Chapter 01 – Definitions
Current through 2026-01-20. Source: COBRA Register Volume 04, Issue 02. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., COBRA § 07.03.01.01 (2026)
Regulation .01 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“Adjacent owner” means the owner of record for a property that is adjacent to a vacant lot that is a part of a proposed side yard disposition.
(2)
Affordable housing land trust.
(a)
“Affordable housing land trust” has the meaning stated in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="grp|14-501">Real Property Article §14-501, Annotated Code of Maryland</cite>.
(b)
“Affordable housing land trust” includes a community housing land trust.
(3)
“Applicant” means a person who has applied to purchase a property from the Department through a disposition program.
(4)
“Application document” means the form created by the Department to apply for a disposition program.
(5)
“Applicant type” means a category of applicant applying for a disposition program including a:
(a)
Homeowner;
(b)
For-profit developer;
(c)
Large 501(c)(3) nonprofit;
(d)
Small 501(c)(3) nonprofit; or
(e)
Community land trust.
(6)
“BOE portal” means the web-based system implemented by the Baltimore City Office of the Comptroller to submit required items to the Board of Estimates for:
(a)
Review; and
(b)
Approval.
(7)
“Board” means the Baltimore City Board of Estimates.
(8)
“BuyIntoBmore” means the initiative developed by the Department that posts properties for sale through a disposition program.
(9)
“Commissioner” means:
(a)
The Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development; or
(b)
The Commissioner’s designee.
(10)
“Compliance officer” means a Department employee responsible for oversight of the terms of a land disposition agreement.
(11)
“Department” means the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development.
(12)
“Disposition” means the sale of City-owned property.
(13)
“Disposition program” means a program regulated under <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite> intended to convey a City-owned property through:
(a)
Sale;
(b)
Lease;
(c)
Transfer;
(d)
Swap; or
(e)
Another means of conveyance as approved by the Commissioner.
(14)
Financial document.
(a)
“Financial document” means proof of monetary funds.
(b)
“Financial document” includes:
(i)
A bank statement;
(ii)
A pre-approval letter from a lending institution;
(iii)
A retirement account statement;
(iv)
An investment account statement; and
(v)
Additional documentation as approved by the Commissioner.
(15)
“Fixed Pricing Policy” means a policy approved by the Department and the Board for use in the Fixed Pricing Program that establishes sale prices for:
(a)
Various applicant types, as provided for under <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>; and
(b)
Various property types, as provided for under <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>.
(16)
“Fixed Pricing Program” means the disposition program operated by the Department to sell properties valued at less than $100,000 to allowed applicant types.
(17)
“For-profit developer” means a person focused on rehabilitation or new construction of a property with the primary goal of generating revenue.
(18)
“Good standing” means the status conferred by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation through a Certificate of Status.
(19)
Green space.
(a)
“Green space” means an unimproved parcel of land that does not include a habitable structure at the time of purchase.
(b)
“Green space” includes a:
(i)
Side yard, if the side yard does not include a livable space;
(ii)
Community garden; or
(iii)
Park.
(c)
“Green space” does not include a parcel of land used for:
(i)
Commercial use; or
(ii)
Urban agriculture.
(20)
“Homeowner” means the owner of record of a property who has an approved homestead application through the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
(21)
“Housing market typology” means a classification system developed by the Baltimore City Department of Planning that broadly categorizes and analyzes Baltimore City housing data.
(22)
“Land disposition agreement” means a contract of sale between the City, the Department, and an approved applicant that:
(a)
Outlines disposition terms; and
(b)
Contains the sections required by <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>.
(23)
“Large 501(c)(3) nonprofit” means a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with 50 or more employees.
(24)
“Lien” means a legal claim against a property for a debt.
(25)
“Nuisance property” has the meaning stated in <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Code" data-path="|13|§5-15|(a)">City Code Article 13, § 5-15(a)</cite>.
(26)
“Owner-occupied” means a property that is the primary residence of the owner of record.
(27)
“OHAAT” means the One House at a Time Baltimore Program.
(28)
“Person” has the meaning stated in <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Code" data-path="|general">City Code General Provisions Article</cite> <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Code" data-path="|general|1|1|1-107">§ 1-107</cite>.
(29)
“Purchaser” means an applicant for a disposition program that has received and returned an award letter from the Department in accordance with <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>.
(30)
“Remote Online Notary (RON)” means a vendor whose technology is authorized for use during remote notarial acts in the State of Maryland.
(31)
“SDAT” means the Maryland State Department of Assessment and Taxation.
(32)
“Side yard” means vacant land for sale by the Department that is adjacent to an applicant's property.
(33)
“Site assemblage” means the combination of multiple properties to create a larger development site.
(34)
“Six-year period” means the combination of the:
(a)
Twelve-month period during which an applicant is required to obtain an occupancy permit in accordance with <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>; and
(b)
Five-year period during which an applicant is required to maintain primary residency at a property in accordance with <cite data-path="07.03">this subtitle</cite>.
(35)
“Small 501(c)(3) nonprofit” means a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with fewer than 50 employees.
(36)
Occupancy Permit.
(a)
“Occupancy permit” has the meaning stated in 202.2.45 Baltimore City Building Code, Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City, 2024 Edition.
(b)
“Occupancy permit” means a permit issued by the Department that confirms the:
(i)
Intended use of a property; and
(ii)
Maximum number of individuals who may occupy a property.
(37)
“Vacant building notice” means a designation conferred by the City to a property that is:
(a)
Uninhabitable;
(b)
Unusable; or
(c)
A nuisance property.
(38)
“Vacant structure” has the meaning stated in <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Code" data-path="|13|§4-1|(i)">City Code Article 13, § 4-1(i)</cite>.
(39)
“Vacant lot” means a lot with no physical structures that has:
(a)
Failed to abate a code violation; and
(b)
Been issued a vacant building notice.
(40)
“Waiver valuation” means a process used by the Department to determine the value of a property rather than obtaining a third-party appraisal.
(41)
“Whole block strategy” means a redevelopment plan that focuses on revitalizing an entire block rather than individual properties.