Pilot program creates ‘preservation district’ to curtail percentage of rentals on each block
The Baltimore County Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that would restrict the number of rental licenses within one mile of Towson University.
The legislation creates a “Neighborhood Preservation District” that prevents county officials from issuing rental licenses to properties on blocks where rentals already account for 30% or more of the properties. Councilman Mike Ertel, a Democrat who represents Towson and lives close to the university, said he proposed the measure to address a problem he’s heard about since he began work as a community activist decades ago.
The legislation establishes a pilot program that will last until June 30, 2029, at which time the council member representing the area will present a report to the council on its effectiveness. The county’s Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections must create a map and database of the district and affected properties by the end of May.
Ertel offered some amendments to make the bill more palatable to some of his colleagues, including Councilman Julian Jones, who expressed reservations about telling homeowners what they can do with their properties.
The amendments specify that the restrictions do not apply to houses that have not had a rental license issued within six years, and for owner-occupied homes that have been on the market for 12 months or more, provided the property will only be rented for no more than one three-year term.
Ertel said these provisions allow professors and graduate students at Towson to rent out homes if they take temporary sabbaticals or positions out of state but want to keep their properties.
Read full article: Baltimore County Council approves bill restricting Towson landlords – The Baltimore Banner
