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Baltimore County, MD Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Who applies
owner or occupant of the building
Approving official
Traffic Engineer
Painting duty
curb, pavement, or roadway
Cost
borne by the permit holder
Sign requirement
must show the permit number

Summary

A Baltimore County business or apartment building that wins a Traffic Engineer permit for a no-parking loading zone must paint the curb, pavement, or roadway to mark the space's limits. The permit holder pays for and erects the signs and paint under the Traffic Engineer's direction.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Baltimore County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(a)Authority in general. The county may establish "no parking" spaces in front of shipping or receiving entrances to businesses and apartment houses as provided in this section. ... (e)Signs.(1)To enforce the provisions of a permit issued under this section, the permit holder:(i)May place "no parking" signs on the building marking the limits of the "no parking" space; and(ii)Shall paint, either on the curb, pavement, or roadway, appropriate signs or marks showing the limits of the "no parking" space.(2)A "no parking" sign shall be of a size, character, and description required by the Traffic Engineer and shall bear the number of the permit issued by the Traffic Engineer.(3)The permit holder shall erect the signs and paint the curb, pavement, or roadway under the direction of the Traffic Engineer and at permit holder's expense.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29 | Zoning Regulations: Supplement 10).

Full Breakdown

Baltimore County Code § 18-2-205 lets the county establish "no parking" freight loading zones in front of shipping or receiving entrances to businesses and apartment houses. A property owner or occupant applies to the Traffic Engineer, stating the number of feet of frontage wanted for the space. The Traffic Engineer may grant the application with whatever restrictions are considered proper, or refuse it outright, and can withdraw or further limit a granted permit at any time. Once granted, the permit holder gets a certificate spelling out the space's location, frontage, and any conditions.

To enforce the permit, the holder may post "no parking" signs on the building itself marking the space's limits, and must paint the curb, pavement, or roadway with signs or marks showing those limits; a sign that size, character, and description are set by the Traffic Engineer, and each sign must display the permit number. The permit holder, not the county, erects the signs and paints the curb or pavement, and does so under the Traffic Engineer's direction and at the holder's own expense. This is the county's only curb-marking requirement tied to parking; it applies specifically to loading-zone permits rather than to general curb-color schemes.

Violations & Fines

The section does not set a standalone fine; a permit holder who fails to paint or post the required markings risks the Traffic Engineer withdrawing or limiting the permit, and an unauthorized vehicle parked in an unmarked or improperly marked space is harder to cite because the space's limits are unclear without the required curb paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays to paint a no-parking curb space in Baltimore County?
The permit holder. § 18-2-205(e)(3) requires the person who obtained the loading-zone permit to erect the signs and paint the curb, pavement, or roadway under the Traffic Engineer's direction and at the holder's own expense.
Can the Traffic Engineer take away a no-parking permit?
Yes. § 18-2-205(d) lets the Traffic Engineer withdraw the permit or further limit it at any time after it has been granted, with no set process required in the section beyond that authority.
Does every business get to paint its own no-parking curb space?
No. A business or apartment building must first apply to the Traffic Engineer under § 18-2-205(b) and receive a granted permit before it may post signs or paint curb markings; the Traffic Engineer can also refuse the application.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Baltimore County

All Baltimore County rules

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