Property management in Howard County
Our brokerage office is in Columbia, at 7067 Columbia Gateway Drive. Howard County licenses rental homes and inspects them before a tenant moves in; we handle that, the leasing and the repairs.
The Howard County rental housing license
- Howard County requires a rental housing license for rented dwellings (County Code Title 14, Subtitle 9).[1]
- The owner or agent sends in the application and fee, and the county then sets up an inspection. The unit cannot be occupied until it has been inspected and the license approved.[2]
- Licenses are biennial. The county's FY21 schedule listed $93.50 per dwelling unit, including a 10% technology fee; ask the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits for the current fee before you budget.[3]
- Where a county or city requires a rental license, a landlord without one can't bring a failure-to-pay-rent case.[1]
Lead paint rules for older rentals
- Maryland's lead law covers rentals built before 1978. Each one must be registered with the Maryland Department of the Environment, and registration is renewed by December 31.[4][5]
- At every change of tenant the home has to meet the lead risk-reduction standard and pass a lead-dust test before the next tenant moves in. We schedule the work and the test as part of the turnover.[6]
Costs and rules owners ask about
- Rentals inside Columbia pay the Columbia Association annual charge: 68 cents per $100 of half the assessed value, billed July 1. It is the owner's cost unless the lease says otherwise.[7]
- Howard County property tax for FY2027 is $1.044 per $100 plus a $0.206 fire tax, plus the state rate.[8]
- Maryland caps a security deposit at one month's rent and requires it back, with an itemized list of any deductions, within 45 days after the tenancy ends. Wrongly keeping it exposes the landlord to triple damages.[9]
- We consider applicants who pay with a housing voucher or any other lawful source of income on the same terms as everyone else, as Maryland's HOME Act requires, and handle Housing Choice Voucher inspections and paperwork.
What homes rent for
We price each home from homes that actually leased nearby, not from list prices. The free rent analysis shows the range, the comps behind it, our fees and what you would net.
Where we work in Howard County
We cover Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge and the Howard County side of Laurel from the Columbia office.
- Columbia
- Ellicott City
- Elkridge
- North Laurel
Area guides: Columbia, Ellicott City, Laurel, and the Howard County guide.
Fees
- Monthly management
- 10% of the rent collected
- Tenant placement
- One month's rent, one time
- Free rent analysis
- A rent range from leased comps, the full fee schedule and your projected net
The full schedule, including renewals and evictions, is on our property management page and comes with every rent analysis.
Repairs and turnovers
Maintenance, make-ready work and bigger repairs go to Monarch Bay Renovations, a licensed Maryland home improvement contractor (MHIC #149066). Repairs are priced up front, and non-urgent work over the limit in your management agreement waits for your OK.
Affiliated business disclosure: Monarch Bay Renovations (MHIC #149066) is a separate company owned by Stephen Wilson, the team lead. You are free to use any contractor you choose.
Howard County rental owner questions
Do I need a rental license in Howard County?
Yes. Howard County requires a rental housing license, and the unit cannot be occupied until it has been inspected and the license approved.
How often is a Howard County rental license renewed?
Every two years. The county's FY21 schedule listed $93.50 per unit; check with the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits for the current fee.
Who pays the Columbia Association charge on a rental?
The owner, unless the lease says otherwise. It is 68 cents per $100 of half the assessed value, billed each July 1.
Read next: Maryland landlord-tenant rules, Maryland property taxes, taxes when you sell a rental , Howard County vs Anne Arundel County: Living Compared, How to Rent Out Your House in Maryland: First Steps, How Much Do Property Managers Charge in Maryland?, Maryland Rental License Rules by County (2026 Table), Maryland Lead Paint Rules for Landlords: What to Do, Maryland Security Deposits: Deductions, Interest, Deadlines.
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on October 26, 2026. Rates, fees and rules change; confirm with the agency before you rely on a number.
- 1.Maryland People's Law Library, Rental license requirements by county, city and town, updated Sept. 22, 2026
- 2.Howard County DILP, Rental Housing Licensing fact finder, dated Aug. 22, 2019
- 3.Howard County, FY21 Rental Housing License Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2020; check DILP for the current fee
- 4.Maryland Code, Environment § 6-801 (affected property), current statute text
- 5.Maryland Code, Environment § 6-812 (registration), current statute text
- 6.Maryland Code, Environment § 6-815 (risk reduction at each change in occupancy), current statute text
- 7.Columbia Association, Annual Charge FAQ, current rate, unchanged since 2004
- 8.Howard County Department of Finance, Real Property Tax, rates effective July 1, 2026
- 9.Maryland Code, Real Property § 8-203 (security deposits), current statute text
Other areas we manage in
What should your Howard County home rent for?
Send the address. We'll come back with a rent range from current leased comps, our fees, and what you'd net.