A Guide to Renewing Your Rental License as a Property Owner

That time of year has come around once more where rental property owners have to renew their rental license. For seasoned property managers, this is just another administrative task to check off their list. But for new owners, navigating the renewal of your properties rental license can be confusing and challenging. In this article, we walk you through each step of the rental license renewal process and best practices to prepare for your inspection.

Rental properties have to be licensed through your local city or county. In some areas, this may need to be renewed annually, whereas others only require a property owner to renew every few years. Your current rental license, which should be displayed at all times, will reflect an expiration date. Once you are within 60 days of your license expiration, you will want to submit your application for renewal.

Here is a brief overview of the renewal process:

Now that you know how the renewal process works, it’s time to submit your rental license application.

If submitting online:

If submitting by mail or in person:

While you wait for your application to be approved, check your rental units for any major repairs that could be potentially flagged by an inspector. Doing your own inspection prior to the municipality's inspector coming is incredibly beneficial for you to get ahead of any maintenance or fire and safety issues. Here are a few areas to inspect in your rental housing:

If you fail your inspection with the city, not only does it delay your renewal, but you often have to pay a re-inspection fee.

Local authorities typically inspect properties to ensure they meet standards, and passing these inspections will be a licensing requirement to own a residential rental.

Once your application is approved, it’s time to schedule for the city inspector to do a walk through of your property. These inspections typically cover health, safety, and zoning codes. If the inspector finds that you are in violation of any city codes, they will require you to fix the issue and often schedule a re-inspection before actually issuing your new license.

If you fail your inspection, you will need to work with your property maintenance team and any vendors necessary to correct the code violations by the re-inspection date.

If you pass your inspection, your renewal license will be sent to you via mail.

Once you know the date of your inspection, make sure you notify your renters that you may be entering their apartment to check smoke detectors, water heaters, HVAC units, carbon monoxide detectors, pipes, and any other relevant equipment.

Display Your Rental License Once you have received your renewed rental license, make sure it is displayed in a visible area within the residential property, as required by law. This is important for compliance and demonstrates that you are operating within the legal framework.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your rental license renewal process goes smoothly and that your property remains compliant with local laws. Regularly maintaining your property, and adhering to safety standards will help you avoid costly fines and ensure a positive rental experience for both you and your tenants.