General Requirements

Baltimore City Code div. Building Codes, pt. VII, ch. 3

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 301 General

Section 301. General 301.1 Scope. This Chapter governs the minimum requirements and the responsibilities of persons for repair and maintenance of structures, equipment, and premises. 301.2 Responsibility. 301.2.1 Owners and operators. Except as otherwise specifically provided, the owner and the operator of any premises are responsible for maintaining all structures and exterior property areas in compliance with all requirements of this Chapter. 301.2.2 Occupants – In general. The occupant of any premises: 1. must give the owner and the owner’s agents access to the premises, at all reasonable times, for the purpose of inspecting and making repairs or alterations as necessary to effect compliance with this Code or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or order issued under this Code, 2. may not obstruct any required means of egress, 3. may not store flammable liquids or gas or unsafe quantities of combustible materials, 4. if in control of the heating facilities, must maintain a sufficiently high temperature in all parts of the unit to prevent damage to the plumbing system, and 5. is responsible for: a. keeping in a clean and sanitary condition the occupant’s unit and any other part of the premises that the occupant occupies or controls, and b. otherwise complying with the requirements specified in § 308 {“Occupants’ Sanitary Responsibility”} of this Chapter. 301.2.3 Occupants – Vandalism. The occupant of a non-owner occupied dwelling may not destroy, deface, damage, impair, or carry away, nor permit any other person on the premises to destroy, deface, damage, impair, or carry away any of the facilities, equipment, appurtenances, or any part of the structure of the dwelling. 301.3 Vacant structures and land. All vacant structures and their premises and all vacant land must be maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe condition, as provided in this Code. 301.4 Lead-based paint. Lead-paint hazards must be abated in accordance with: 1. the rules and regulations of: a. the Maryland Department of the Environment; and b. the Baltimore City Health Department; and 2. the Department of Public Works’ requirements governing discharges into the storm water system. 301.4.1 Unoccupied dwelling unit – Scope. These provisions apply to any dwelling unit that: 1. is the subject of a notice or order for the treatment of lead paint, and 2. becomes unoccupied either: a. before the notice or order is served, or b. while the notice or order is still outstanding. 301.4.2 Unoccupied dwelling unit – Posting property. If a dwelling unit is or becomes unoccupied, the Health Commissioner immediately must post 1 or more public notices in, on, or around the dwelling unit stating that the dwelling unit may not be reoccupied until the lead paint notice or order has been abated. 301.4.3 Unoccupied dwelling unit – Reoccupancy prohibited. If a dwelling unit is or becomes unoccupied, the dwelling unit may not be reoccupied until: 1. the lead paint notice or order has been abated, and 2. the Health Commissioner has given written approval of reoccupancy. 301.4.4 Unoccupied dwelling unit – Removing notice, etc., prohibited. Until the Health Commissioner has give written approval of reoccupancy, no person may remove, deface, or otherwise tamper with any notice that has been posted under this section. 301.4.5 Unoccupied dwelling unit – Unauthorized reoccupancy. If a dwelling unit is reoccupied in violation of this section: 1. each day that an unauthorized occupancy continues is a separate offense, and 2. the owner, operator, and unauthorized occupant of the unit are subject to the following penalties: a. in a criminal prosecution, a criminal fine of up to $500 for each offense, and b. in an action seeking equitable relief, a civil fine of up to $500 for each offense.

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 302 Exterior Property Areas {Not Adopted}

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 303 Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs {Not Adopted}

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 304 Repair and Maintenance of Structures

