Moving to Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore Health Code Title 9 sets a 55 dB(A) residential property-line limit, reduced 10 dB at night (10 p.m.-7 a.m. weekdays; midnight-7 a.m. weekends), with civil penalties up to $1,000 per day under Section 9-217.

Baltimore considers persistent barking a public nuisance. County animal control handles complaints. Documentation recommended before filing.

Baltimore Ordinance 19-0270 requires all short-term-rental hosts to obtain an annual short-term-rental license from the Department of Housing & Community Development before listing any unit on Airbnb, Vrbo, or similar platforms.

Baltimore Ord. 19-0270 restricts short-term rentals to a host's verified primary residence, blocking investor-owned whole-home STRs unless the operator can demonstrate a hardship-permit exception approved by DHCD.

Baltimore short-term rentals must collect and remit the city's 9.5% hotel occupancy tax plus the Maryland 6% sales and use tax on every booking, in addition to paying the annual STR license fee to DHCD.

Baltimore Ord. 19-0270 distinguishes hosted stays (host on-site) from un-hosted stays (whole-home rental while host absent), with un-hosted nights subject to a stricter cap when the listed property is the host's primary residence.

Under Baltimore Ord. 19-0270, booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo bear independent compliance duties to verify host license numbers, remove unlicensed listings on demand, and share aggregated booking data with DHCD upon request.

Baltimore's STR ordinance (Article 15 Subtitle 48) does not impose a separate off-street parking minimum on short-term rentals; the underlying dwelling's parking standard under Article 32 Title 16 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) applies. Most STRs occupy single-family or rowhouse dwellings.

Baltimore short-term rental hosts must comply with the City Health Code Title 9 noise limits: 55 dB(A) at residential property lines, reduced 5 dB(A) between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Sec. 9-207). Article 15 Subtitle 48-15 requires hosts to ensure their dwellings comply with the Health Article.

Baltimore tightly restricts open recreational fires within city limits. The Baltimore City Fire Department prohibits ground fires in dense residential zones. Approved propane and natural-gas pits are allowed with clearance requirements; wood-burning pits face the strictest standards.

Baltimore prohibits burning leaves, brush, and yard waste outdoors. Maryland air-quality regulations and city fire code combine to ban almost all open burning except small recreational fires and approved cooking devices.

Baltimore caps residential propane cylinder storage at consumer-grade amounts. Cylinders must be stored upright outdoors, away from ignition sources and basements. The Baltimore City Fire Department enforces under the International Fire Code adopted citywide.

Maryland restricts consumer fireworks (MD Public Safety Art. §10-101 to §10-113). Only ground-based items legal. Aerial consumer fireworks illegal statewide.

Maryland has no shared fence cost statute. Each owner responsible for their own fence. Spite fence provision under MD RP Art. §14-120.

Baltimore limits fence heights: typically 6 feet rear/side, 4 feet front yard. MD Real Property Art. §14-120 addresses spite fences over 6 feet.

Baltimore requires dogs in public spaces to be on a leash no longer than six feet, controlled by a person able to restrain the animal. Violations are handled by BPD and Baltimore Animal Services.

Baltimore prohibits keeping dangerous and exotic animals including big cats, primates, venomous reptiles, bears, and wolves. Enforcement falls to Baltimore Animal Services and Maryland Natural Resources Police under state and city authority.

Baltimore allows up to four hens per residential lot under the Urban Agriculture amendments to the zoning code. Roosters are prohibited citywide. Coops require setbacks from neighboring dwellings and must be kept sanitary.

Baltimore prohibits intentional feeding of deer, raccoons, foxes, and other wildlife on public and private property. Feeding stations attract rodents, spread disease, and create habituated animals that pose public safety risks.

Baltimore permits residential beekeeping under TransForm zoning rules. Up to two colonies are allowed per typical lot, with additional hives permitted on larger parcels. Hives must be set back from property lines and registered with Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Baltimore limits households to a combined total of pets that does not constitute a kennel. Generally four dogs or cats per dwelling unit triggers kennel licensing. Exceeding limits without permit subjects owners to enforcement action.

Baltimore treats animal hoarding as both a code-enforcement and animal-cruelty matter. Maryland Criminal Law section 10-604 addresses neglect; the city coordinates with BARCS and BCHD when squalid conditions or excessive animal counts are reported.

Maryland’s Tracey’s Law (2014) treats all dog breeds equally under negligence standard. No breed-specific strict liability. Dangerous dogs behavior-based.

