Administrative Sanctions

Baltimore City Code art. 15, subtit. 1, pt. 4

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 1-28 Denial, suspension, or revocation.

§ 1-28. Denial, suspension, or revocation. (a) In general. The Board may deny, suspend, or revoke an adult-entertainment business license or renewal license for any of the following causes: (1) failing to pay the applicable license fee on or before the due date; (2) making any material false statement in any application for an initial or renewal license; (3) lack of accessibility for fire and police protection; (4) failing to comply with any provision of the City Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article, Health Code Article, or Zoning Code Article; (5) failing to comply with any provision of this subtitle or of any rule or regulation adopted under this subtitle; or (6) failing to comply with any provision of any other local, state, or federal law that affects or relates to the operation of the adult-entertainment business. (b) Offenses by owner, operator, or manager. The Board also may deny, suspend, or revoke an adult-entertainment business license or renewal license for the violation, by any owner, operator, or manager of the adult-entertainment business, of any provision of any local, state, or federal law that involves: (1) the manufacture, distribution, possession, or administration of controlled dangerous substances; (2) prostitution, sodomy, perverted sexual practices, or a bawdy house or disorderly house; or (3) obscene matter or immoral practices. (c) Offenses by employee, etc., or vendor. The Board also may deny, suspend, or revoke an adult-entertainment business license or renewal license for the violation, by any employee, agent, independent contractor, or vendor of the adult-entertainment business, of any law referred to in subsection (b) of this section, if: (1) the offense occurred on the premises of the adult-entertainment business; and (2) either: (i) the owner, operator, or manager affirmatively or tacitly approved of the offense; (ii) the owner, operator, or manager had actual or constructive knowledge of the offense; (iii) the owner, operator, or manager reasonably should have known of the offense; or (iv) the offense was a result of the owner, operator, or manager’s failure to supervise. (Ord. 15-427; Ord. 07-552; Ord. 99-417; Ord. 94-443; Ord. 93-258.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 1-29 Fines.

§ 1-29. Fines. For any violation that is cause for suspending or revoking a license, the Board may, instead of or in addition to suspending or revoking the license, impose a civil fine of: (1) for a 1st offense, not more than $500; and (2) for any subsequent offense, not more than $1,000. (Ord. 99-417.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 1-30 Notice and hearing.

§ 1-30. Notice and hearing. (a) In general. No adult-entertainment business license or renewal license may be denied, suspended, or revoked and no fine may be imposed unless the Board gives the applicant or licensee: (1) at least 10 days’ written notice of the intent to impose sanctions; and (2) an opportunity to be heard as to why sanctions should not be imposed. (b) Denial of initial license. For the proposed denial of an initial license, a hearing must be held within 30 days of a timely request, unless the applicant agrees to a later date. (Ord. 99-417; Ord. 94-443; Ord. 93-258.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 1-31 Judicial and appellate review.

§ 1-31. Judicial and appellate review. (a) Judicial review. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Board under this subtitle may seek judicial review of that decision by petition to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City in accordance with the Maryland Rules of Procedure. (b) Review to be expedited. (1) It is the desire and intent of the Mayor and City Council that any review under this section be heard and decided by the Court as expeditiously as possible. (2) To that end, the Board must join in any motion by the appellant for expedited review and cooperate fully with the appellant to obtain an expedited review. (c) Stays. (1) The filing of a petition for judicial review does not stay the decision of the Board. (2) However, on motion and after hearing, the Court may grant a stay as provided in the Maryland Rules of Procedure. (d) Appellate review. A party to the judicial review may appeal the court’s final judgment to the Court of Special Appeals in accordance with the Maryland Rules of Procedure. (Ord. 19-332; Ord. 04-672; Ord. 99-417; Ord. 94-443; Ord. 93-258.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 1-32 {Reserved}

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/15/1/4Fetched: 10/25/2026