Section 304. Repair and Maintenance of Structures 304.1 General. The interior and exterior of a structure must be maintained in good repair and in a structurally sound and sanitary condition. 304.1.1 Unsafe conditions. {Not Adopted} 304.2 Protective treatment. {As in IPMC} 304.3 Premises identification. Premises identification must be provided and maintained for all buildings in accordance with: 1. Baltimore City Building Code § 502 {“Building Address”}, and 2. City Code Article 26, Subtitle 6 {“Building Address Numbers”}. 304.4 Structural members. All interior and exterior structural members must be: 1. maintained in a structurally sound condition and free from deterioration, and 2. capable of safely supporting the imposed dead and live loads. 304.5 Foundation walls. {As in IPMC} 304.6 Exterior walls. {As in IPMC} 304.7 Roofs and drainage. The roof and flashing must be sound, tight, and without defects that admit rain. Roof drainage must be adequate to prevent dampness or deterioration in the walls or interior portion of the structure. Roof drains, gutters, and downspouts must be provided and maintained in good repair and free from obstructions. Roof water must be discharged away from the foundation and may not be discharged in a manner that creates a public nuisance. 304.8 Decorative features. {As in IPMC} 304.9 Overhang extensions. {As in IPMC} 304.10 Stairways, floors, decks, etc. Every interior and exterior stairway, floor, deck, porch, and balcony, and all their appurtenances must be: 1. structurally sound, 2. properly anchored and capable of supporting the imposed loads, and 3. maintained in good repair and safe condition. 304.11 Chimneys and towers. {As in IPMC} 304.12 Handrails and guards. {As in IPMC} 304.13 Window, skylight, and door frames. {As in IPMC} 304.14 Insect screens. {Not Adopted} 304.15 Doors. 304.15.1 General. 1. All doors, door assemblies, and hardware must be maintained in good condition. 2. Except as otherwise required for means of egress doors, locks and latching hardware must be provided at all entrances to dwelling units and rooming units and must tightly secure the doors at those entrances. 3. Doors must fit properly within their frames. 4. Except for a building where the entrances are staffed by security personnel or where unobstructed access is provided to the entrance of each unit, in a building that contains 2 or more dwelling units, an electric doorbell must be provided for each dwelling unit in that building. 304.15.2 Interior. Every interior door must be capable of being opened and closed by being securely attached and properly equipped with properly functioning attachment and latching hardware. 304.16 Basement hatchways. {As in IPMC} 304.17 Guards for basement windows. {As in IPMC} 304.18 Building security. {As in IPMC} 304.19 Gates. {As in IPMC} 304.20 Interior surfaces. All interior surfaces, including floors, walls, ceilings, windows, and doors, must be maintained in good, clean, and sanitary condition. Peeling, chipping, flaking, or abraded paint must be repaired, removed, or covered. Cracked or loose plaster, decayed wood, and other defective surface conditions must be corrected. Floors in kitchens, bathrooms, lavatories, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms must be kept impervious to water. 304.21 Grading and drainage. All premises must be graded and maintained to: 1. drain away from the foundation of any structure and away from adjoining property, 2. prevent the erosion of soil, and 3. prevent the accumulation of stagnant water. 304.22 Sidewalks, driveways, etc. All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces, and similar areas must be kept in good repair and free from hazardous conditions. 304.23 Exhaust vents. Pipes, ducts, conductors, fans, or blowers may not be allowed to discharge gases, steam, vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors, or other gaseous or particulate wastes directly on any abutting or adjacent public or private property or on any property areas occupied by another in the same building. 304.24 Accessory structures. All accessory structures, including detached garages, fences, gates, walls, and swimming pools, must be maintained in a structurally sound condition and in good repair. 304.25 Defaced property. If an exterior surface of a structure has been defaced by carvings, markings, or graffiti, the surface must be restored to an approved state of maintenance and repair. 304.26 Nuisance or hazardous conditions. All premises must be kept free of any object, material, or condition that constitutes a nuisance or a fire, accident, or health hazard. 304.27 {Reserved} 304.28 Ratproofing. All buildings must be ratproofed and maintained in a ratproof condition by the owner or his agent. Ratproofing methods include: 1. preventing entrance by blocking passages with rat-resistant material, and 2. paving basements and any other areas that are in contact with the soil. 304.29 Equipment. All equipment required by the Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City must be maintained in good working condition. 304.30 Fire protection. All required fire protection, including separation between nonresidential and residential occupancies, must be maintained in good repair. All fire doors must be equipped and maintained as required by the Fire Code of Baltimore City.

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 305 Exterior Sanitary Maintenance – General

