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<baltimore-city-law heading="Regulation .04 Application Requirements.">
  <section prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Application Requirements.">
    <para num="A.">Application deadlines.<para num="(1)">Application deadlines will be set annually and advertised on the Finance and HCD    websites.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Application deadlines are<para num="(a)">binding upon all applicants, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">shall not be altered for an individual applicant.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">Failure to meet a deadline shall result in the application being rejected.</para>
      <para num="(4)">By submitting an exemption application<para num="(a)">an applicant acknowledges these requirements, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">agrees to be bound by the deadlines.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="B.">Application submission.<para num="(1)">Applications shall be submitted to the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) either:<para num="(a)">electronically at &lt;strong&gt;https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/baltimoremd/participant&lt;/strong&gt;;</para>
        <para num="(b)">by mail to Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, Tax Sale Exemption Program, 417 E Fayette Street, 11&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201;</para>
        <para num="(c)">in person at 417 E Fayette Street, 11&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; floor; or</para>
        <para num="(d)">by email to dhcd.taxsaleinfo@baltimorecity.gov, subject line: Tax Sale Exemption Application.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">The City of Baltimore is not<para num="(a)">responsible for any connectivity or application submission issues experienced by the applicant, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">will not grant an extension of any deadline due to issues beyond the control of the Department of Housing and Community Development.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">Complete applications shall include copies of the following documentation:<para num="(a)">a copy of a photo ID for the applicant issued by<para num="(i)">the United States government;</para>
          <para num="(ii)">the State of Maryland; or</para>
          <para num="(iii)">the City of Baltimore;</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(b)">any two of the following documents showing the current address of the applicant:<para num="(i)">utility bills;</para>
          <para num="(ii)">photo ID issued by the United States government, State of Maryland, or City of Baltimore; or</para>
          <para num="(iii)">Social Security (SSA, SSDI, SSI) award letters.; and</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(c)">a complete Income Information form which includes:<para num="(i)">the total number of people in the household;</para>
          <para num="(ii)">number of adults, school-aged and non-school-aged children;</para>
          <para num="(iii)">total gross household income; and</para>
          <para num="(iv)">proof of household income.</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(d)">Proof of household income may include:<para num="(i)">two pay stubs from current employer, within last two months of employment;</para>
          <para num="(ii)">Social Security (SSA, SSDI, SSI) award letters;</para>
          <para num="(iii)">pension statements;</para>
          <para num="(iv)">Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation statements or award letters; or</para>
          <para num="(v)">other documentation that confirms the income provided in the Income Information form.</para>
        </para>
      </para>
      <para num="(4)">The online and paper form of the application shall list documents accepted to validate eligibility for this program.</para>
      <para num="(5)">The Tax Sale Ombudsman shall provide information and answer applicant questions about<para num="(a)">the application process, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">required supporting documentation.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="C.">Application review.<para num="(1)">Hard copy applications received by mail or personal delivery shall be date and time stamped upon receipt by the Department of Housing and Community Development.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Date and time stamped hard copy applications shall be entered in the Neighborly project management database by HCD personnel.</para>
      <para num="(3)">Applications received by HCD shall be reviewed for completeness and eligibility.</para>
      <para num="(4)">Applications shall be deemed complete if the application includes all required documentation and all required application fields are completed.</para>
      <para num="(5)">Applications shall be deemed eligible if<para num="(a)">all eligibility criteria are met, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">all required documentation has been verified.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(6)">The Department of Finance shall be notified of applications deemed eligible upon review.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="D.">Incomplete applications.<para num="(1)">Applications shall be deemed incomplete when the homeowner<para num="(a)">does not fully complete the application,</para>
        <para num="(b)">does not provide required documentation, or</para>
        <para num="(c)">completed fields in the application are not legible.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">For incomplete applications, HCD shall contact the applicant<para num="(a)">using the contact information provided on the application</para>
        <para num="(b)">to request additional information or clarification.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="E.">Eligibility review.<para num="(1)">Applications shall be deemed ineligible if the homeowner does not meet the eligibility criteria based on<para num="(a)">documentation provided, or</para>
        <para num="(b)">the application and documentation verification process.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">The Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the applicant using the contact information provided on the application.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="F.">Fund availability.<para num="(1)">For all eligible applications, the Department of Finance shall assess<para num="(a)">the amount of tax and lien liability on the applicant dwelling, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">the aggregate tax and lien liability for the Program at the time of receiving the application.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">If the amount of tax and lien liability on the applicant dwelling causes the aggregate tax and lien liability of the Program to exceed $2 million, the Department of Finance shall<para num="(a)">reject the application, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">assess successive applications until it identifies an application with outstanding tax and lien liability that will not exceed the Program’s aggregate tax and lien liability limit.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">When the remaining Program funding available is below $750<para num="(a)">the application process shall be closed and</para>
        <para num="(b)">no additional applications shall be approved.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(4)">The Department of Finance shall notify HCD of approved applications based on fund availability.</para>
      <para num="(5)">The Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the applicant using the contact information provided on the application.</para>
      <para num="(6)">The Department of Finance shall deny an application if<para num="(a)">the property is not on the tax sale list, or</para>
        <para num="(b)">if the lien amount is greater than the remaining available funds.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(7)">If the Department of Finance denies an application,<para num="(a)">it shall notify HCD as to why the application was denied, and</para>
        <para num="(b)">the Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the applicant using the contact information provided on the application.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