Baltimore enforces weed abatement. MD Agriculture Art. §9-401 covers noxious weeds. County health departments handle residential complaints.

Baltimore may protect certain tree species. Street trees managed by county. Maryland suburban counties have strong tree canopy protections.

Baltimore City Building Code Section 3109 requires swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs to comply with the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (Part XII), Health Department rules, and the City Zoning Code.

Baltimore Building Code Section 105.2 exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds or playhouses from a building permit when floor area is 120 sq ft or less. Article 32 Sec. 15-501 still limits height to 15 ft and rear-yard coverage to 50%.

Baltimore's Article 32 Zoning Code does not have a general 'ADU' use, but Section 15-504 allows existing carriage houses in any Residential or OR District to be converted into a single-family detached dwelling, treated as an accessory structure on the same lot.

Baltimore City does not require owner-occupancy for ADU properties under Article 32. Property owners may build an ADU and rent both the primary unit and ADU to separate tenants. Maryland HB 538 (2024) explicitly prohibits local owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs. HOA and condominium covenants may still impose owner-occupancy through declarations.

Baltimore City does not charge development impact fees on residential ADUs. Only standard permit and plan-review fees apply through DHCD. Department of Public Works (DPW) charges water/sewer connection fees only when a new service line or meter is installed. Maryland does not authorize broad municipal impact fees, unlike California or Arizona.

Baltimore permits ADUs under the TransForm Baltimore Zoning Code (Article 32, adopted 2017). Detached and attached ADUs are allowed in R-1 through R-8 districts subject to dimensional standards. Permits route through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Building, Fire, and Related Codes Administration. Maryland HB 538 (2024) sets a statewide ADU framework that limits some restrictive local rules.

Baltimore requires a Rental Property License under Article 13 (Housing Code) for every rental dwelling unit, including ADUs. Annual licensing through DHCD with inspections. Short-term rentals require separate STR license under Article 15, Subtitle 47. Maryland has no statewide rent control authorization; Baltimore City voters approved rent stabilization in November 2024 (CB 24-0470 framework, with implementation by DHCD).

Baltimore requires building permits for outdoor kitchens with gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, or structural roofs. Trade permits filed through DHCD ePermits. Standalone freestanding grills require no permit. Historic district properties (CHAP) need Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation review for visible alterations.

Baltimore Fire Code (Article 33A) adopts the 2018 IFC with local amendments. IFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas tanks over 1 lb on combustible balconies of multi-family buildings (three or more units). Charcoal grills must be 10 feet from combustible buildings. Baltimore's dense rowhouse stock makes 10-foot clearance often impossible on attached homes.

Baltimore has no specific smoker ordinance, but the Health Code Title 9 noise limits and air quality standards may apply. Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) regulations under COMAR 26.11 govern air emissions. Baltimore's dense rowhouse layout makes smoker smoke nuisance complaints more common than in suburban settings.

Baltimore has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, lighting, and blower noise are governed by condo/HOA covenants. Health Code Title 9 noise standards could theoretically apply to overnight blower motors but enforcement against holiday decorations is rare. Rowhouse rear yards limit display size.

Baltimore has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Display timing, brightness, and animation are governed by HOA/condo covenants and CHAP guidelines for historic districts. The famous Hampden Miracle on 34th Street block tradition operates without specific city regulation, though the city closes 34th Street to traffic during the display.

Baltimore has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. Property maintenance under Article 13 requires yard upkeep but does not address ornaments. CHAP historic district review applies to permanent installations in 33 designated districts. HOA/condo covenants commonly regulate ornaments through declarations.

Baltimore declared a climate emergency in 2019 and operates under the 2012 Climate Action Plan, refreshed in 2024. The Office of Sustainability tracks greenhouse gas reductions, resilience investments, and Green Network plan implementation across all city agencies.

Maryland law limits non-essential motor vehicle idling to five minutes in any 60-minute period. Baltimore enforces the rule alongside MDE, with extra attention to school zones, hospitals, and neighborhoods near major truck routes and the Port of Baltimore.

Baltimore requires city agencies to consider environmental impacts in procurement, prioritizing recycled-content products, energy-efficient equipment, and minority-owned green businesses. The Bureau of Purchases issues green specifications under the Climate Action Plan implementation framework.

Baltimore addresses urban heat islands through the Green Network Plan, tree canopy investment, cool roof requirements in new construction, and pavement greening on vacant lots. The Climate Action Plan refresh prioritizes cooling investments in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods.