Section 305. Exterior Sanitary Maintenance – General 305.1 General. All lots and exterior premises, including abutting sidewalks, gutters, and alleys, must be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition. 305.2 Grass and weeds. 305.2.1 “Weeds” defined. In this section, “weeds” includes all plants and vegetation other than: 1. trees or shrubs, or 2. cultivated flowers and gardens. 305.2.2 Maintenance requirements. All abutting sidewalks, gutters, and alleys must be maintained free of grass, weeds, or plant growth in excess of 4 inches (102 mm). All other premises and exterior property must be maintained free of grass, weeds, or plant growth in excess of 8 inches (203 mm). All noxious weeds are prohibited. 305.3 Trees and shrubbery. All trees and shrubbery that are dangerous to life and property or that create a fire or traffic hazard must be pruned or removed to eliminate the danger or hazard. 305.4 Pest control. All exterior property areas must be kept free from infestation by insects, rodents, and other pests, from rodent harborage, and from the conditions that attract pests. Where pests are found, they must be promptly exterminated by approved processes that will not be injurious to human health. 305.5 Motor vehicles and trailers. Except only as otherwise expressly authorized by law, the following rules apply to all motor vehicles and trailers. 1. No motor vehicle or trailer may be parked, kept, or stored, whether or not covered, on any exterior premises if: a. it is inoperative, unregistered, or fails to display current registration tags, or b. it is in a state of disassembly or disrepair or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. 2. A motor vehicle or trailer may be parked, kept, or stored only on a dustless all-weather surface constructed and maintained in accordance with the Baltimore City Building Code and Baltimore City Zoning Code. 3. Painting a motor vehicle or trailer is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth. Exception: On premises with a proper use permit, a vehicle may undergo overhaul, including body work, if that work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for that purpose. 305.5.1 Registered owner responsible. For a motor vehicle or trailer parked, kept, or stored in violation of § 305.5(1) or (2), the registered owner of the motor vehicle or trailer is responsible for the violation, jointly and severally with the property owner. 305.6 Swimming pools. Swimming pools must be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition. 305.7 Outdoor storage. Outdoor storage must be neat and orderly. All stored objects and materials must be elevated at least 1 foot off the ground to prevent rat harborage, unless elevation is determined unnecessary by the Commissioner. 305.7.1 Caveat. Nothing in this section authorizes any outdoor storage that is otherwise prohibited by law. 305.8 Placement outdoors of upholstered furniture. No person may place, use, keep, store, or maintain any upholstered furniture not manufactured for outdoor use, including, for example, any upholstered chair, sofa, or couch, or any mattress, in any outside area located: 1. in any front, side, or rear yard, or 2. on any covered or uncovered porch, patio, or deck located in or adjoining any front, side, or rear yard. 305.9 Snow and ice on sidewalks. After any snowfall that results in an accumulation of snow or ice on the ground, the snow and ice must be removed and cleared away from all sidewalks that abut the premises. 305.9.1 Time for compliance. The snow and ice must be removed and cleared away: 1. within 6 hours after the snow has stopped falling; or 2. if the snow stopped falling between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m., before 11 a.m. 305.9.2 Manner of compliance. The snow and ice must be removed and cleared away in a manner that: 1. leaves a clear path that is at least 2 feet wide; and 2. does not obstruct the passage of water in the gutters.

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 306 Exterior Sanitary Maintenance – Trash, Garbage, and Debris

Section 306. Exterior Sanitary Maintenance – Trash, Garbage, and Debris 306.1 Accumulation prohibited. All premises, including abutting sidewalks, gutters, and alleys, as well as the interior of every structure, must be kept free of any accumulation of trash, garbage, and debris, including any animal waste, construction material, equipment, furniture, appliances, and similar objects and materials. 306.2 Bulk trash. If discarded or abandoned articles are too large to be disposed of in required receptacles, they must be conveyed to an appropriate landfill or other approved disposal site. 306.3 No deposit on sidewalks, etc. No trash, garbage, or debris may be deposited on any sidewalk, alley, or street or on any public or private lot, except as specified in §§ 306.4 through 306.7 of this Chapter. 306.4 Storage receptacles – Required. Trash, garbage, or debris may not be stored or placed out for collection except in approved storage receptacles. The owner or operator of every occupied premises must provide a sufficient number of these storage receptacles to receive and store trash, garbage, and debris from individual units between days of collection. The receptacles must be maintained in a location accessible to occupants. 306.5 Storage receptacles – Location. If, in the opinion of the Code Official, the exterior maintenance of storage receptacles is causing nuisance or blight, the Code Official may require that, between days of collection, the receptacles be stored: 1. inside the building they serve, or 2. in the discretion of the Code Official, within a contiguous structure. 306.6 Storage receptacles – Specifications and maintenance. 306.6.1 Specifications. 306.6.1.1 General. Each storage receptacle must: 1. be made of metal or some other durable material approved by the Code Official, 2. be watertight, with tight-fitting covers and handles, and 3. either: a. have a capacity of not more than 32 gallons, or b. be a City-owned trash receptacle assigned to the address for the curbside collection of mixed refuse. 306.6.1.2. Exceptions. 1. Receptacles used for recycling need not have covers. 2. Yard waste may be bagged or bundled. 306.6.2. Maintenance. Each storage receptacle must be: 1. maintained in good repair, and 2. kept tightly closed to prevent blight, nuisance, pest infestation, and dispersal of trash, garbage, or debris. 306.7 Placement for collection. Storage receptacles: 1. should be placed out for collection no later than 6 a.m. of the day of collection, 2. may not be placed out on any sidewalk or along an alley earlier than 6 p.m. of the evening before the day of collection, and 3. if placed on a sidewalk or along an alley, must be returned to the premises no later than 6 a.m. on the day after collection. 306.8 Owner transport. At any building for which the City does not provide collection services, the owner and operator must collect and transport the building’s trash, garbage, and debris to an appropriate landfill or other approved disposal site.

