# Subtitle 16 – Gas Appliances And Piping

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

## § 16-1 Approval criteria.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-1 (2026)

To be approved for installation in Baltimore City, appliances, accessories and equipment must:

(1) be listed by a nationally recognized testing agency such as the American Gas Association, Inc., Laboratories and Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., qualified and equipped for experimental testing and maintaining an adequate periodic inspection of current production of listed models and whose listing states that the appliance, accessory or equipment complies with nationally recognized safety requirements or has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner; or

(2) comply with American National Standards Approval or Listing Requirements covering safe operation, substantial and durable construction and acceptable performance and be registered with the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City.

*History: Ord. 82-642*

## § 16-2 Registration of appliances.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-2 (2026)

(a)

  (1) Application shall be made to the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City and the applicant shall furnish such information and certificates and cause such tests to be conducted as may be required by the Commissioner to secure proper registration and identification of any appliance, accessory, equipment, sample or model thereof; and before such application shall be approved by the Commissioner he shall determine whether such appliance, accessory, equipment, sample or model thereof described therein conforms to the rules and regulations and specifications hereinafter provided for in § 16-8(a)(1) hereof.

  (2) In connection with such application, the applicant shall file evidence satisfactory to the Commissioner that such appliance, accessory, equipment, sample or model thereof has been examined and tested and found to comply with the rules, regulations, specifications, and requirements as provided for in § 16-8(a)(1).  The Commissioner shall not register the appliance, accessory, equipment, sample or model thereof described in said application, unless it shall appear that it conforms to said rules, regulations and specifications, and meets such tests as the Commissioner may prescribe.

(b) All appliances, accessories or equipment shall bear an identification number or designation which may be the manufacturer’s regular trade name and model number, and when applied for by such manufacturer, it shall be stated in the application for registration, provided that nothing contained in this ordinance shall be construed to apply to appliances, accessories or equipment used for strictly experimental purposes or for strictly industrial use as may be defined in the rules, regulations and specifications, as provided for in § 16-8(a)(1) hereof.

(c) If the Commissioner determines that the appliance, accessory or equipment described in any such application for registration does not conform to said rules, regulations and specifications, or if he is not satisfied with the application, he shall notify the applicant forthwith, stating his reasons therefor.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-3 Examination of equipment.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-3 (2026)

(a) The Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City may at any time cause an examination to be made of any appliance, accessory, or equipment.

(b) If it shall be found, upon such examination, that such appliance, accessory, or equipment does not comply with the rules, regulations, and specifications, as provided for in § 16-8(a)(1) hereof, or is otherwise unsafe the Commissioner shall notify the registrant, installer, or seller wherein said appliance, accessory, or equipment does not conform to said rules, regulations, and specifications, or wherein it is otherwise unsafe.

(c) The said registrant, installer or seller shall be accorded reasonable opportunity to conform the appliance, accessory, or equipment to said rules, regulations, and specifications, or to correct within a reasonable time the hazardous feature or features thereof.

(d)

  (1) If the registrant, installer, or seller shall not within a reasonable time conform the appliance, accessory, or equipment to said rules, regulations, and specifications, or correct the hazardous feature or features of the appliance, accessory, or equipment, the Commission shall cancel the registration of said appliance, accessory, or equipment and notify the registrant, installer, or seller in writing that, after the expiration of 10 days, no such appliance, accessory, or equipment shall be installed, sold, or offered for sale in the City of Baltimore.

  (2) Provided that any action of cancellation taken by the Commissioner shall not be construed to prohibit the former registrant from reapplying for registration, in which event all the provisions relating to original applications shall apply.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-4 Cancellation of registration.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-4 (2026)

(a) The Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City is authorized to cancel the registration of any model of appliance, accessory, or equipment if any of the rules, regulations, and specifications, as provided for in § 16-8(a)(1) hereof, are violated in the design or performance of any such model or sample.

(b) Provided that no cancellation shall be made without the registrant being first accorded an opportunity of a hearing and to show cause why the registration should not be cancelled and, upon the decision, after hearing by the Commissioner, that such rules, regulations, and specifications are being violated and the application should be cancelled, cancellation shall be effective 10 days after the decision of the Commissioner.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-5 Gas tubing instruments.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-5 (2026)

Appliances, accessories and equipment herein referred to shall be construed to include instruments for use in connection with gas tubing or appliances which affect the normal and regular use of such tubing or appliances without said device, such as economy devices, accessories, solid tops, and other such equipment which is intended to be used in conjunction with self-contained appliances and which cannot be considered as a gas consuming appliance.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-6 Information.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-6 (2026)

Any person, firm, or corporation may, without charge, secure from the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City, information regarding the registration with the said Commissioner of any appliance, accessory, or equipment.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-7 Establishment of Gas Appliance Board.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-7 (2026)

(a)

  (1) There is hereby established a Board to be known as “The Gas Appliance Board of Baltimore City”, said Board to consist of 5 members:

    (i) 1 of whom shall be the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City ex officio;

    (ii) 1 of whom shall be the Director of Construction and Building Inspection of Baltimore City ex officio;

    (iii) 1 of whom shall be the Commissioner of Health of Baltimore City ex officio; and

    (iv) 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor.

