# Subtitle 35 – City Seal; City Slogan; Flags

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 35-1 City Seal - established.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-1 (2026)

The seal heretofore provided and used, the impression on which is a representation of the Battle Monument, is hereby established and declared to have been and now to be the Seal of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.

*History: Ord. 1858-001*

## § 35-2 City Seal - custody; fees.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-2 (2026)

(a) The Director of Finance shall take under his charge and keeping the Corporate Seal of the City, and use it in all cases which now are or may hereafter be required, either by the laws of the United States, the several States, the ordinances of this corporation, or the usage and customs of nations, whenever applied to for that purpose.

(b)

  (1) And for each and every seal which he shall affix to an instrument or instruments of writing, he shall be entitled to receive for the use of the City, the sum of $2.

  (2) Except that in cases where the certificate of the Director of Finance under seal shall be required to be used as evidence in the claims of soldiers and seamen in the United States service, or in the claims of the widows or heirs of such as may have died, or may hereafter die in the service, he shall furnish such certificate without any charge whatever.

*History: Ord. 1858-008*

*History: Ord. 1865-028*

## § 35-3 City Seal - prohibited uses.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-3 (2026)

(a)

  (1) No person other than the Director of Finance and his clerks and subordinates shall attach, impress, or affix the Corporate Seal of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to any paper, instrument, or document whatsoever.

  (2) No person shall use a copy or facsimile of the Seal of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for any advertising purposes whatsoever, nor shall a copy or facsimile of said Seal be used in any pamphlet, program, prospectus, or paper or document of any character other than the official publications and stationery of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and its officers and officials.

(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of $500 for each offense, said fine to be collected as other fines for the violation of City Ordinances are collected.

*History: Ord. 22-697*

## § 35-4 City Seal - motor vehicles.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-4 (2026)

Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to prevent or affect the use of, by a resident of Baltimore City, a copy or facsimile of the Seal of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, if it is affixed to a motor vehicle where a registration plate is normally placed and if such use is not prohibited by the Motor Vehicle Laws of the State of Maryland.

*History: Ord. 54-959*

*History: Ord. 76-022*

## § 35-5 City Slogan.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-5 (2026)

The phrase “Baltimore – Birthplace of The Star-Spangled Banner” is established and approved as the official slogan of the City of Baltimore.

*History: Ord. 15-321*

## § 35-6 City Flag.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-6 (2026)

The following described design, recommended by the aforesaid legally authorized “Flag Commission” <em>{cf. Ord. 14-507 and Preamble to Ord. 14-565}</em>, is hereby approved and established as the official “Flag of Baltimore City”:

(1) The Flag shall be of the Lord Baltimore colors, to wit, black and gold, heraldically arranged as in his armorial bearings, that is to say, paly of 6 pieces, or, and Sable, a bend counterchanged; and superimposed thereon, as an augmentation of honor, a shield, sable, bordered, or, charged with the Battle Monument argent, in memory of the Defenders of Baltimore during the War of 1812-14.

(2) The said Flag in dimensions, shall be 9 feet long by 6 feet deep (or of the proportions of 3 to 2), the superimposed shield being 2 feet 6 inches wide by 3 feet and 3/8 of an inch from top to tip.

(3) The said Flag in color and in heraldic layout shall be in accordance with design published in the <em>Municipal Journal</em> of December 18, 1914, and now on file in the office of the Department of Legislative Reference.

*History: Ord. 14-565*

## § 35-7

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-7 (2026)

Reserved

## § 35-8 American flag on City buildings.

Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 35-8 (2026)

The superintendent of any of the public buildings belonging to and used by the municipal government of the City shall cause to be raised the American flag on the same:

(1) on each and every legal holiday during the year; and

(2) at half-mast on May 30 (known as Memorial Day).

*History: Ord. 95-029*

*History: Ord. 76-022*