General Care and Control

Baltimore City Code div. Health Code, tit. 10, subtit. 3

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-301 Rabies – Vaccinations.

§ 10-301. Rabies – Vaccinations. (a) Vaccination required. No person may own or keep a dog, cat, feral cat, or ferret that is older than 4 months unless it has a current rabies vaccination, unless this requirement is waived by the Public Health Veterinarian. (b) Certificate required. (1) Any person who brings a dog, cat, feral cat, or ferret over 4 months old into the City must have readily available a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian or issued by an approved government agency. (2) A dog, cat, feral cat, or ferret for which there is no evidence of a current vaccination must immediately be: (i) vaccinated by a veterinarian; or (ii) removed from the City. (c) Unlicensed dog or cat presumed unvaccinated. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any unlicensed dog, cat, or feral cat that is older than 4 months is presumed to be unvaccinated. This presumption can be rebutted only by a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian or issued by an approved government agency. (2) A feral cat that has been ear tipped is presumed to have been vaccinated at least once. (d) Issuance of certificates. (1) Any veterinarian who administers a rabies vaccination to an animal must complete a vaccination certificate and give a copy of the certificate to the animal’s owner or custodian. (2) In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the certificate must state: (i) the date the vaccination was administered; and (ii) the vaccination’s expiration date. (e) Commissioner may operate anti-rabies clinics. The Commissioner may operate rabies vaccination clinics and charge reasonable fees to defray the cost of the services provided. (f) Other animal rabies vaccinations. In the rules and regulations adopted under § 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article, the Commissioner may require rabies vaccinations for other animals. (g) Owner to provide copy of rabies vaccination certificate to custodian. Whenever the owner of an animal places it in the care or custody of another person, the owner must provide that custodian with a copy of the animal’s rabies vaccination certificate. (Text Conformed 03/10/21; Ord. 11-573; Ord. 07-583; Ord. 00-024; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-302 Rabies – Possible exposure.

§ 10-302. Rabies – Possible exposure. (a) Required reporting. In addition to complying with State Health-General Article, § 18-316, a person must immediately, by telephone or in person, report to the Commissioner and the Baltimore City Police Department whenever that person has knowledge of: (1) any animal susceptible to rabies that: (i) has bitten or scratched and broken the skin of any human being; or (ii) otherwise has exposed any human being to a possible rabies infection; (2) any animal that has been bitten by another animal suspected of having rabies; or (3) any other animal that is suspected of having rabies. (b) Isolation and examination. In addition to the requirements of State Health-General Article, § 18-316, the following apply to a quarantined animal: (1) the animal must be isolated in the manner and for the period that the Commissioner directs; and (2) at any time during the isolation, the Commissioner or the owner or custodian of the animal may direct that the animal be humanely killed for the purpose of rabies testing. (c) Expenses. (1) The isolation and examination of an animal under this section is at the expense of the animal’s owner or custodian. (2) When the animal is impounded, the animal’s owner or custodian must pay to the Office an initial deposit, as set under § 10-106 of this title, toward expenses related to isolation and examination. (d) Release of animal. An animal isolated under this section may be released only: (1) with the consent of the Commissioner; and (2) on payment of: (i) the fee set for each day or part of a day that the animal was held; and (ii) all costs incurred during the isolation. (Ord. 11-573; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-303 Humane care required.