Baltimore enforces rigorous stormwater management requirements under its City Code Article 7 and Maryland's Chesapeake Bay restoration mandates, requiring Environmental Site Design (ESD) to the maximum extent practicable for all development projects disturbing land.

Baltimore regulates development within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area under Maryland's Critical Area Act, with a 1,000-foot buffer zone from tidal waters and wetlands enforced through the Office of Sustainability.

Baltimore enforces FEMA floodplain management regulations under Article 7 of the City Code, requiring elevated construction and flood-resistant building standards in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).

Baltimore requires grading permits for earthwork and drainage modifications under the City Code, with plans reviewed by the Department of Public Works to prevent erosion, flooding, and damage to adjacent properties.

Baltimore requires erosion and sediment control plans for all grading and land-disturbing activities under Article 7 of the City Code, enforced by the Department of Public Works in accordance with Maryland state standards.

Maryland's Cannabis Reform Act and CCA prioritize social equity applicants for adult-use licenses. Baltimore residents from disproportionately impacted areas qualify; the city encourages siting through zoning support.

Maryland law and Baltimore zoning impose minimum buffers between cannabis dispensaries and schools, daycares, and other dispensaries. Baltimore generally requires 500-1,000 feet depending on facility type.

Maryland's Cannabis Administration licenses on-demand delivery as a separate permit type. Baltimore deliveries must originate from a CCA-licensed dispensary; drivers must verify ID and limit purchase quantities.

Maryland law allows adults 21+ to grow up to 2 cannabis plants per household for personal use, out of public view. Baltimore does not impose stricter local limits; landlords may still ban cultivation.

Maryland legalized recreational cannabis effective July 1, 2023. Adults 21+ may grow up to 2 plants per person (maximum 4 per household) at their primary residence, though local zoning may impose additional conditions.

Baltimore regulates cannabis dispensary locations through its zoning code, requiring compliance with state licensing and local land use approvals, with distance separation requirements from schools and other sensitive uses.

Baltimore requires building permits for solar panel installations. The city has streamlined its solar permitting process and encourages residential solar adoption through its sustainability programs.

Maryland law (Real Property § 2-119) prohibits HOA covenants from effectively banning solar energy systems, though HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic guidelines that do not significantly increase cost or decrease efficiency.

Baltimore permits political signs on private property with size and placement restrictions. Signs must be removed within 10 days after the election, and placement on public property or rights-of-way is prohibited.

Baltimore regulates temporary garage sale signs, allowing them only on private property during the sale period. Signs in public rights-of-way are prohibited and subject to removal.

Baltimore permits seasonal and holiday displays on private property with minimal regulation. Displays may include lighting and decorations without a permit, though electrical installations must comply with safety codes.

Baltimore regulates trash container storage and placement, requiring bins to be placed curbside only on collection days and stored out of public view at other times under the city's sanitation code.

Baltimore aggressively enforces property blight and vacant building regulations through the Department of Housing and Community Development, with a dedicated Vacant Building Notice program and receivership authority.

Baltimore strictly enforces vacant lot maintenance requirements, mandating regular mowing, debris removal, and prohibition of dumping, with the city authorized to clean lots and charge owners through property liens.

Baltimore does not require permits for residential garage or yard sales but regulates signage, frequency, and general property maintenance standards during sales.

Baltimore requires property owners and occupants to clear snow and ice from adjacent public sidewalks within 3 hours after snowfall ends (or by 11 AM if snow stops overnight), with fines for non-compliance.

Baltimore does not have a comprehensive dark-sky ordinance, but general nuisance provisions and zoning standards regulate excessive outdoor lighting, particularly for commercial and multi-family developments.

Baltimore addresses light trespass through nuisance provisions and zoning standards requiring commercial and multi-family properties to direct lighting away from adjacent residential properties.

Baltimore Ord. 21-0124, the Tenant Right to Counsel Ordinance enacted in 2021, guarantees free legal representation in eviction proceedings to income-eligible Baltimore tenants and is administered through the Office of Civil Justice.

Maryland Real Property Article §8-203 caps residential security deposits at two months' rent, requires interest accrual at the statutory rate, and mandates itemized return within 45 days of tenancy end — Baltimore landlords must comply.

Maryland Real Property Article §8-208 strictly preempts local rent control and rent stabilization by Baltimore and other municipalities, leaving landlords free to set and pass through market-rate increases at lease renewal.