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 307 Interior Sanitary Maintenance

Section 307. Interior Sanitary Maintenance 307.1 General. The interior of each unit and the shared, common, or public areas within each building that contains more than one unit must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. 307.2 Floor, furniture, etc., surfaces. Floors, furniture, countertops, and similar surfaces must be clean and free of trash, garbage, and debris, including human and animal waste and any other insanitary matter or cause of nuisance. 307.3 Walls, ceilings, and openings. Walls, ceilings, windows, and doorways must be clean and free of dirt, grease, soot, and any other insanitary matter or cause of nuisance. 307.4 Trash, etc., receptacles. Each unit must have a sufficient number of interior receptacles to contain that unit’s trash, garbage, and debris. 307.5 Plumbing fixtures. Plumbing fixtures must be kept clean and free from any foreign object or material that could obstruct a fixture or a line connected to a fixture. 307.6 {Reserved} 307.7 Pest control. The interior of every building must be kept free of infestation by insects, rodents, and other pests.

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 308 Occupants’ Sanitary Responsibilities.

Section 308. Occupants’ Sanitary Responsibilities. 308.1 General. An occupant must keep in a clean and sanitary condition the occupant’s unit and any other part of the premises that the occupant occupies or controls. However, the owner and operator is responsible for any insanitary condition caused by a sewer back-up or a structural defect. 308.2 Exteriors. An occupant of a single-unit building and an occupant of a unit with exclusive use of an exterior property area must maintain the exterior areas, including abutting sidewalks, gutters, and alleys, in compliance with § 305 {“Exterior ... maintenance – General”} and § 306 {“Exterior ... maintenance – Trash, garbage...”} of this Chapter. However, the owner and operator are responsible for any insanitary condition caused by a sewer back-up or a structural defect. 308.2.1 Exception – Residential property registration. The owner of a property is responsible for exterior sanitary maintenance under any of the circumstances described in Building Code § 114.21.2b {“Liability – Failure to Register Property”}. 308.2.2 Exception – Third environmental citation. The owner of a property is responsible for exterior sanitary maintenance under the circumstances described in Building Code § 114.21.2c {“Liability – Third environmental citation”}. 308.2.3 Exception – Secondary liability. The owner and operator of a property are responsible for exterior sanitary maintenance under any of the circumstances described in Building Code § 114.21.2a {“Secondary liability”}. 308.3 Interiors. Except as otherwise specified in § 308.5, an occupant must maintain the interior of the occupant’s unit and any other part of the building that the occupant occupies or controls in compliance with § 307 {“Interior ... maintenance”} of this Chapter. 308.4 Pest control – Single-unit building. An occupant of a single-unit building is responsible for extermination of insects, rodents, or other pests, other than wood-destroying insects. 308.5 Pest control – Multi-unit building. An occupant of a multi-unit building is responsible for extermination if the occupant’s unit is the only one affected. 308.6 Trash disposal. An occupant may dispose of trash, garbage, and debris only in compliance with § 306 {“Exterior ... maintenance – Trash, garbage...”} of this Chapter. 308.7 Nuisances. An occupant may not create or maintain, in or on the property that the occupant occupies and controls, any condition that constitutes a nuisance.

Baltimore City Code, Building Codes, Part VII, Section 309 Pest Elimination {Not Adopted}

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/building-codes/VII/3Fetched: 10/25/2026