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.
Baltimore, MD
Maryland and Baltimore impose strict lead-paint risk reduction obligations on owners of rental properties built before 1978. Properties must be registered, i...
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore requires all rental properties to be registered and licensed through the Department of Housing and Community Development, with mandatory inspection...
See how Baltimore's lead-hazard inspections rules stack up against other locations.
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