In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. “Business” means any place of business or commercial activity conducted by a person, whether sales, service, rental, professional, or otherwise. “Department” means the Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing. “Director” means the Director of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing. “Impact area” means the area:within the same election precinct as that in which a business is located; and if a different precinct, within the election precinct of the block face opposing the block face in which a business is located. “Late-night operations license” or “license” means a license issued under this subtitle. Ord. 12-011 Ord. 15-336 Ord. 16-496 Ord. 22-1215 For the Code-wide standard definition of “person”, see <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107">§ 1-107</cite>. For the Code-wide standard definition of “includes” and “including”, see <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-105">§ 1-105</cite>.

For the Code-wide standard uses of mandatory terms (“must” and “shall”), prohibitory terms (“may not”, “must not”, and “no ... may”), and permissive terms (“may”), see <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-104">§ 1-104</cite>.

Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-doc="City of Balt., Md., Ord. 25-013" data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Department must adopt rules, regulations, and forms to carry out this subtitle. Ord. 12-011 Text Conformed 03/01/21 By authority of Ordinance 20-431, Section 5, the Director of Legislative Reference, in consultation with the Law Department, has conformed this section to refer expressly to and reflect 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.

Except as specified in subsection (b) of this section, this subtitle applies to all businesses that are located in any Residential Zoning District, Office-Residential Zoning District, or C-1, C-1-E, C-1-VC, C-2, or C-3 Commercial Zoning District. This subtitle does not apply to:a hotel or motel; a restaurant or tavern operating during hours authorized by its alcoholic beverage license; the sale of motor vehicle fuels; the provision of emergency medical or veterinary care; a video lottery facility operating during hours authorized by its State Video Lottery Operating license; or drive-through food-service windows, if:all indoor sales and dining areas are closed to the public during late-night hours; and no pedestrians are served at these windows during late-night hours. Ord. 12-011 Ord. 15-336 Ord. 16-496 Ord. 16-581