Baltimore County, MD Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Section 18-2-212 of the Baltimore County Code, enacted by Bill No. 9-16 effective April 4, 2016, protects charging spaces from non-electric vehicles. It does not require any property owner to install a charger, and it prints no time limit on charging. It only governs who may park in a reserved space.

The code defines a plug-in vehicle by specification. It must be made by a vehicle manufacturer, manufactured primarily for use on a public street, road, or highway, and have a rated unloaded gross vehicle weight of no more than 8,500 pounds and a maximum speed capability of at least 55 miles per hour. It must also be propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor drawing from a battery that can be recharged from an external source of electricity. The battery capacity floor is at least four kilowatt hours for a four wheeled vehicle and at least 2.5 kilowatt hours for a two or three wheeled vehicle. A qualifying vehicle that has been modified from the original manufacturer's specifications still counts.

Two conditions must both be met before the ban applies to a space. The space must be designated for plug-in vehicles with a sign approved by the Police Department stating the prohibition, and it must provide access to a plug-in vehicle recharging station. The prohibition explicitly includes spaces on private property used by the public in general. Under § 18-1-101(c), that means a parking lot of a shopping center, condominium building, apartment building or development, or town house development where official county parking signs or fire hydrants have been situated, and § 18-2-104 lets the county enforce this title on such property. Police officers can enforce the title, and designated parking enforcement officers can issue notices of violation to vehicles found parked in violation.