  (2) One of the latter 2 must be a representative of the Baltimore Gas & Electric Company of Baltimore, and the other must be a Master Plumber who must also be a Registered Gas Fitter of Baltimore City.

(b) The members of the Board shall receive no compensation for their services hereunder.

(c) The Mayor shall designate one of the members of the Board as Chairman.

(d) The Board of Estimates of Baltimore City has heretofore by Resolution recommended the creation of “The Gas Appliance Board of Baltimore City”.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

*History: Ord. 99-526*

## § 16-8 Duties of Gas Appliance Board.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-8 (2026)

(a) In order to safeguard and protect the health and safety of the people of Baltimore City, the Board is hereby authorized and empowered:

  (1) subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, to make, adopt and promulgate rules, regulations, and specifications governing the design, construction, and performance of all appliances, accessories, or equipment and/or samples or models thereof for use with, by, or for the combustion of gas as distributed and/or sold in the City of Baltimore, provided that all rules, regulations, and specifications so made, adopted, and promulgated shall be pursuant to but not in conflict with the provisions of this subtitle;

  (2) to develop and administer examinations, testing applicants’ knowledge of the trade and work of gas fitting; and

  (3) to require, in cases of specific types of gas appliances where the Board deems that public safety warrants it, that persons, including those already registered as Master Gas Fitters and Gas Fitters of Baltimore City, who engage in the installation of such appliances, shall qualify to the Board by additional examinations as having the necessary skill and facilities to perform such work.  There shall be no charge for such additional examination.

(b)

  (1) The Board in making and adopting said rules, regulations, and specifications may consider the rules regulations, and specifications established by the American National Standard Institute, or any other rules, regulations, and specifications relating to said subject.

  (2) Whenever the Board shall determine that it is necessary and/or desirable to test in a laboratory or testing agency any appliance, accessory, or equipment offered for registration, in order to determine whether or not the same complies with the rules, regulations, or specifications prescribed by the Board under the authority of this subtitle, the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City is hereby authorized to direct said tests to be made by the laboratories of either the United States Bureau of Standards, the Johns Hopkins University, the American Gas Association, or any other laboratory or testing agency approved by the Commissioner; and the Commissioner is hereby further authorized and directed to require the costs of such tests to be paid in advance by the applicant of registration.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

*History: Text Conformed 02/19/21*

## § 16-9 Registration and examination of gas fitters.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-9 (2026)

(a)

  (1) The installation of gas piping and gas appliances shall be made by a “Master Gas Fitter of Baltimore City” or by a “Journeyman Gas Fitter of Baltimore City” under the supervision of a “Master Gas Fitter of Baltimore City”, both of whom shall be registered as specified below.

  (2) Every person or at least 1 member of every firm, or 1 officer of every corporation doing or contracting to do gas fitting work shall be registered as a “Master Gas Fitter”.

  (3) Every gas fitter working as a “Journeyman Gas Fitter” shall have a “Journeyman Gas Fitter” registration card.

  (4) “Master Gas Fitter” cards shall be issued to individuals and not to a firm or corporation.  A “Master Gas Fitter” may represent only 1 firm or corporation.

(b)

  (1) Before being registered as a “Master Gas Fitter” the applicant must furnish satisfactory evidence that the applicant has worked at the gas fitting trade for at least 2 years as a “Journeyman Gas Fitter”.

  (2) The applicant shall be required to take a written examination testing the applicant’s knowledge of the gas fitting regulations.

  (3) If a passing grade of at least 75% is achieved the applicant will be subjected to an oral examination which may be accompanied by a practical demonstration.

  (4) The applicant must pass both the oral examination and practical demonstration, if given, to qualify as a "Master Gas Fitter".

(c)

  (1) Before being registered as a “Journeyman Gas Fitter” the applicant must furnish satisfactory evidence that:

    (i) he or she has worked at the gas fitting trade for at least 2 years and has attended the gas fitting school sponsored by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company or an equivalent school; or

    (ii) he or she has worked at the gas fitting trade exclusively for at least 1 year with a company that provides theoretical and practical training in an approved training program.

