🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Maryland
Maryland Passes Nation’s First STR Safety Law
Maryland Sets STR Safety Standards After Tragedy
Photo by VisitMaryland.org
The Maryland General Assembly has approved a first-in-the-nation bill requiring short-term rental properties to meet basic fire and carbon monoxide safety standards, a measure inspired by the tragic deaths of Jillian and Lindsay Wiener of Potomac.
The legislation, known as the Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act, passed Monday with bipartisan support. It mandates that vacation rentals be equipped with working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, a fire extinguisher, and a clearly visible fire evacuation plan. Properties must also include emergency contact information for first responders.
Short-Term Rental Units - Safety (Jillian and Lindsay Wiener Short-Term Rental Safety Act)
The bill is named in memory of Jillian, 21, and Lindsay, 19, who died in a 2022 house fire while staying at a short-term rental on Long Island. Investigators found the blaze originated in an illegally constructed outdoor kitchen and that detectors failed due to overloaded circuits and lack of battery backup.
Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery), one of the bill’s sponsors, said tragedies like the Wiener family’s should never happen in Maryland. “If individuals want to put their homes up as short-term rental businesses, there should be a minimal set of fire safety requirements,” she said.
Susan Gibbs
Sen. Brian Feldman (D-Montgomery) and Del. Tom Hutchinson (R-District 37B) also sponsored the bill. Feldman praised Alisa Wiener, the sisters’ mother, for her advocacy. “Her courage in bringing her personal catastrophe to light will undoubtedly save lives in Maryland,” he said.
Under the law, counties and Baltimore City will be responsible for implementing and enforcing the rules, including annual inspections. Rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo must verify compliance. Local governments may establish registration fees and authorize third-party inspectors.
Airbnb has faced criticism nationwide for safety lapses, but Maryland’s measure is expected to be the first to establish uniform statewide standards.
Alisa Wiener said she pursued the legislation in memory of her daughters. “I felt a really strong responsibility to make something better,” she said. “And that was my reason for getting involved in this.”
The law is intended to prevent future tragedies by setting a baseline level of safety for the rapidly growing short-term rental market.
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