Baltimore County, MD Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Section 20-1-124 sets a prior-approval permit requirement for anyone, not just utilities, who wants to install a structure within the public right-of-way of a street, road, alley, or public highway inside the metropolitan district. The applicant must file a plan showing the exact location and depth of the proposed main, conduit, pipe, or other structure, and the Director of Public Works and Transportation must approve it before construction starts. Once approved, the physical location shown on the plan cannot be changed without another round of Director approval.

If work begins without first filing plans and getting approval, or if the location is changed without authorization, the section makes that a misdemeanor, punishable under the county's general penalty statute, Section 1-2-217. The Director also retains authority to remove or relocate an unauthorized structure, or one that later interferes with the operation of the county's water or sewer systems. The section exempts properties, plants, franchises, or rights belonging to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, reflecting the metropolitan district's shared water and sewer service area.

The provision traces back to 1988 Code Section 35-149 and was most recently amended by Bill No. 33-21 in 2021, which updated departmental references following county reorganization.