Lamps and Lighting

Baltimore City Code art. 26, subtit. 13

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 13-1 Street lamps, etc.

§ 13-1. Street lamps, etc. (a) Contracts for services. The Department of Transportation, subject to the powers of the Board of Estimates, shall make all contracts: (1) for furnishing, operating, and maintaining lamps and lamp standards; (2) for furnishing steam for public buildings; and (3) for furnishing illuminating gas and electric current for street lamps and public buildings. (b) Maintaining street lamps. The Department of Transportation must: (1) regulate the lighting and cleaning of the City lamps and see that they are kept in proper repair; (2) erect new lamp standards and lamps for lighting the highways, streets, lanes, alleys, bridges, parks, and squares in the City; (3) remove or relocate any lamp standards and lamps whenever and wherever, in its judgment, convenience and necessity of the public may require; (4) make monthly statements of the street gas lamps and ascertain the correct rate or rates of gas consumption for all such lamps; and (5) ensure that, on or before June 30th 2013, all City electric street lamps are equipped with energy efficient light emitting diode lights or similar cost-effective technology. (Ord. 11-567; Ord. 76-056; Ord. 46-590; Ord. 1880-104.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 13-2 Lighting alleys.

§ 13-2. Lighting alleys. (a) In general. The Department of Transportation may, in its discretion, furnish lighting for any alleyway, either improved or unimproved, public or private, that is connected to a public way, and is in general use by the City’s sanitation and other municipal vehicles and the public, when, in its judgment, the safety and convenience of the public so require. (b) Construction of section. Nothing in this section may be construed as committing the City to the policy of lighting private property; nor shall it be construed as investing the Department of Transportation with any authority to invade private rights. (Ord. 15-435; Ord. 76-056; Ord. 73-471.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 13-3 Shades on street lamps.

§ 13-3. Shades on street lamps. (a) Department to issue permits. (1) The Department of Transportation shall issue on application, permits for the placing of shades over portions of street lamps when the lamps are situated so close to dwelling houses as, in the Department’s discretion, to be a special annoyance to the occupants of these houses. (2) No charge or fee shall be made for the issuing of such permits. (b) Standards. In no case shall it be lawful to place any shades on or about any street lamps in such a manner as to interfere with the full and proper lighting of the streets, alleys, lanes or sidewalks. (c) Department to supervise placement. The placing of all shades over street lamps shall be done under the supervision and direction of the Department of Transportation. (d) Removal. All shades shall be removed on notice from the Department of Transportation whenever the Department finds them unnecessary or the public interest requires their removal. (Ord. 15-435; Ord. 76-056; Ord. 46-598; Ord. 00-068.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 13-4 Interfering with lamps.

§ 13-4. Interfering with lamps. (a) Interference prohibited. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons other than such persons as are legally authorized for that purpose: (1) to light or extinguish any of the public lamps of the City of Baltimore; (2) to turn the stopcock of any such public lamp or to do any other thing to increase or diminish the flow of gas or electricity therein; (3) to attach anything to any public lamp or lamp-post; (4) to interfere in any way with the lighting of the highways, streets, lanes, alleys, bridges, parks, or squares of the City of Baltimore; (5) to remove or in any way damage any public lamp or lamp-post in said City; or (6) to post or paste any notice or advertisement on any such lamp or lamp-post. (b) Penalties. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay the sum of $5 for each and every offense, and in addition shall pay the costs of all damage to said lamp or lamp-post, to be recovered as other penalties for violating City ordinances are recoverable. (Ord. 46-600; Ord. 1894-018; Ord. 1877-006.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 26, § 13-5 Police to report problems.

§ 13-5. Police to report problems. The Police Department shall report to the Department of Transportation: (1) all failures to light the lamps at the proper time; and (2) all broken or damaged street lamps. (Ord. 15-435; Ord. 76-056; Ord. 46-601; Ord. 1896-032; Res. 1891-118; Ord. 1888-83; Res. 1887-008.)

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/26/13Fetched: 10/25/2026