Baltimore's Pay-4-Stay rule, codified in Maryland Real Property Article §8-401, lets a tenant cure a failure-to-pay-rent eviction at any point before the warrant of restitution by paying owed rent and court costs.

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) administers Housing Choice Vouchers under federal HUD rules, paying contract rent directly to landlords while tenants pay roughly 30% of adjusted income toward the unit.

Maryland's HOME Act (Real Property §20-705) and Baltimore's Civil Rights Code prohibit landlords from refusing applicants because they pay rent with Section 8 vouchers, SSI, veterans benefits, or other lawful sources of income.

Baltimore does not have rent control or rent stabilization laws. Maryland state law does not preempt local rent control, but Baltimore has not enacted such ordinances.

Baltimore requires all rental properties to be registered and licensed through the Department of Housing and Community Development, with mandatory inspections and lead paint compliance before a rental license is issued.

Baltimore does not have a standalone just-cause eviction ordinance, but Maryland law provides specific grounds for eviction and tenants have rights through the state's landlord-tenant code and Baltimore's tenant protections.

Baltimore provides curbside trash collection on a weekly schedule managed by the Department of Public Works, with specific rules for container placement, timing, and acceptable materials.

Baltimore provides single-stream curbside recycling collection on a weekly or biweekly schedule, accepting paper, cardboard, plastics #1-7, glass, and metals in the blue recycling cart.

Baltimore offers scheduled bulk trash pickup through the 311 system for large items that do not fit in regular collection carts, with specific preparation and scheduling requirements.

Baltimore regulates the placement and storage of trash and recycling bins, requiring containers to be at the curb only on collection days and stored out of public view otherwise.

Recreational drone use in Baltimore is primarily regulated by FAA rules, with city parks and public areas subject to additional local restrictions. Much of Baltimore's airspace is controlled due to proximity to BWI Airport.

Commercial drone operations in Baltimore require FAA Part 107 certification and airspace authorization for the city's controlled airspace, with additional considerations for flights near the port, stadiums, and government facilities.

Baltimore designates specific vending zones and locations for food trucks and street vendors through the Department of Transportation, with rules on spacing from restaurants and permitted operating areas.

Baltimore requires food trucks to obtain multiple licenses including a Health Department food license, a street vendor license from the Department of Transportation, and compliance with location restrictions.

Baltimore requires door-to-door solicitors and peddlers to obtain a license from the city. Religious, political, and nonprofit canvassing is generally exempt from permit requirements.

Baltimore residents can post No Soliciting signs to deter unwanted visitors. Solicitors who ignore posted signs may be subject to trespassing charges and solicitation code violations.

Baltimore enforces a juvenile curfew requiring minors under 17 to be off public streets by 11 PM on weeknights and midnight on weekends, with the Baltimore Police Department authorized to detain and return curfew violators.

Baltimore city parks are closed from dusk to dawn unless otherwise posted, with the Department of Recreation and Parks and Baltimore Police enforcing park curfew hours.

Baltimore's zoning code limits building heights by district, ranging from 35 feet in low-density residential areas to no limit in downtown commercial zones, with additional restrictions near historic districts.

Baltimore's zoning code limits lot coverage (the percentage of a lot covered by structures) based on zoning district, with dense urban and rowhouse areas allowing higher coverage than detached residential zones.

Baltimore's Transform Baltimore zoning code establishes setback requirements that vary by zoning district, with rowhouse and dense urban areas having minimal or zero front setbacks and residential districts requiring larger yards.

Baltimore commits to a 40% tree canopy goal, prioritizing planting in low-canopy, heat-vulnerable, and historically disinvested neighborhoods. The TreeBaltimore program coordinates with the Baltimore Tree Trust, Recreation and Parks, and DPW to address racial disparities in canopy coverage.

Street trees in Baltimore parkways and tree pits are city property managed by Recreation and Parks. Residents may not plant, prune, or remove street trees without a Forestry Division permit. Approved species lists guide replacement planting under the Forest Conservation Act.

Maryland's Forest Conservation Act (Natural Resources §5-1601 et seq.) requires reforestation and afforestation when developing sites over 40,000 square feet. Baltimore enforces the act locally and protects specimen and champion trees through its tree protection ordinance and Critical Area rules.

Baltimore requires a permit to remove any street tree or tree on city property, administered by the Department of Recreation and Parks Forestry Division. Private property trees over a certain size may also require permits.

