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City reports 340 short‑term rentals, enforcement limited by staffing and court delays
Summary
Planning director reported 340 registered short‑term rentals in Annapolis, 36 specifically for special events; staff said 33 enforcement actions are open and described limits of citation‑based enforcement and resource constraints.
Planning and Zoning Director Chris Jakubiak delivered the monthly report required under the city’s one‑year moratorium on short‑term rental approvals. Jakubiak said the city has 340 registered short‑term rentals, including 36 registered for USNA commencement, boat shows and other special events.
"So we're at 340 total short‑term rentals in the city," Jakubiak said. He told the council the department opened two new enforcement actions in June and has 33 enforcement actions underway in total.
Councilmembers asked for further breakdowns. Alderman O'Neil asked whether the report separates owner‑occupied from non‑owner‑occupied units; Jakubiak said the department keeps that breakdown but did not have it in the presentation that night. The mayor and several aldermen emphasized enforcement limitations: Jakubiak described how citations can be issued but court schedules and due‑process timelines make serial violators difficult to stop. "There's a sequence of events that happen in time…some of that is rightfully granted because it's due process," he said, adding that repeat violators can remain a persistent problem.
Councilmembers said the moratorium period should be used to tighten communication and reporting to residents. One alderman noted the city inspects "well over 6,000" housing units with roughly seven inspectors and suggested the council must fund additional enforcement if it expects more frequent compliance checks. The mayor urged improved resident reporting pathways and a consolidated 'report a problem' mechanism to reduce confusion.
