§ 48-1. Definitions.

(a) In general.

In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) Booking transaction.

"Booking transaction" means a reservation transaction between a host and a prospective transient guest for a short-term residential rental.

"Dwelling unit" has the meaning stated in § 202.2 of the Baltimore City Building Code.

(d) Host.

"Host" means the owner of a dwelling unit who provides or offers to provide all or part of the dwelling unit for short-term residential rental use in exchange for a fee.

(e) Hosting platform.

"Hosting platform" means an internet-based entity that, in exchange for a fee:

(1) facilitates reservations of short-term residential rentals;

(2) serves as a conduit of communication between hosts and transient guests; or

(3) otherwise facilitates booking transactions for short-term residential rentals.

(f) Housing Commissioner; Commissioner.

"Housing Commissioner" or "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner's designee.

(g) Permanent residence.

(1) "Permanent residence" means a dwelling unit:

(i) in which the owner resides for an aggregate of at least 180 days annually; and

(ii) that is the owner's usual place of return for housing, as documented by at least one of the following:

(A) driver's license;

(B) voter registration; or

(C) official designation of the dwelling unit as the owner's principle residence in accordance with the criteria governing the State Homestead Tax Credit.

(2) For purposes of this subtitle, a host may have only 1 "permanent residence".

(h) Short-term residential rental.

"Short-term residential rental" means the use, facilitated in whole or in part by a hosting platform, of all or any part of a dwelling unit to provide accommodations to transient guests for sleeping or lodging purposes in exchange for a fee.

(i) Transient guest.

(1) Ancillary definition of "transient".

In this subsection, "transient" means any person who occupies, or has been given the right to occupy, sleeping or lodging accommodations for a period of fewer than 90 consecutive days.

(2) "Transient guest" defined.

"Transient guest" means any transient who uses a hosting platform to facilitate a short-term residential rental.