Bodily Wastes

Baltimore City Code div. Health Code, tit. 5, subtit. 5

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-501 Spitting in public places.

§ 5-501. Spitting in public places. No person may spit on: (1) any footpath or sidewalk of any public street or public square; (2) the floor or anywhere else in any public building under the control of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore; (3) the floor, platform, or steps of any railroad, bus, or other common carrier or of any depot or station; (4) the floor or steps of any theater, store, factory, or other building that is used in common by the public; (5) the floor of any hall or office used in common by the guests of a hotel or lodging house. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-502 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-503 Urinating or defecating in public places — in general.

§ 5-503. Urinating or defecating in public places — in general. No person may urinate or defecate on or about: (1) any public place, way, or park; or (2) the mall or adjacent parking area of any shopping center. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-504 Urinating or defecating in public places — parents or guardians of minors.

§ 5-504. Urinating or defecating in public places — parents or guardians of minors. A parent or guardian may not knowingly permit a minor for whom the parent or guardian is responsible to violate § 5-503 {“Urinating or defecating in public places — in general”} of this subtitle. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, §§ 5-505 to 5-506 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-507 Minors urinating or defecating in public.

§ 5-507. Minors urinating or defecating in public. (a) Order to stop. A police officer who finds any minor violating § 5-503 {“Urinating or defecating in public places — in general”} of this subtitle must order the minor to stop the violation. (b) Failure to comply. (1) If the minor fails to comply with the order, the police officer may take him or her into custody. (2) After the information needed to carry out the purposes of this subtitle has been recorded, the minor must be: (i) promptly released to his or her parent or guardian, with written notice to the parent or guardian of the violation; and (ii) referred to the Baltimore City Police Department’s court sanctioned pre-intake adjustment program. (Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-508 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-509 Enforcement by citation.

§ 5-509. Enforcement by citation. (a) In general. In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of: (1) an environmental citation under City Code Article 1, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}; or (2) a civil citation under City Code Article 1, Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}. (b) Process not exclusive. The issuance of a citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law. (Ord. 03-595; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 5-510 Penalties: Varied.

§ 5-510. Penalties: Varied. (a) Spitting: $25/ $50. Any person who violates any provision of § 5-501 {“Spitting in public places”} of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to: (1) for a first offense, a fine of not more than $25; and (2) for a second and any subsequent offense, a fine of not more than $50. (b) Urinating or defecating — adult offenders: $500 and 30 days. Any adult who violates § 5-503 {“Urinating or defecating in public places — in general”} of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 30 days or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense. (c) Urinating or defecating — parent or guardian of minor: $200. Any parent or guardian who violates § 5-504 {“Urinating or defecating in public places — parents or guardians of minors”} of this subtitle within 12 months after receiving written notice of the minor’s having violated § 5-504 {“Urinating or defecating in public places — in general”} of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $200 for each offense. (Ord. 10-340; Ord. 99-548.)

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/health/5/5Fetched: 10/25/2026