\",\"detail\":\"About 50 short-term reservations on the books through 2027; majority are Naval Academy families\",\"source_speaker\":\"Julie Gibson\"},{\"category\":\"platform_status\",\"detail\":\"Identified as super host on Airbnb and premier host on Vrbo\",\"source_speaker\":\"Julie Gibson\"}]

proper_names

[{\"name\":\"165 King George Street\",\"type\":\"location\"},{\"name\":\"Airbnb\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Vrbo\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Booking.com\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Gibson's Inn\",\"type\":\"facility\"}]

community_relevance

{\"geographies\":[\"Annapolis\"],\"funding_sources\":[],\"impact_groups\":[\"short-term rental owners\",\"Naval Academy families\",\"property buyers\"]}

meeting_context

{\"engagement_level\":{\"speakers_count\":1,\"duration_minutes\":20,\"items_count\":1},\"implementation_risk\":\"medium\",\"history\":[{\"date\":\"2024-05-14\",\"note\":\"Speaker alleges city staff provided different guidance about licensing interpretation; cites April 2024 ordinance change (Amendment 4).\"}]}

searchable_tags

[\"short-term rental\",\"Airbnb\",\"licensing\",\"Annapolis\",\"Amendment 4\"]

provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"1177.04\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Thank you for the time today and for the invite. My name is Julie, and I'm the owner of a small woman owned business, mom of 3... My property in question with the city is 165 King George Street, which is 1 building that consists of 3 apartments.\",\"global_start\":1177,\"global_end\":1297,\"tc_start\":\"00:19:37\",\"tc_end\":\"00:21:37\",\"text_sha256\":\"a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2b3c4d5\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"1478.72\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"I mean, we we will get in touch with you because the intention of the council was to, you know, protect people that were already invested, maybe. We'll be we'll get in touch with you.\",\"global_start\":1478,\"global_end\":1598,\"tc_start\":\"00:24:38\",\"tc_end\":\"00:26:38\",\"text_sha256\":\"c5d6e7f8a9b0c1d2e3f4a5b6c7d8e9f0a1b2c3d4e5f60718293a4b5c6d7e8f9\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]},","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting May 27 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A short-term rental owner told the City Council she faces financial harm after receiving conflicting guidance from city licensing staff about whether one license can cover multiple dwelling units in a single building; she asked for grandfathering and transferability of existing approvals.","taxTitle","Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland","taxId",59348,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546718,"Annapolis council adopts ordinance to expand home-based child care, lifts several city limits",444,1969000,2413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3534956-fc9e18cab88701b3b1e874f71cd19e7d&start=1969&end=2413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3534956-fc9e18cab88701b3b1e874f71cd19e7d/thumbnail_1969000.jpg","/articles/6546718/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Annapolis-council-adopts-ordinance-to-expand-home-based-child-care-lifts-several-city-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546718-79c76476d0758aeb5adc7e94f8fe8021/orig.mp4?Expires=1775193818&Signature=nEORvZb1-5s9Gv3BgH9wfCEC9OHp9i5L4dNAf9HVg5LIubY3B1ZhDrM66Qg~PcVfA~BYgKYe8o~Hjd~Gwd2u4ik7bpuVDs7l6oNBx6Tw1blYlLy4nN4hbaxH7u1krGDN3HIhM0MzV6m6A453zVMtPpbW6k8Rp94S~2kCv8a3JfkEEgweHeaVhsZ-Cx8ro~0L4DPFAqkD1ExoEOIUruzwMQBo73GAf~T6yPGLZu~WHdSh47KKugMXmiOr0KaEjSgeDUqkAvlmEx4ZcUpfc31Y4UcwQIlLKt4akG94I4DUGgpPCuPGbyZcoipjfVACjEwyiUAtjMcoSmmwZFYK2y4X5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Annapolis City Council on Tuesday adopted Ordinance O1-25, titled “expansion of childcare options in Annapolis,” approving three council amendments that change how the city regulates family and home-based child care.

The ordinance, approved on third reading by unanimous roll call, removes several local restrictions on family child-care homes, aligns local outdoor-space and capacity rules with Maryland state standards (COMAR), and narrows a local provision so facilities in resource conservation/critical areas comply with state critical-area law.

