Employee-Owned Businesses

Baltimore City Code art. 5, subtit. 15

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 5, § 15-1 Definitions.

§ 15-1. Definitions. (a) In general. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. (b) Director. “Director” means the Director of a stated executive department or that Director’s designee. (c) Employee-owned business. “Employee-owned business” means a business in which: (1) the business’s employees are represented on the board of directors and the business’s employees control the majority of the voting stock; or (2) the trustees are elected by the business’s employees, if the business is held in trust that controls the majority of the voting stock. (Ord. 20-429.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 5, § 15-2 Reporting – In general.

§ 15-2. Reporting – In general. (a) When and by whom. No later than 3 months after the end of each fiscal year, the Directors of the Departments of Finance, Public Works, Transportation, General Services, and Recreation and Parks shall jointly submit a report to the Mayor and the City Council regarding employee-owned businesses in Baltimore City and shall include the information required by this subtitle. (b) Business input. To the extent practicable, in preparing the report required under by this subtitle, the Directors of the Departments of Finance, Public Works, Transportation, General Services, and Recreation and Parks may consult with employee-owned businesses in Baltimore City to provide necessary background and advice. (c) Identification of employee-owned businesses. Information in the report required by this subtitle shall be limited to only those employee-owned businesses that have identified themselves to the City as being an employee-owned business. (Ord. 20-429.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 5, § 15-3 Reporting – City contracts awarded to employee-owned businesses.

§ 15-3. Reporting – City contracts awarded to employee-owned businesses. (a) Contracts issued through Bureau of Procurement. The Director of Finance, in consultation with the City Purchasing Agent, shall include in the report required by this subtitle the following information for the previous fiscal year: (1) the number and total dollar value of City contracts awarded to employee-owned businesses through the Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement process, disaggregated by City agency and type of business; (2) the number and total dollar value of City contracts through the Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement process, disaggregated by City agency and type of business; and (3) of City contracts issued through the Department of Finance Bureau of Procurement process, the percentage of those contracts awarded to employee-owned businesses, disaggregated by City agency and type of business. (b) Contracts issued outside of Bureau of Procurement. The Directors of the Departments of Public Works, Transportation, General Services, and Recreation and Parks shall include in the report required by this subtitle the following information for each Director’s respective department for the previous fiscal year: (1) the number and total dollar value of all departmental contracts awarded to employee-owned businesses, disaggregated by department and type of business; (2) the number and total dollar value of all departmental contracts, disaggregated by department and type of business; and (3) of all departmental contracts, the percentage of departmental contracts awarded to employee-owned businesses, disaggregated by department and type of business. (Ord. 20-429.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 5, § 15-4 Assessments; Legislative and policy recommendations.

§ 15-4. Assessments; Legislative and policy recommendations. Utilizing the data contained in the report required by § 15-2 {“Reporting – In general”} of this subtitle, the Mayor’s Office of Small Business (or its successor office, agency, or unit) shall, no later than June 30 of each year, submit a report to the Mayor and City Council setting forth: (1) an assessment of the difficulties or obstacles that employee-owned businesses encounter when competing for City contracts; and (2) legislative or policy proposals to lessen the effects of the difficulties and obstacles and to enhance the ability of employee-owned businesses to compete for and obtain City contracts. (Ord. 20-429.)

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/5/15Fetched: 10/25/2026