Transient Merchants

Baltimore City Code art. 15, subtit. 20

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 20-1 “Transient merchant” defined.

§ 20-1. “Transient merchant” defined. (a) In general. A “transient merchant” is any person who: (1) displays samples, models, goods, wares, or merchandise in any hotel or motel room, rooming house, store, club, storehouse, house, or other place for the purpose of securing orders for the retail sale of such goods, wares, or merchandise; and (2) does not own said premises or is not the holder of a formal lease thereon. (b) Farmers excepted. Exempted from this definition are farmers. (Ord. 71-1212.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 20-2 License required.

§ 20-2. License required. No person shall engage in business as a transient merchant unless he shall first have obtained a license to do so from the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing. (Ord. 25-013 Section 1; Ord. 71-1212.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 20-3 Application for license.

§ 20-3. Application for license. An applicant for a transient merchant’s license shall provide the following information: (1) his home address; (2) the firm or firms he represents, together with credentials establishing the exact relationship; (3) a brief description of the nature of the business and the kind of goods or commodities he desires to sell; and (4) the hotel, room, or other place where the applicant proposes to sell such merchandise. (Ord. 71-1212.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 20-4 Fee.

§ 20-4. Fee. The fee for a transient merchant’s license shall be at the rate of $375 for each 60-day period or portion thereof. (Ord. 77-402; Ord. 71-1212.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 20-5 Bonding; contracts; delivery.

§ 20-5. Bonding; contracts; delivery. (a) Bond required. Before such license is issued by the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing, the applicant will be required to post a surety bond in an amount of $1,000, with a surety company licensed to do business in the State of Maryland. (b) Form and tenor of bond; merchant’s duties. (1) Said bond shall be approved as to form and sufficiency by the City Solicitor before such license is issued. (2) The condition of such bond shall be: (i) that said transient merchant will well and truly perform any and all contracts or sales orders made within the City; and (ii) more particularly, that if said merchant takes orders for merchandise to be delivered at a future date and accepts payment in part or in full therefor, he will deliver said merchandise in a satisfactory condition within a period of 4 months from the date of said contract, copy of which contract or sales order with full particulars is to be delivered to the purchaser at the time of sale. (3) There shall be no forfeiture in respect to the 4-months limitation where there is proof that nondelivery was due to strikes or other extraordinary events beyond the control of said merchant. However, in such event the merchant upon demand shall promptly return in full the purchaser’s deposit; and, if he fails so to do, the surety will be required to make restitution under said bond. (Ord. 25-013 Section 1; Ord. 71-1212.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 15, § 20-6 Reports by hotel keepers.

§ 20-6. Reports by hotel keepers. The owner, proprietor, or manager of any hotel, motel, rooming house, or other place of public accommodation shall report, within 6 hours after renting, to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing, the name of any person who has rented a room or other space for the sale and display of merchandise of a transient merchant, giving the location of the room so rented. (Ord. 25-013 Section 1; Ord. 71-1212.)

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/15/20Fetched: 10/25/2026