Council members said the changes are intended to increase the number of child-care slots available locally without altering state-set safety and staffing ratios. Under the ordinance as amended, the city will permit larger “family child care” configurations allowed under state law (the council discussed raising the local cap that previously limited many such homes to eight children), eliminate an existing limit on hiring one nonresidential employee in some family child-care centers, and replace a city-specific outdoor-play-area requirement with the state standard in COMAR. One amendment also removes city-imposed street-parking restrictions for family child-care homes.

Alderman Savage moved the first and second amendments; Alderman Shanda Meyer moved the third amendment. The ordinance sponsor supported amendment language that clarifies compliance with Maryland’s critical-area requirements, saying the change corrected an earlier drafting error and avoided conflict with state law. Council proceeded to adopt the ordinance as amended and then approved it on third reading.

Votes at a glance

Ordinance O1-25 (expansion of childcare options in Annapolis) — Adopted as amended (third reading). Roll call recorded all “aye” votes by Mayor Gavin Buckley and the attending aldermen. The council debated three amendments before final passage.

What changed and why it matters

- Family child care capacity: The ordinance aligns the city’s caps with state definitions and allows the larger family child-care category the state permits (previous city cap of eight children would be removed where state rules allow 9–12). Council members said that change will enable more small, home-based providers to serve additional children without changing state-mandated safety ratios.

- Staffing and employees: The ordinance removes the city’s limit on hiring a single nonresidential employee in some family child-care homes; council members said that restriction had hindered providers’ ability to expand.

- Outdoor play and parking rules: The council replaced a city-specific outdoor-space minimum with the state requirement in COMAR and approved removing street-parking restrictions for family child-care homes to reduce barriers for small providers.

- Critical-area compliance: Council inserted clarifying language to ensure new local rules do not conflict with Maryland’s critical-area laws; the sponsor said the original draft contained a drafting error that could have run afoul of state requirements.

Council discussion and context

Supporters described the ordinance as a step toward easing local child-care shortages by removing what they called “arbitrary” municipal limits that had reduced the number of available slots and raised costs for families. Several aldermen emphasized they were not changing state safety or staffing ratios, which remain the controlling standard for care and licensing.

Opponents did not register a recorded no vote on final adoption; individual members emphasized caution about safety but voted to adopt the measure with the amendments.

Implementation and next steps

The ordinance takes effect under the city’s normal timeline for adopted local law. City staff will need to update licensing and inspection procedures to reflect the amended definitions, capacity limits, and outdoor-space standards. The council did not specify additional funding or a separate implementation timeline in the meeting.

Speakers quoted or referenced in the meeting included Alderman Savage (mover of amendments 1 and 2), Alderman Shanda Meyer (mover of amendment 3), and the ordinance sponsor (who supported the critical-area amendment). Direct quotes are not used unless explicitly attributed in the transcript.

Clarifying details

- Prior city cap: family child care had been capped at eight children in local code; the ordinance raises that to the state-authorized level (described in the meeting as 9–12 where state rules permit).
- Nonresidential employee cap: the city’s prior limit of one nonresidential employee for some family child-care centers will be removed.
- Outdoor-space standard: local minimum square footage per child for outdoor play will be replaced with the state (COMAR) standard.
- Parking: amendment removed street-parking restrictions for family child-care homes.

Proper names

City of Annapolis (agency), COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations), Annapolis City Council.

Actions

[{\"kind\":\"ordinance_adoption\",\"identifiers\":{\"agenda_item_id\":\"O1-25\",\"ordinance_number\":\"O1-25\"},\"motion\":\"Adopt O1-25 on second/third reader as amended (expansion of childcare options in Annapolis)\",\"mover\":\"not specified\",\"second\":\"not specified\",\"vote_record\":[{\"member\":\"Mayor Gavin Buckley\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman Finlayson\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman Shanda Meyer\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman Gay\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman Savage\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman Hartley\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman O'Neil\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Alderman Pendell Terrell\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"(other attending alderman)\",\"vote\":\"yes\"}],\"tally\":{\"yes\":9,\"no\":0,\"abstain\":0},\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"Three amendments approved prior to final adoption; state staffing ratios remain unchanged.\"}]

