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General Operational Requirements

Baltimore City Code art. 16, subtit. 4
in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 16, § 4-1 Market days and hours.

§ 4-1. Market days and hours. (a) Market days. Market days for all stall spaces shall be on every day except Sunday and holidays. (b) Market hours. (1) Except for the Wholesale Fish Market, for which a separate provision is made, and except as otherwise provided in this section, market hours at the several markets shall begin at 6 a.m. and end at 6 p.m on all market days. (2) On Saturdays, market hours shall begin at 6 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. (3) The hours specified herein as market hours for Saturday shall also apply to the days immediately preceding the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, unless the day immediately preceding any such specified holiday would fall on a Sunday. (c) Modifications. Provided, however, that the Mayor shall have the right, after meeting with the merchants for that purpose, to change the periods during which any or all of the markets are to be opened to cover periods not specified hereinabove when, in his opinion, the best interests of the public markets will be served by such change. (d) Lease cancellation for noncompliance. (1) The Mayor may cancel the an existing lease, after giving 30 days’ notice in writing by certified mail, of any merchant failing to conform to the designated hours, when, in the opinion of the Mayor, such cancellation is in the best interest of the public markets. (2) An aggrieved merchant can appeal a notice of cancellation within 15 days of its receipt to the Market Appeals Board for its review and decision. (3) The members of the Board are: (i) the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner’s designee; (ii) the President of the Baltimore Development Corporation or the President’s designee; (iii) the President of the Market Association where the stall space is located; and (iv) a member of the City Council appointed by the President of the Council. (Ord. 89-264; Ord. 83-1074; Ord. 82-638; Ord. 75-783; Ord. 65-743; Ord. 58-1587; Ord. 56-421.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 16, § 4-2 Merchandise.

§ 4-2. Merchandise. (a) In general. Except as to the Wholesale Fish Market for which separate provision is made, nothing in this article contained shall be construed as limiting the sale to foodstuffs exclusively. However, the occupant or tenant shall, when making his application for an original lease or for the renewal of an existing lease, clearly set forth in each application and in each succeeding application, merchandise or articles to be sold under his particular lease. (b) Changes. The class or type of merchandise, articles, or foodstuffs offered for sale, shall not be changed during the tenancy of the lessee without expressed written approval of the Mayor or his authorized agent. (c) Lease cancellation for noncompliance. Any occupant or tenant violating the provisions of this section shall suffer the revocation of his or her lease. (Ord. 83-1074; Ord. 81-426; Ord. 75-892; Ord. 75-783; Ord. 65-743; Ord. 56-421.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 16, § 4-3 Sale of fish and seafood.

§ 4-3. Sale of fish and seafood. Fresh fish and seafood shall be sold only in that section of the market set aside for the sale of fresh fish and seafood. (Ord. 75-783.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 16, § 4-4 Platform or base required.

§ 4-4. Platform or base required. (a) In general. (1) The lessee of any stall space or section: (i) shall operate the same upon a raised platform which is not less than 20 inches above the surrounding pavement; or (ii) in the alternative, may operate the stall space upon a concrete base not less than 8 inches thickness, extending under the entire stall space and resting at least 8 inches above the surrounding pavement. (2) The lessee shall not have under his stall space any box, closet, or other receptacle of any kind whatsoever, unless: (i) it shall be raised not less than 20 inches above the surrounding pavement; or (ii) in the alternative, being resting upon such a concrete base of not less than 8 inches thickness. (b) Notice. It shall be the duty of the Mayor or his authorized agent to notify every person holding a lease for a stall space in that market to comply with the provisions of this section. (c) Enforcement. Upon a failure to comply with the provisions of this section, the Mayor or his authorized agent shall have the authority to have the work done and charge it to the lessee, and such cost shall be added to and included in the license fee due and payable for the use of such stall space. (Ord. 83-1074; Ord. 81-246; Ord. 56-421.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 16, § 4-5 Aisles to be free of merchandise.

§ 4-5. Aisles to be free of merchandise. No person or persons shall place any article or expose for sale any goods, wares, or merchandise of any kind, in the aisleways of the several markets of the City during market hours. (Ord. 75-783.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 16, § 4-6 Special provisions for Wholesale Fish Market.

§ 4-6. Special provisions for Wholesale Fish Market. (a) Use. The Wholesale Fish Market is to be used solely for the purpose of receiving and dealing in fresh fish and other seafoods. (b) Fish boxes to be raised. Boxes used in packing fish for the Wholesale Fish Market shall be raised 6 inches from the floor so that the entire surface can be washed. (c) Daily washing. The Wholesale Fish Market shall be washed every market day between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Ord. 75-783; Ord. 56-421.)
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/16/4Fetched: 10/25/2026

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