Site Plan Review

Baltimore City Code art. 32, tit. 4, subtit. 2

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-201 Purpose.

§ 4-201. Purpose. (a) Intent – Guidance, interagency review, and ensuring compliance. Site plan review is intended: (1) to provide guidance to the applicant early in the design process; (2) to provide for interagency review; and (3) to ensure that the proposed development complies with this Code, the Subdivision Rules and Regulations, the Site Plan Review Manual, the Building, Fire and Related Codes, and other applicable guidelines and requirements. (b) Intent – Safe and functional, etc., development. The recommendations of site plan review are intended to ensure safe, functional, efficient, and orderly development with high standards of design. (c) General purposes. In general, the purpose of the site plan review process is to: (1) protect public health, safety, and welfare; (2) minimize adverse effects upon pedestrian and vehicular traffic; (3) ensure the design is safe, environmentally sound, aesthetically responsive, and protects properties, streets, and rights-of-way in the immediate vicinity, and the general public; (4) ensure compliance with the Comprehensive Master Plan and this Code; and (5) provide a consistent and uniform method of review. (Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-202 Site Plan Review Manual.

§ 4-202. Site Plan Review Manual. (a) In general. The Planning Commission must develop and may revise from time to time a Site Plan Review Manual that sets forth standards and procedures for site plan review in accordance with this Code. (b) Requisites for effectiveness. This Manual and any revisions of it may take effect only after: (1) Planning Commission approval at a public session; (2) filing with the Department of Legislative Reference; and (3) posting on the City website. (Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-203 Applicability.

§ 4-203. Applicability. Site plan review is required for the following types of development applications: (1) new construction that involves any of the following: (i) any proposed development over 15,000 square feet of gross floor area; (ii) developments with multiple structures on a single lot, excluding accessory structures; and (iii) all multi-tenant commercial development, including mixed-use development; (2) subdivision of land; (3) additions or structural alterations to an existing structure, other than a single-family detached or semi-detached dwelling, that results in a 50% increase in gross floor area over the gross floor area of the existing structure prior to the addition or alteration; (4) planned unit development; (5) conditional use, unless the conditional use can and will be fully contained within an existing structure; (6) parking lot or structures containing 5 or more motor vehicle parking spaces; (7) any development within an environmentally sensitive area, including projects in a Floodplain District and projects within the Buffer of the Critical Area (see Subtitle 3 {“Environmentally Sensitive Areas Review”} of this title); (8) urban agriculture or community-managed open-space farm; (9) any development within the C-5-IH Subdistrict; and (10) multiple principal structures on a residential lot per § 15-203. (Ord. 25-015 Section 1; Ord. 21-020; Ord. 18-171; Ord. 17-015; Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-204 Approval prerequisite to permit.

§ 4-204. Approval prerequisite to permit. (a) In general. Site plan approval is required before any permits may be issued for any development to which § 4-203 {“Applicability”} of this subtitle applies. (b) Required for plan change; Time lapse. Site plan approval is also required if: (1) no permits have been issued; and (2) either: (i) a final approved site plan has been changed; or (ii) more than 1 year has passed since final approval. (Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-205 Submittal requirements.

§ 4-205. Submittal requirements. Submittal requirements for site plan review are as found in: (1) the Site Plan Review Manual; and (2) for environmentally sensitive areas, in Subtitle 3 {“Environmentally Sensitive Areas Review”} of this title. (Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-206 Procedures.

§ 4-206. Procedures. The Director of Planning must review the project in accordance with the procedures found in the Site Plan Review Manual. (Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-207 Review standards.

§ 4-207. Review standards. Site plan review standards are as found in: (1) the Site Plan Review Manual; and (2) for environmentally sensitive areas, in Subtitle 3 {“Environmentally Sensitive Areas Review”} of this title. (Ord. 16-581.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 32, § 4-208 Administrative appeals.

§ 4-208. Administrative appeals. (a) Appeal to Commission. An applicant who is aggrieved by the final site plan decision of the Director of Planning may appeal that decision to the Planning Commission. (b) When filed. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the Planning Director’s final decision on the site plan. (c) Hearing. The Planning Commission must review the Director’s decision at a public hearing held within 45 days of receiving the appeal. (Ord. 16-581.)

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/32/4/2Fetched: 10/25/2026