§ 5-7 Prerequisites for new or renewal license – Inspection.
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 5-7 (2026)
§ 5-7 Prerequisites for new or renewal license – Inspection.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The inspection required by <cite data-path="13|§5-6">§ 5-6 {“Prerequisites ... – In general”}</cite> of this subtitle must comply with either:
(1)
subsection (b) {“Third-party home inspections”} of this section;
(2)
subsection (c) {“Governmental agency inspections”} of this section; or
(3)
<cite data-path="|13|§5-10">§ 5-10 {“Priority inspections”}</cite> of this subtitle.
(b)Third-party home inspections.
(1)Definitions.
(i)In general.
In this subsection, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(ii)Home inspection.
“Home inspection” means a home inspector’s written evaluation of a rental dwelling’s compliance with the City’s health and safety standards specified in the Housing Commissioner’s rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle.
(iii)Home inspector.
“Home inspector” means an individual:
(A)
who is licensed as a home inspector under Title 16, Subtitle 3A of the State Business Occupation and Professions Article; and
(B)
who, as required by the rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle:
1.
has registered with the Housing Commissioner as generally available to inspect and certify rental dwellings under this subsection;
2.
has, as specified by the rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle, submitted to the Commissioner a conflict-of-interest statement; and
3.
for each home inspection to be performed under this subsection, certifies that neither the home inspector nor any owner, partner, director, officer, employee, or agent of the home inspector or of the home inspector’s business has any financial interest in:
a.
the rental dwelling to be inspected;
b.
the record owner or operator of that rental dwelling; or
c.
any owner, partner, director, officer, employee, or agent of the rental dwelling’s record owner or operator.
(2)Applicant to contract for timely inspection.
(i)
Before applying for a rental dwelling license or renewal license, the applicant must, at the applicant’s expense, contract with a home inspector to perform a home inspection under this section.
(ii)
Inspections may not be performed more than 90 days before a person submits an application for a rental dwelling license or an application for renewal of a rental dwelling license to the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner’s designee.
(3)Number of units to be inspected.
(i)
For any rental dwelling that comprises 9 or fewer dwelling or rooming units, all dwelling and rooming units must be inspected under this subsection.
(ii)
For any multiple-family dwelling or rooming house that comprises 10 or more dwelling or rooming units, the number of units that must be inspected are as determined in the rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle.
(4)Inspector’s reports and certification.
(i)
After the home inspection, the home inspector must issue to the applicant:
(A)
a written report of every inspection conducted under this section; and
(B)
if the rental dwelling meets the City’s health and safety standards specified in the rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle, a certificate of satisfactory compliance with those standards.
(ii)
The reports and the certification must be:
(A)
in the form required by the Commissioner; and
(B)
signed by the home inspector, under oath and under the home inspector’s seal.
(c)Governmental agency inspections.
(1)Scope of subsection.
This subsection applies to any rental dwelling unit that is required to undergo periodic inspections conducted by a governmental agency in accordance with Federal or State inspection standards.
(2)Required evidence of compliance with most recent inspection.
For a rental dwelling unit described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the applicant for a license or renewal license may, in lieu of the requirements of subsection (b) {“Third-party home inspections”} of this section, submit evidence satisfactory to the Housing Commissioner that the unit has passed the most recent periodic inspection by the applicable governmental agency.
(d)Commissioner to audit inspections.
The Commissioner shall conduct an annual audit of inspections conducted under this section.
(e)Commissioner’s inspection authority not affected.
This section does not in any way prevent or limit the authority of the Housing Commissioner to conduct routine, spot, quality-control, or other inspections of rental dwellings under the <cite data-path="|codes">City Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article</cite>.
(f)Inspection reports – Distribution.
Inspection reports used to satisfy <cite data-path="13|§5-6">§ 5-6 {“Prerequisites . . . – In general”}</cite> of this subtitle must be distributed by the record owner or, the managing operator, if other than the record owner, to each resident of the rental dwelling for which a person is applying for a new or renewed rental license at the time the application for a new or renewed license is submitted.
History: Ord. 18-130
History:
History: