Suspensions and Revocations

Baltimore City Code div. Health Code, tit. 6, subtit. 6

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-601 Notice of violation or hazard.

§ 6-601. Notice of violation or hazard. (a) In general. Whenever the Commissioner finds that any food service facility is in violation of any provision of this title or is in an unsanitary or other condition that, in the Commissioner’s judgment, constitutes a hazard to the public health, the Commissioner may issue a violation notice to the facility. (b) Contents. The violation notice must: (1) cite the violation or condition; (2) specify the corrective action to be taken and the time within which that action must be taken; and (3) state that a hearing will be provided to the facility, if one is requested under Title 2, Subtitle 3 {“Administrative Hearings”} of this article. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-602 Suspension on failure to correct.

§ 6-602. Suspension on failure to correct. (a) Order of suspension. If a food service facility fails to comply with the violation notice within the time prescribed, the Commissioner may then issue an order of suspension to the facility. (b) Contents. An order issued under this section may: (1) immediately suspend the facility’s license; and (2) order all food service facility operations to be discontinued immediately. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-603 Suspension without notice.

§ 6-603. Suspension without notice. (a) Order of violation and suspension. If the Commissioner considers it necessary in the interest of public health, the Commissioner may issue an order of immediate suspension to the facility without having first issued a violation notice under § 6-601 {“Notice of violation or hazard”} of this subtitle. (b) Contents. An order issued under this section: (1) must cite the violation or condition; (2) must specify the corrective action to be taken and the time within which that action must be taken; and (3) may order all food service facility operations to be discontinued immediately. (c) Opportunity for hearing. The notice must also state that a hearing will be provided to the facility under Title 2, Subtitle 3 {“Administrative Hearings”} of this article, if one is requested. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-603.1 Suspension or nonrenewal for multiple or unpaid citations.

§ 6-603.1. Suspension or nonrenewal for multiple or unpaid citations. (a) In general. The Commissioner may suspend or refuse to renew the license of a food service facility if: (1) at any time within the preceding 6 months, the facility has been served with 3 or more citations issued for reasons related to public health or to the prevention of disease, epidemics, or nuisances affecting public health, under either or both of: (i) City Code Article 1, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}; or (ii) City Code Article 1, Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}; or (2) at any time within the preceding 12 months, the facility has been declared to be in default of 1 or more citations issued for reasons related to public health or to the prevention of disease, epidemics, or nuisances affecting public health, under either of: (i) City Code Article 1, § 40-8 {“Environmental Citations: Default by person cited”}; or (ii) City Code Article 1, § 41-10 {“Civil Citations: Default”}. (b) Covered offenses. (1) For purposes of this section, citations issued for violations of the following provisions of the City Code are presumed to be issued for reasons related to public health or to the prevention of disease, epidemics, or nuisances affecting public health: Article 13. Housing and Urban Renewal Subtitle 5 {“Licensing of Rental Dwellings”}. Article 15. Licensing and Regulation Subtitle 17. Street Vendors Subtitle 18. Itinerant Wholesale Produce Dealers Article 19. Police Ordinances § 1-2. Placement {of advertising circulars} without permission § 7-2. Vehicle alarms: Prohibited devices § 8-18. Burglar alarms: Penalties § 13-1 or § 13-2. Disorderly drinking § 14-2 or § 14-3. Drinking in public places Subtitle 25. Loitering – General § 26-6. Loitering – Drug-Free Zone § 27-3. Loitering – For assignation, etc. § 27-15. Loitering – Prostitution-Free Zone Subtitle 32. Minors – Sales in Proximity to Liquor Store § 34-5. Curfews: Prohibited conduct of parents, guardians, etc. § 34-6. Curfews: Prohibited conduct of establishments § 40-9. Dirt Bikes, etc. – Motor fuel sales § 41-2. Outdoor telephones: Prohibited placement § 45-2. Signs on public property: Posting prohibited § 47-5. Nighttime soliciting § 50-2. Obstructing street, etc., or gutter § 50-3. Merchandise projecting from building § 50-26. Fires in street, lane, or alley § 50-41. Playing, etc., in street, etc. § 50-56. Soliciting customers § 59-18. Reporting {theft or loss of firearm} required Article 23. Sanitation § 2-1. Mixed refuse: Receptacles § 2-2. Mixed refuse: Handling § 4-1 or § 4-2. Receptacles on collection days Article 24. Water § 21-1. Rules and regulations {to protect supply and facilities} § 21-2. Suspension, etc., of certain uses § 21-3. Injuring fire hydrants § 21-4. Wrongful use after cut-off § 21-5. Refusal of entry § 21-6. Interference with equipment; illegal use of water Article 26. Surveys, Streets, and Highways Subtitle 6. Building Address Numbers Article 31. Transit and Traffic § 16-12. Vehicles on sidewalks § 18-8. Riding {bicycles} on sidewalk Article 32. Zoning § 5-704. {Use permit –}When required § 16-803. Storage, etc., of abandoned, etc., vehicles Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article – Building Code § 114.14. Work without permit § 115.3. Stop-work order: Unlawful continuance § 116. Unsafe structures § 120. Condemnation proceedings § 123.8. Failure to comply with notice or citation § 3302.2 Construction Safeguards: Waste and debris Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article – Fire Code § 109.9. Maintenance: Overcrowding § 111.1. Unsafe buildings: General § 1001.2. Means of Egress: Minimum requirements Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article – Property Maintenance Code Chapter 3. General Requirements Health Code Title 5. Nuisance Control Title 6: Food Service Facilities Title 7: Waste Control Title 8: Air Pollution Title 9: Noise Regulation Title 10: Animal Control and Protection Title 11: Swimming Pools Title 12: Tobacco Products and Smoking Devices Title 15: Ephedrine Products (2) Nothing in this subsection precludes the Health Commissioner from determining, in his or her discretion, that a citation for an offense was issued for reasons related to public health or to the prevention of disease, epidemics, or nuisances affecting public health. (c) Notice and opportunity for hearing. Before suspending or refusing to renew a license under this section, the Commissioner must provide the facility with notice and an opportunity for hearing, as provided in Title 2, Subtitle 3 {“Administrative Hearings”} of this article. (Ord. 24-341 Section 1; Ord. 22-124; Ord. 20-361; Ord. 18-130; Ord. 16-581; Ord. 15-427; Ord. 14-310; Ord. 13-093; Ord. 12-046; Ord. 09-243.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-604 Reinstatement of suspended licenses.