Baltimore requires replacement planting for removed trees, with ratios depending on the size of the removed tree and whether the removal was authorized, supporting the city's 40% canopy goal.

Baltimore provides special protection for notable and heritage trees, including large specimens and historically significant trees, which receive enhanced protection during development and require special approval for removal.

Baltimore does not require a permit for residential garage sales or yard sales. Sales are permitted as an accessory residential use without special approval.

Baltimore does not impose strict numerical limits on garage sale frequency, but excessively frequent sales may be reclassified as commercial activity requiring home business zoning compliance.

Baltimore does not impose specific time-of-day restrictions on garage sales, but sales should be conducted during reasonable daytime hours consistent with noise ordinances and neighborhood standards.

Maryland and Baltimore impose strict lead-paint risk reduction obligations on owners of rental properties built before 1978. Properties must be registered, inspected, and certified lead-free or lead-safe under MDE oversight, with significant tenant-protection enforcement.

Maryland is one of two states mandating residential fire sprinklers in all newly constructed one- and two-family dwellings. Baltimore enforces the rule through the Department of Housing permitting process under the Maryland Building Performance Standards.

All elevators in Baltimore commercial and multi-family buildings must be registered with the Maryland Department of Labor and inspected annually. Building owners are responsible for maintaining current certificates of operation visible inside each cab.

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.

Construction scaffolding overhanging Baltimore sidewalks or streets requires a public right-of-way permit from DOT. Pedestrian protection canopies are mandatory above six feet of work height. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health enforces worker-side standards.

Maryland Environment Article §6-815 and following sections of the Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act require pre-1978 Baltimore rental properties to register with MDE, pass lead-risk-reduction inspections, and maintain a current certificate of compliance.

Maryland §16-7-101 sets the minimum age to purchase tobacco and vape products at 21 statewide. Baltimore retailers must verify ID and post age signage. Violations risk license suspension.

Maryland requires Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) retailer licensure through the Comptroller. Baltimore zoning limits vape shops near schools and concentrates them under conditional-use review.

Maryland restricts the sale of flavored ENDS products outside age-restricted vape shops. Menthol cigarettes are subject to FDA federal action. Baltimore Health Department enforces alongside state regulators.

Baltimore Ordinance 19-0401 bans single-use plastic carryout bags and requires retailers to charge 5 cents per paper bag. Maryland's statewide HB 314 reinforces local bans starting 2025.

Baltimore restaurants may not pre-set or automatically distribute plastic straws. Customers must affirmatively request them. Disability accommodations preserve full access on request.

Baltimore Ordinance 18-0163 prohibits expanded polystyrene (foam) food service products. Maryland's statewide ban took effect in 2020. Restaurants must use approved alternatives; violations carry civil penalties.

Baltimore takeout containers must be non-foam and meet recyclable or compostable standards. Restaurants must offer condiments and utensils on request rather than auto-bundling them with orders.

Maryland's statewide minimum wage reached $15 per hour on January 1, 2024 (MD §3-413). Baltimore's earlier attempt to pass a city wage was largely superseded; only the city living wage for contractors remains active.

Baltimore employers follow the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act (MD §3-1301+), requiring earned paid sick and safe leave. Employers with 15 or more employees must pay; smaller employers must allow unpaid leave.

Baltimore has not adopted a predictive scheduling or fair workweek ordinance. Retail, food service, and hospitality employers follow Maryland's general at-will and wage-payment rules without advance-notice mandates.

Baltimore is a Welcoming City: Baltimore Police Department officers do not ask about immigration status. The Maryland Trust Act (MD §2-201 et seq.) limits state and local cooperation with civil ICE detainers.

Baltimore does not require private employers to use E-Verify. Maryland law leaves the federal program voluntary except for state contractors above certain thresholds; the city imposes no additional verification mandate.

Baltimore's encampment cleanup protocol, run by the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services with DPW and BCHD, requires advance written notice, on-site outreach, property storage, and Continuum-of-Care coordination before any sanitation cleanup.

Baltimore City Code Article 19 includes obstruction-of-passage and aggressive-panhandling provisions that limit prolonged sitting or lying on commercial-district sidewalks but stop short of a categorical city-wide sit-lie ban.

The Baltimore Continuum of Care, governed by the Homeless Roundtable Planning Committee (HRPC), administers HUD-funded bridge-housing, rapid-rehousing, and permanent-supportive-housing programs that connect encampment residents to time-limited transitional placements.