  (2) The applicant shall be required to take a written examination testing the applicant’s knowledge of the gas fitting regulations.

  (3) If a passing grade of at least 75% is achieved, the applicant will be qualified as a “Journeyman Gas Fitter”.

(d) In lieu of the above testing requirements, a Master Gas Fitter license or a Journeyman Gas Fitter license may be issued to an applicant:

  (1) who has passed an examination, given by a county or municipality in the State of Maryland, which the Board deems requires the same degree of competency, skill and achievement in the gas fitting field that is required by Baltimore City; and

  (2) who has an active license issued by the examining county or municipality and furnishes written verification from the county or municipality that he or she has been actively engaged in business for not less than 1 year immediately prior to the date of filing said application; and

  (3) the county or municipality reciprocates by issuing licenses of a similar class to licensed gas fitters of Baltimore City, authorizing such licensees to do the same type of work within that county or municipality.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

*History: Ord. 82-703*

## § 16-10 Fees for examination and license.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-10 (2026)

(a) The following charges shall be made to cover the cost of examination:

            <table class="layout-table">
              <tbody>
                <tr>
                  <td>
                    <p class="text-indent-2">(1) Master Gas Fitter License</p>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <p>$25</p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td>
                    <p class="text-indent-2">(2) Journeyman Gas Fitter License</p>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <p>$15</p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
              </tbody>
            </table>
          

(b) The following charges for licenses are:

            <table class="layout-table">
              <tbody>
                <tr>
                  <td>
                    <p class="text-indent-2">(1) Master Gas Fitter License</p>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <p>$75</p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                  <td>
                    <p class="text-indent-2">(2) Journeyman Gas Fitter License</p>
                  </td>
                  <td>
                    <p>$25</p>
                  </td>
                </tr>
              </tbody>
            </table>
          

(c) The license year for all licenses shall run from January 1 through December 31 and renewal fees are as above.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

*History: 89-308*

## § 16-11 Renewal of licenses.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-11 (2026)

All persons who are registered pursuant to the provisions of this subtitle shall have their gas fitter license for Baltimore City renewed annually on January 1 without the necessity for reexamination upon the payment of $75 for Master Gas Fitter or $25 for Journeyman Gas Fitter.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

*History: 89-308*

## § 16-12 Lapse of registration.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-12 (2026)

(a) Any Master or Journeyman Gas Fitter of Baltimore City who allows his or her registration to lapse may reapply for reinstatement and at the discretion of the Gas Appliance Board of Baltimore City be reinstated upon the payment of the renewal fee.

(b) However, after a 6-month lapse, the applicant will be treated as a new applicant and will be subjected to the same examination as new applicants and be required to pay the same fees.

(c) Any person who has qualified for any gas fitter license but who has not applied for registration within 6 months of being tested shall be required to be retested before a license is issued and pay the applicable examination fee.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-13 Suspension of registration.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-13 (2026)

(a) Whenever the work of a registered gas fitter of Baltimore City is believed to be unsatisfactory after inspection, or if a gas fitter shall violate any of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board, his registration may be suspended or revoked by the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City upon written notice by said Commissioner to such gas fitter that a hearing will be accorded him on a certain day to show cause why such suspension or the revocation should not be made, and after the hearing, the Commissioner may suspend temporarily or revoke permanently the registration of any such gas fitter.

(b) Provided, that whenever the license shall have been revoked permanently, the person shall not be prohibited from reapplying, but such new application shall not be made in a less period than that designated by the Commissioner from the date of permanent revocation, and all of the provisions for original applications shall be applicable.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-14 Permits for installation of gas piping and gas appliances.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-14 (2026)

Only registered Master Gas Fitters of Baltimore City may apply and receive permits to install gas piping and gas appliances.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-15 Duties of Health Commissioner.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-15 (2026)

Inasmuch as the purpose of this subtitle is to safeguard the people of Baltimore City:

(1) the Commissioner of Health of Baltimore City is directed to report any condition which he believes to be hazardous due to the use of any appliance, accessory, or equipment with, by or for the combustion of gas as distributed and/or sold in the City of Baltimore to the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development of Baltimore City; and

(2) the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development is hereby directed to obtain the advice of the Commissioner of Health in any matter in which he deems that such advice may promote the safety and health of the people of Baltimore.

*History: Ord. 80-025*

## § 16-16 Penalties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 13, § 16-16 (2026)

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this subtitle shall be subject to prosecution, and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $100 for each offense.

*History: Ord. 80-025*