Hagerstown Officials Announce Public Forum on Housing Stability and Rent Policies

Hagerstown, MD – Residents, landlords, and other community stakeholders will have an opportunity to voice their concerns and perspectives on housing stability as Mayor and City Council host a town hall listening session. The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, at 6 p.m. in the Hub City Boardroom, located on the first floor of City Hall. The input gathered during this session is intended to inform the Mayor and Council as they explore potential policies related to rent stabilization and tenant protections.

The public forum will address a range of critical housing topics. Discussions are expected to cover issues such as evictions and their impact on housing stability, the role of renovations and capital improvements in housing costs, and the broader implications of rent increases and rent stabilization measures. Additionally, the session will include conversations about pet fees and deposits, as well as practices surrounding security deposits and their refund. The information collected will be instrumental in guiding future policy decisions aimed at fostering greater housing security within Hagerstown.

Individuals who wish to speak directly on one of the designated topics during the listening session must register in advance. Registration can be completed through the City’s website at https://www.hagerstownmd.org/FormCenter/City-Clerk-17/Register-to-Speak-at-Mayor-Council-Regul-158 and should reference the date of the listening session. Each registered speaker will be allocated three minutes to present their topic. For those unable to attend or speak in person, written input will be accepted via email until February 19, with submissions directed to councilcomments@hagerstownmd.org. The town hall meeting will be recorded, and in the event of inclement weather, the session will be postponed to Thursday, February 12.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Mayor & Council of Hagerstown.

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