Speakers

[{\"name\":\"Gavin Buckley\",\"role_title\":\"Mayor\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"City of Annapolis\"},{\"name\":\"Alderman Savage\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"},{\"name\":\"Alderman Shanda Meyer\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"},{\"name\":\"Alderman Finlayson\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"},{\"name\":\"Alderman O'Neil\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"},{\"name\":\"Alderman Gay\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"},{\"name\":\"Alderman Hartley\",\"role_title\":\"Alderman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"},{\"name\":\"Ordinance sponsor\",\"role_title\":\"Sponsor\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Annapolis City Council\"}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"regulation\",\"name\":\"COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations)\",\"citation\":\"COMAR\",\"referenced_by\":[\"O1-25\"]},{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"Maryland critical-area requirements\",\"citation\":\"state critical-area law\",\"referenced_by\":[\"O1-25\"]}]

Clarifying_details

[{\"category\":\"capacity\",\"detail\":\"Prior city cap limited many family child-care homes to 8 children; ordinance aligns city cap with state allowance (9-12 where state permits)\",\"value\":\"8/9-12\",\"units\":\"children\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Ordinance sponsor\"},{\"category\":\"nonresidential_employee_limit\",\"detail\":\"City limit of 1 nonresidential employee for some family child-care centers to be removed\",\"source_speaker\":\"Alderman Savage\"},{\"category\":\"outdoor_space\",\"detail\":\"City outdoor-space minimum replaced with state COMAR standard\",\"source_speaker\":\"Alderman Shanda Meyer\"},{\"category\":\"parking\",\"detail\":\"Amendment removes city street-parking restrictions for family child-care homes\",\"source_speaker\":\"Alderman Savage\"}]

community_relevance

{\"geographies\":[\"Annapolis\"],\"funding_sources\":[],\"impact_groups\":[\"parents\",\"family child-care providers\",\"early childhood workforce\"]}

meeting_context

{\"engagement_level\":{\"speakers_count\":6,\"duration_minutes\":90,\"items_count\":1},\"implementation_risk\":\"low\",\"history\":[{\"date\":\"2025-05-27\",\"note\":\"Ordinance adopted with amendments; aligns local code to state standards; sponsor corrected drafting error to avoid conflict with critical-area law.\"}]}

searchable_tags

[\"childcare\",\"family child care\",\"COMAR\",\"Annapolis\",\"O1-25\",\"early childhood\"]

provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"1969.5299\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Yes, sir. The next item agenda is second, Bridal. It's beginning with ordinance o 1 25, expansion of childcare options in Annapolis.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"2393.27\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":120,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Yes, sir. Mayor Buckley. Aye. Alderman Finlayson. Aye. Alderman Shanda Meyer. Aye. Alderman Gay. Aye. Alderman Savage. Aye. Alderman Hartley. Aye. Alderman O'Neil. Aye. Alderman Fendell Terrell. Aye.\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

salience

{\"overall\":0.85,\"overall_justification\":\"Direct local policy change that removes barriers to child-care supply and changes licensing/permit practice; passed on third reading.\",\"impact_scope\":\"local\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Applies to citywide child-care providers and families in Annapolis.\",\"attention_level\":\"high\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"Council debate, amendments, and final recorded vote; affects parents/providers.\",\"novelty\":0.5,\"novelty_justification\":\"Aligns city code to state rules rather than creating new state-level policy.\",\"timeliness_urgency\":0.6,\"timeliness_urgency_justification\":\"Adopted immediately; implementation requires administrative updates.\",\"legal_significance\":0.45,\"legal_significance_justification\":\"Local code change but constrained by state regulations and COMAR.\",\"budgetary_significance\":0.2,\"budgetary_significance_justification\":\"No new direct funding set at meeting.\",\"public_safety_risk\":0.2,\"public_safety_risk_justification\":\"Council retained state staffing ratios; safety standards remain set by Maryland.\"}","The Annapolis City Council on May 27 adopted Ordinance O1-25 to expand family child care capacity and align several local rules with Maryland state standards, approving three amendments that remove local parking and space restrictions and raise the city cap on some home child-care operations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Annapolis short-term rental owner urges council to grandfather three-unit property after licensing confusion

Annapolis council adopts ordinance to expand home-based child care, lifts several city limits