Hotels

Baltimore City Code art. 15, subtit. 10

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-1 Definitions.

§ 10-1. Definitions. (a) In general. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. (b) Hotel. “Hotel” means any building, including any motel, that: (1) contains sleeping accommodations for more than 5 persons; and (2) is open to the transient public. (c) Housing Department; Department. “Housing Department” or “Department” means the City Department of Housing and Community Development. (d) Human trafficking. “Human trafficking” means: (1) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform a commercial sex act has not attained 18 years of age; or (2) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. (e) {Repealed} (Ord. 22-125; Ord. 19-332; Ord. 16-503; Ord. 15-353.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-2 Registration required.

§ 10-2. Registration required. No person may operate a hotel in Baltimore City without first registering the hotel with the Housing Department on the form required by that Department. (Ord. 16-503; Ord. 15-353.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-3 Rules, regulations, and forms.

§ 10-3. Rules, regulations, and forms. Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the City General Provisions Article, the Housing Department must adopt rules, regulations, and forms to carry out this subtitle. (Text Conformed 03/01/21; Ord. 15-353.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, §§ 10-4 and 10-5 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-6 Anti-trafficking training required.

§ 10-6. Anti-trafficking training required. (a) Hotel employees to be trained. Any person who owns or operates a hotel within the City must provide training on how to identify human trafficking activities and human trafficking victims: (1) to all new hotel employees, within 90 days of hire; and (2) to all hotel employees, at least once every two years. (b) Training to be approved by Health Commissioner. The anti-trafficking training program required by this section must be approved by the Health Commissioner as appropriate for training employees on how to identify human trafficking activities and human trafficking victims. (c) Certification required. Beginning in calendar year 2020, any person who owns or operates a hotel within the City must annually certify to the Housing Commissioner, no later than December 31 of each year, that all hotel employees have completed the training required by this section. (Ord. 19-241; Ord. 16-503; Ord. 15-353.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-7 Posting certification.

§ 10-7. Posting certification. (a) In general. After the issuance to a hotel of a multiple-family dwelling license required by City Code Article 13 {“Housing and Urban Renewal”}, § 5-4 {“License required”}, the hotel must prominently display a sign stating that the facility has provided training to all employees on how to identify human trafficking activities and human trafficking victims. (b) Manner of display. The sign required by subsection (a) of this section must be prominently displayed in the lobby of the hotel in the form and manner required by the Department. (Ord. 15-353.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-8 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 10-9 Penalties.

§ 10-9. Penalties. (a) In general. Any person who violates or who neglects or refuses to comply with any provision of this subtitle or of any rule or regulation adopted under this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 12 months or both fine and imprisonment. (b) Each day after notice a separate offense. Each day that a violation continues after notification constitutes a separate offense. (Ord. 15-353.)

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/15/10Fetched: 10/25/2026