Baltimore operates a growing network of bike lanes and protected cycle tracks managed by the Department of Transportation. Drivers must yield to cyclists in bike lanes, parking is prohibited in lanes, and dockless bike share operates under DOT permits with designated parking corrals.

Baltimore DOT manages curb space for transit (Charm City Circulator free buses), freight loading, taxi and TNC pickups, parking, and the dockless mobility fleet. Curb-use designations are codified in Article 31 with signage requirements and tow zones during peak periods.

Baltimore residents face mandatory outdoor watering restrictions when the Maryland Department of the Environment declares drought conditions. DPW issues complementary advisories. Daytime sprinkler use, washing pavement, and ornamental fountain operation may be limited during designated drought stages.

Baltimore DPW asks customers to report water main breaks and underground leaks to 311 promptly. Customers with documented private-side leaks may apply for billing adjustments. The EPA consent decree with DPW emphasizes leak detection across the aging system serving Back River and Patapsco WWTPs.

Baltimore explores treated effluent reuse from Back River and Patapsco WWTPs for industrial cooling, irrigation, and street-cleaning applications. State permits under MDE and the Chesapeake Bay TMDL guide quality standards. Direct potable reuse is not currently authorized.

TransForm Baltimore (Code Art. 32, effective 2017) created Transit-Oriented Development overlays around Light Rail, Metro Subway, and MARC stations. These zones allow higher density, reduced parking minimums, and mixed-use buildings to leverage transit access and meet climate goals.

Baltimore's 2023 Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (23-0237) requires affordable units in larger residential projects and offers density and floor-area bonuses for compliance. Bonuses scale with the share of units set aside at deeper affordability levels, supporting integration in growth areas.

TransForm Baltimore (Article 32 of the City Code, 2017) replaced a 1971 zoning code with modern districts, overlays, and form-based standards. It governs permitted uses, density, parking, signage, and design citywide and is administered by the Department of Planning and BMZA.

Baltimore Health Code Article 13 §18 requires landlords to remediate confirmed bed bug infestations using licensed pest control. Tenants must report promptly and cooperate with treatment access.

Baltimore's long-running rodent abatement program under Health Code requires property owners to eliminate rat harborage, secure trash, and cooperate with BCHD baiting. Citations are issued for repeat conditions.

Baltimore operates a long-running BCHD Syringe Services Program providing free needle exchange and safe disposal kiosks. Maryland law authorizes harm reduction; possession of program syringes is decriminalized.

Baltimore Ordinance 18-0114 requires restaurants to default kids' meal beverages to water, milk, or 100% juice. Sugary drinks remain available on request but cannot be the default offering on menus.

Baltimore's Living Wage Ordinance (Article 5 §26) requires service contractors with city contracts above $5,000 to pay covered employees a wage indexed annually, exceeding Maryland's $15 statewide minimum.

Baltimore imposes a 9.5% city hotel occupancy tax on rooms rented under 90 days, stacked on Maryland's 6% sales tax for an effective 15.5% combined hotel rate.

Baltimore lacks a citywide hotel worker retention ordinance comparable to Los Angeles. Successor employers follow Maryland labor norms, and unionized hotels rely on collective bargaining successor clauses.

Baltimore licenses adult entertainment businesses under Article 15 (Licensing) and zones them through the TransForm Baltimore Code (Article 32), with buffer requirements from schools, churches, and residential districts.

Baltimore retailers selling tobacco or vapor products need a city tobacco license under Article 15 plus a state cigarette license. Maryland law (MD §16-7-101) sets the minimum purchase age at 21.

Baltimore licenses pawnbrokers and secondhand precious-metal dealers under Article 15, requiring daily transaction reporting to BPD via the LeadsOnline system, holding periods, and seller identification on every purchase.

Baltimore City Code Article 19 prohibits drinking alcohol or possessing an open container on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and parking lots. Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium tailgating zones have limited exceptions.

Baltimore City Code Article 19 prohibits aggressive panhandling: touching, threatening, blocking paths, or soliciting near ATMs and bus stops. Passive solicitation remains protected under the First Amendment.

Baltimore imposes elevated property tax billing on properties on the Vacant Building Notice (VBN) list, paired with the Vacants-To-Value program. The city has authority to levy higher rates on long-term vacant rowhouses.

Baltimore Ordinance 23-0237 (2023) requires 5%-15% affordable units in qualifying new residential developments. The city uses inclusionary zoning rather than a separate cash linkage fee on commercial development.