Baltimore Housing Code requires rental property owners to maintain pest-free conditions. Rats, roaches, bed bugs, and mice are common code violations. BCHD coordinates rat abatement; landlords face citations for failure to remediate infestations promptly.
Baltimore Housing Code Article 13 Subtitle 2 requires owners to keep rentals free of insect, rodent, and vermin infestations. The city operates an aggressive rat abatement program through DPW, including bait stations and yard inspections. Bed-bug remediation is governed by Baltimore Bed Bug Ordinance under Health Code section 7-401, requiring landlord-paid heat or chemical treatments within seven days of complaint. Tenants may withhold rent in escrow if landlords fail to remediate after notice.
Initial citations $250 to $500. Repeat infestations escalate to $1,000 per occurrence. Severe cases trigger condemnation. Tenants entitled to rent escrow during noncompliance.
See how Baltimore's pest control rules stack up against other locations.
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