§ 6-604. Reinstatement of suspended licenses. (a) Application for reinstatement. (1) Any food service facility may apply to the Commissioner for reinstatement of a suspended license. (2) In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the application must include a signed statement by the applicant that, in the applicant’s opinion, the violation or condition that caused the suspension has been corrected. (b) Reinspection. Within 10 days of receiving the application and the reinspection fee specified in subsection (d) of this section, the Commissioner must reinspect the facility. (c) Required reinstatement. If, on reinspection, the facility is found to comply with all applicable requirements, the license must be reinstated. (d) Reinspection fees. (1) The fee for a reinspection performed during regular working hours is $100. (2) The fee for a reinspection performed during weekend or evening hours is $300. (Ord. 09-243; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-605 Revocation of licenses.

§ 6-605. Revocation of licenses. (a) Grounds. The Commissioner may revoke the license of a food service facility if that facility: (1) commits more than one violation of this title; or (2) interferes with the performance of the Commissioner’s duties. (b) Notice and opportunity for hearing. Before revoking a license, the Commissioner must provide the facility with notice and opportunity for hearing, as provided in Title 2, Subtitle 3 {“Administrative Hearings”} of this article. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 6-606 Public notices.

§ 6-606. Public notices. (a) Suspensions – Posting of premises. (1) A food service facility that has had its license suspended must post a public notice of the suspension throughout the suspension period. (2) The notice must: (i) state the term of and reasons for the suspension; (ii) be in the form and tenor that the Commissioner specifies; and (iii) be conspicuously placed, as directed by the Commissioner, so that it is visible to and can be read by passing pedestrians. (b) Suspensions, revocations, and nonrenewals – Timely notice through social media. (1) Promptly after a food service facility has had its license suspended, revoked, or denied renewal, the Commissioner must provide, through 2 or more social media outlets, public notice of the suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal. (2) The notice must include the same information as that required by subsection (c)(2) of this section for a website listing. (c) Suspensions, revocations, and nonrenewals – Website listings. (1) The Commissioner must maintain, update at least weekly, and publish on the Department’s website a list of all food service facilities that, at any time during the preceding calendar month or during the current calendar month to the latest update, have had their licenses suspended, revoked, or denied renewal. (2) The listing must include: (i) the name (including trade name) and address of the facility; (ii) the effective date and term of the suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal; and (iii) the reasons for the suspension, revocation, or nonrenewal. (Ord. 15-399; Ord. 09-217; Ord. 02-439; Ord. 99-391.)

Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/health/6/6Fetched: 10/25/2026