<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 8A – Eviction Chattels">
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-1" heading="Definitions.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Eviction chattels.">“Eviction chattels” means any property removed from a leased dwelling under a warrant of restitution.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Leased dwelling.">“Leased dwelling” means any dwelling unit, rooming unit, efficiency unit, or other living quarters, whether in a single-family dwelling, a multiple-family dwelling, an apartment complex, or otherwise, that was occupied under a lease between a tenant and a landlord.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Foreclosure purchaser.">“Foreclosure purchaser” means:<para num="(1)">any person who purchases real property in:<para num="(i)">a foreclosure sale under Maryland Rules Title 14 {“Sales of Property”}, Chapter 200 {“Foreclosure of Lien Instruments”};</para>
        <para num="(ii)">a judicial sale under Maryland Rules Title 14 {“Sales of Property”}, Chapter 300 {“Judicial Sales”}; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">a tax sale under Maryland Rules Title 14 {“Sales of Property”}, Chapter 500 {“Tax Sales”}; and</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">any substituted purchaser, as defined in Maryland Rule 14-207(f)(3).</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 08-041</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-2" heading="Notice of pending dispossession.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Scope.">The requirement to provide notice under subsection (b) of this section does not apply to any judgment entered:<para num="(1)">in favor of a  foreclosure purchaser; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">in favor of a landlord for possession of a leased dwelling under one of the following sections of the State Real Property Article:<para num="(i)">§ 14-120 {“Abatement of nuisance; dangerous substances”};</para>
        <para num="(ii)">§ 14-123 {“Baltimore City nuisance actions”};</para>
        <para num="(iii)">§ 8-402 {“Tenant holding over”};</para>
        <para num="(iv)">§ 8-402.1 {Proceedings upon breach of lease”}; or</para>
        <para num="(v)">§ 8-402.4 {“Wrongful detainer”}.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Notice required.">Whenever a judgment is entered in favor of the landlord for possession of a leased dwelling, the landlord shall notify the tenant of the date on which the warrant of restitution is first scheduled to be executed by the Sheriff.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="How given.">The notice shall be:<para num="(1)">mailed by first-class mail with certificate of mailing at least 14 days before the first scheduled date of execution; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">posted on the premises at least 7 days before the first scheduled date of execution.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Contents.">The notice shall:<para num="(1)">state the District Court Summary Ejectment Case Number, the tenant’s name, and the address of the leased dwelling;</para>
      <para num="(2)">specify the date on which the eviction is first scheduled to be executed;</para>
      <para num="(3)">state that the eviction will be executed on that date unless:<para num="(i)">the tenant moves out and returns control of the property to the landlord; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the tenant exercises the right to redemption under &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="grp|8-401"&gt;State Real Property Article § 8-401(e), &lt;/cite&gt;unless the right to redeem has been foreclosed or otherwise is inapplicable;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(4)">prominently warn the tenant that any property left in the leased dwelling will be considered abandoned and may be disposed of on execution of the warrant of restitution; and</para>
      <para num="(5)">state that it is the final notice of the date of the eviction, even if the eviction date is postponed by the Sheriff or the court.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Charge for notice.">A landlord may charge the tenant for expenses incurred in providing this notice, up to a maximum of $5.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 08-041</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-458</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-3" heading="Vacating execution of warrant.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="By Sheriff.">If the Sheriff reasonably believes that the landlord did not provide the tenant with the notice required by &lt;cite data-path="|13|§8A-2"&gt;§ 8A-2 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, the Sheriff shall notify the District Court and may not execute  the warrant of restitution until further order of the Court.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="By District Court.">If the District Court finds that the landlord did not provide the tenant with the notice required by &lt;cite data-path="|13|§8A-2"&gt;§ 8A-2 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, the District Court shall vacate the warrant of restitution.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Presumption that tenant notified.">If the landlord provides a copy of the notice, certificate of mailing, and signed affidavit by the person who posted the property, all of which are dated within the proper time periods required by &lt;cite data-path="|13|§8A-2"&gt;§ 8A-2 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, there is a rebuttable presumption that the tenant was notified.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 11-458</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-4" heading="Unclaimed property is abandoned.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">All property in or about the leased premises at the time that the warrant of restitution is executed is abandoned.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="No liability.">Neither the landlord nor someone acting on the landlord’s behalf is liable for any loss or damage to abandoned property.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-5" heading="Disposition of abandoned property.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Required methods.">The landlord shall dispose of abandoned eviction chattels by:<para num="(1)">transporting them to a licensed landfill or solid waste facility;</para>
      <para num="(2)">donating them to charity; or</para>
      <para num="(3)">some other legal means.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Discount at City landfill or solid waste facility.">
      <para num="(1)">A landlord who disposes of eviction chattels at a City-owned or operated landfill or solid waste facility may be charged no more than the same fees charged to the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC).</para>
      <para num="(2)">To be eligible for HABC rates, the landlord or landlord’s agent must present at the facility at the time of disposal:<para num="(i)">a copy of the warrant of restitution issued for the leased dwelling; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">proof that the leased dwelling is registered or licensed under City Code &lt;cite data-path="|13"&gt;Article 13&lt;/cite&gt;, Subtitle 4 {“Registration of Non-Owner-Occupied Dwellings, etc.”} or Subtitle 5 {“Licensing of Rental Dwellings”}.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the &lt;cite data-path="|general"&gt;City General Provisions Article&lt;/cite&gt;, the Department of Public Works may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this subsection.</para>
      <para num="(4)">A person may not make any false or misleading representation in connection with the fee rate authorized by this subsection.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 18-130</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Text Conformed 02/19/21</annotation>
    <annotation type="Editor's Notes">By authority of Ordinance 20-431, Section 5, the Director of Legislative Reference, in consultation with the Law Department, has conformed subsection (b)(1) to refer expressly to the requirements of the recently-enacted Administrative Procedure Act that, effective January 15, 2021, governs the proposal, adoption, and publication of administrative rules and regulations.</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-6" heading="Prohibited placement in public way.">
    <text>Under no circumstances may eviction chattels, abandoned or otherwise, be placed in a public right-of-way or on any public property.</text>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§§" num="8A-7 to 8A-8" reserved="true">
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="8A-9" heading="Penalties.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">Any person who violates any provision of § 8A-5 or &lt;cite data-path="|13|§8A-6"&gt;§ 8A-6 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt; is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Each day a separate offense.">Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-496</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
