Lodging Facilities Licensing

The purpose of this license program is to promote clean, well-built, crime-free lodging facilities such as hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and short-term rentals which play a significant role and are part of the foundation upon which healthy communities are built.  This licensing program is to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens and transient visitors of Hagerstown, to establish rights and obligations of the owner/manager and the transient visitors in the use of lodging facilities, and to encourage all parties to maintain and improve the quality of lodging facilities within the community.  

This program was approved by Mayor and Council on June 20, 2023 and revised April 23, 2024.

Registration Requirements

Bed and Breakfast

A facility that serves the traveling public with sleeping rooms and at least one meal per day for overnight guests only in a setting reflecting a residential rather than a commercial character, as defined in the Land Management Code, Chapter 140 of the City Code.

Hotel

Any hotel, motel, or inn in the City having one or more rooms where transient visitors are lodged for pay.  This includes any transient housing facility collecting Washington County hotel rental tax in the City.

Short-Term Rental

A residential rental unit or room of a dwelling unit for a fee less than 30 consecutive days through online sites such as Airbnb, Flipkey, Home Away and Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO).

Required Inspections

All inspections are conducted by the Housing & Community Development, Engineering & Permits, and Hagerstown Fire Departments.  The inspections encompass all areas of the lodging facility, exterior and interior.