Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Annapolis holds public hearing on proposed cap for short-term rentals per block face
Summary
City Council heard hours of public comment July 14 on O17-25, a proposed ordinance to limit new short-term rental licenses by block face. Supporters and opponents clashed over housing, enforcement and property values; council took no vote and the measure remains in committee.
On July 14, 2025, the Annapolis City Council held a public hearing on ordinance O17-25, which would limit new short-term rental (STR) licenses by block face. Council members heard more than a dozen public speakers and did not vote on the measure; it remains in the committee process.
The proposal would limit the number of STR licenses allowed on a single block face and applies to new licenses; existing licensed operations would not be automatically curtailed, according to council comments at the hearing. Proponents said the rule aims to protect neighborhood character and reduce investor-driven conversions; opponents said it would do little to ease housing costs and could depress residential property values.
Max Gross, representing the Anne Arundel County Association of Realtors, told the council he reviewed academic studies and local data and concluded that “short term rentals only drive about 1% of rental cost increases in a given area,” and warned the city to be realistic about what the ordinance could achieve. Several residents and homeowners said a block-face cap would damage resale values and create enforcement headaches.
Gil, a representative of Newport Condominiums, said STRs provide income that helps owners cover mortgage and taxes and urged caution: “I think what we really need to do is … create a curfew and behaviors that we expect,” he said, adding that past efforts to limit short-term rentals led to costly litigation in other jurisdictions.
Other residents argued the rule is necessary to preserve long-term housing supply and neighborhood quality. Tom Creek, a homeowner who opposed the ordinance as written, told the council a local cap could become “a red flag for future buyers,” and said past cases elsewhere showed sudden drops in home values after caps were imposed.
Council members clarified technical points during the hearing. Alderman Huntley said the city code defines short-term rentals as stays up to 90 days, not 30 days as one speaker initially stated. Staff cited a recent staff report that lists a higher inventory of short-term rental listings than some speakers estimated: the report referenced 287 active short-term rentals as of publication, though speakers offered other estimates.
Speakers and some council members also raised enforcement concerns: implementing a block-face limit will require precise mapping and additional code-enforcement resources, one commenter said. Several speakers urged the council to delay action and gather more data or refine enforcement provisions.
The council did not vote on O17-25 at the July 14 meeting; the mayor and council members repeatedly noted the ordinance remains in committee and that additional committee hearings and amendments are possible before any final council vote.
