Rental Units in Floodplain District

Baltimore City Code art. 13, div. II, subtit. 9

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-1 Definitions.

§ 9-1. Definitions. (a) In general. For the purposes of this subtitle, certain words, terms and phrases, and their derivatives, shall be construed and given the meaning specified in this section. (b) Floodplain District. “Floodplain District” means the Floodplain District and Subdistricts established under the Floodplain Management Code, City Code Article 7 {“Natural Resources”}, Division I {“Floodplain Management”}. (c) Landlord. “Landlord” means an owner, lessor, sublessor, assignee, any agent thereof or any other person receiving or entitled to receive rents or benefits for the use or occupancy of any residential rental unit within the City of Baltimore. (d) Owner. “Owner” means any person or entity having legal or equitable title to 1 or more rental units. (e) Purchaser. “Purchaser” means anyone who purchases 1 or more rental units. (f) Tenant. “Tenant” means a tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee, or other person entitled to the possession of any rental unit owned by another person, and of whom the landlord of said unit has actual knowledge. (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 14-209; Ord. 82-754.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-2 Notice to prospective tenant.

§ 9-2. Notice to prospective tenant. If any part of a rental unit, including the parking area or separate storage area for that unit, is within the Floodplain District, and the City has notified the landlord of that fact by first class mail, bulk mail, or otherwise, or the landlord has received notice of that fact from some other governmental agency, the landlord shall provide any prospective tenant with the following notice and acknowledgment: Notice to Prospective Tenant The rental unit you are to occupy or the motor vehicle parking area or separate storage facility you are to use (as the case may be) is situated in an area prone to flooding during unusually heavy or prolonged steady periods of rain. Such flooding may damage personal belongings and motor vehicles. Because of this possible loss, you may be eligible for U. S. Government subsidized flood insurance on the personal belongings in your unit. In any event, because of this danger of loss of your personal belongings due to flooding, you may wish to consider acquiring flood insurance which may be purchased from some insurance agents. Damage to motor vehicles may not be covered by such insurance; therefore you may also wish to determine whether or not you have sufficient motor vehicle insurance to cover loss due to damage of your motor vehicle resulting from flooding in this area. The Baltimore City Department of Planning can provide information pertaining to the susceptibility of this area to flooding. You may wish to contact that Department, at (telephone number), before signing either this acknowledgment or the lease agreement for this rental unit. Acknowledgment by Prospective Tenant I acknowledge reading and understanding the foregoing warning concerning flooding. I have been provided time, prior to signing either this acknowledgment or a lease, to contact the Baltimore City Department of Planning concerning the susceptibility of the area around my rental unit to flooding. Tenant’s Signature (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 14-209; Ord. 82-754.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-3 Form of notice.

§ 9-3. Form of notice. The notice and acknowledgment required by § 9-2 of this subtitle shall be in printed form, utilizing bold face type, and set apart from the body of the lease. The acknowledgment shall provide space for a written acknowledgment that the tenant is cognizant of the flood risk. (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 14-209; Ord. 82-754.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-4 Method of presentment.

§ 9-4. Method of presentment. (a) Written lease. Where there is a written lease between the landlord and tenant, the notice and acknowledgment required by § 9-2 of this subtitle shall be initialed by both parties and attached in a secure manner to the lease. (b) Oral lease. Where the lease agreement between the landlord and tenant is oral, the notice and acknowledgment required by § 9-2 of this subtitle shall be presented to the tenant before his agreeing to the lease. (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 14-209; Ord. 82-754.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-5 Liability for omission.

§ 9-5. Liability for omission. Any landlord who has received notice from the City or any other governmental agency that the tenant’s unit is within the Floodplain District and who has failed to give the notice and acknowledgment referred to in § 9-2 of this subtitle shall be liable for actual damages proximately caused by natural flooding. (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 14-209; Ord. 82-754.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-6 {Vacant}

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-7 Affidavit of owner.

§ 9-7. Affidavit of owner. Prior to the transfer of title from owner to purchaser of rental units situated in an area prone to flooding during unusually heavy or prolonged steady periods of rain, it shall be a precondition to the payment of the transfer tax imposed by Article 28, Subtitle 17 of the Baltimore City Code that the owner file an averment under penalty of perjury stating that he has notified the purchaser in writing of the possibility of such flooding. Such averment shall be filed with the Director of Finance of Baltimore City. (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 82-754.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 13, § 9-8 Landlord’s burden of proof.

§ 9-8. Landlord’s burden of proof. (a) In general. In any civil action resulting from the provisions of this subtitle, the landlord shall bear the burden of proving that the tenant has been provided with the notice required by either § 9-2 or 9-6 of this subtitle, as the case may be. (b) Presumption of compliance — signed notice. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that the landlord has satisfied said burden if he can produce said notice with the tenant’s signature affixed thereto. (c) Presumption of compliance — proof of mailing. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that the landlord has satisfied said burden for any tenants who were tenants at the effective date of this subtitle if the landlord can produce a proof of mailing to current tenants of whom the landlord has actual knowledge. (Ord. 23-275 Section 1; Ord. 82-754.)

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/13/II/9Fetched: 10/25/2026