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.
Pre-1978 rental units in Baltimore must register annually with the Maryland Department of the Environment under the Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (MD Env §6-815+). Owners must hire an MDE-accredited inspector to perform lead-risk-reduction work and pass a dust-wipe clearance test, then post the certificate of compliance with each tenancy turnover. Baltimore's rental-licensing program cross-checks MDE registration before issuing or renewing a multifamily or single-family rental license. Tenants alleging childhood lead poisoning have a statutory cause of action against non-compliant owners, and DHCD shares enforcement responsibility with MDE for repeat violators in legacy rowhouse stock.
Operating an unregistered pre-1978 Baltimore rental can lead to MDE administrative penalties, denial of the city rental license, and tenant tort liability for elevated childhood blood-lead levels.
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