§ 10-303. Humane care required. Every owner or custodian of an animal must provide the animal with humane care and treatment, which includes providing all of the following: (1) sufficient and wholesome food and water, which means: (i) at least once a day, the animal must be fed food of a sufficient quantity and with adequate nutritive value, in clean and sanitary receptacles; and (ii) the animal must have clean and drinkable water available at all times; (2) proper shelter and protection from the weather, which means: (i) the animal must be kept reasonably free of urine, fecal matter, and any other trash or hazardous material; (ii) the animal must have reasonable protection to minimize heat exposure; and (iii) the animal must have access to a structurally sound shelter in good repair that provides suitable protection from the elements; (3) veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering or to maintain the animal’s health; and (4) sufficient exercise space, which means: (i) the animal must have proper space to be able to stand to its full height, stretch out, turn around, lie down, and make normal postural adjustments comfortably; (ii) the animal must be allowed to exercise and must be given freedom of movement as necessary to maintain good physical condition; and (iii) more specifically for dogs, cats, and feral cats: A. a dog. cat, or feral cat may only be confined to a cage for temporary confinement; and B. if a dog is caged, it must be removed from the cage and exercised at least: 1. twice daily for at least half an hour each time; or 2. once a day for a minimum of 2 hours. (Ord. 11-573; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, §§ 10-304 to 10-306 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-307 Restraints required.

§ 10-307. Restraints required. (a) In general. All animals must be restrained: (1) as required by this section; and (2) in the case of a dangerous animal, as required by § 10-702 {“Dangerous animals”} of this title. (b) Animals generally. (1) Except as otherwise authorized under paragraph (2) of this subsection, all animals must be kept: (i) confined in a building or secure enclosure; (ii) secured by a leash or otherwise; or (iii) restrained according to rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner. (2) This subsection does not apply while the animal is: (i) participating in an off-leash activity approved by the Commissioner; or (ii) is in an area and during the hours approved by the Director of Recreation and Parks for off-leash recreation. (c) Female animals in heat. Every female animal in heat must be confined in a building or secure enclosure so that it cannot come into contact with a male animal, except if the owner has an animal fancier permit. (Ord. 11-573; Ord. 09-172; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-308 Transporting animals.

§ 10-308. Transporting animals. (a) Confinement in vehicle. No person may place, confine, or allow an animal to be placed or confined inside a vehicle under conditions or for a period of time that endanger the health or well-being of the animal due to temperature, lack of food or drink, or other conditions that might reasonably be expected to cause death, disability, or suffering. (b) Unenclosed area of vehicle. No person may allow an animal to ride in the unenclosed area of a vehicle unless the animal is confined by a secure tether or a securely affixed and ventilated crate. (Ord. 11-573.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-309 Disposition of dead animals.

§ 10-309. Disposition of dead animals. (a) Prohibited disposition. The owner or custodian of a dead animal may not: (1) deposit the animal or leave it exposed on any public or private property; or (2) place it in a storm drain or watershed area. (b) Required disposition. (1) Dead animals must be promptly disposed of by cremation, burial, or other sanitary means. (2) On request, the Office may pick up dead domesticated animals for disposal, subject to a fee for the disposal as set under § 10-105 of this title. (Ord. 11-573.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, §§ 10-310 to 10-312 {Reserved}

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-313 Animal waste.

§ 10-313. Animal waste. (a) In general. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the owner or custodian of an animal must: (1) have in his or her possession a means for the removal and sanitary disposal of the animal’s feces; and (2) immediately remove all feces left by the animal: (i) on that person’s or any other person’s private property; or (ii) on any public property, including any street, sidewalk, foot path, median, gutter, alley, park, or recreation area. (b) Deposit in storm drain, etc., prohibited. The owner or custodian of an animal may not dispose of the animal’s feces by placing them in a storm drain or watershed area. (c) Exceptions. Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to: (1) an animal owned by and while working for a law enforcement or other governmental agency; or (2) an animal professionally trained to aid the visually, hearing, or mobility disabled, while actually being used for that purpose. (Ord. 11-573; Ord. 05-121; Ord. 99-548.)

Baltimore City Code, Health Code, § 10-314 Injury by vehicle.

§ 10-314. Injury by vehicle. If a motor vehicle hits or is hit by an animal, the driver of the motor vehicle must immediately: (1) stop the vehicle; and (2) if the animal is injured or killed, report the accident to: (i) the Baltimore City Police Department; and (ii) the animal’s owner or custodian, if the owner or custodian can be determined and located. (Ord. 11-573; 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/10/3Fetched: 10/25/2026