Subtitle 45 – Signs - On or Affecting Public Property
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. 19, § 45-1 (2026)
§ 45-1 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b)City.
“City” means the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
(c)Sign.
“Sign” includes any bill, poster, placard, handbill, flyer, painting, notice, advertisement, or other similar object or matter that contains printed or written matter in words, symbols, pictures, or any combination of them.
History: Ord. 85-478
History: Ord. 99-520
History: Ord. 22-125
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 45-2 (2026)
§ 45-2 Postings prohibited.LinkCopy Citation
No person may post, place, or affix a sign:
(1)
on any building owned, leased, or controlled by the City;
(2)
on or within the confines of any public park, recreation area, or other landscaped grounds owned or operated by the City;
(3)
on any flagpole or tree owned by the City;
(4)
on any traffic-control sign or device, including but not limited to, stop lights and their standards, stop signs, yield signs, 1-way street signs, and any other sign or device that directs traffic or controls traffic signals, or on the supporting post of any traffic-control sign or device;
(5)
in any way that:
(i)
blocks a motorist’s, cyclist’s, or pedestrian’s view of a traffic-control sign or device so as to create a hazard;
(ii)
protrudes into a street or sidewalk so as to interfere with the safe passage of the public; or
(iii)
otherwise poses a hazard to motorists, pedestrians, or cyclists;
(6)
on any other property owned, leased, or controlled by the City; or
(7)
on any pole, building or property that is owned, leased, or controlled by a public utility and located within or on any public street, alley, or other public property.
History: Ord. 85-478
History: Ord. 99-520
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 45-3 (2026)
§ 45-3 Removal of illegal signs.LinkCopy Citation
(a)From City property – by Department.
For any sign posted in violation of § 45-2(1) through (6) of this subtitle, the Department of Housing and Community Development may:
(1)
summarily remove the sign or make the appropriate referral to have the sign removed; or
(2)
send written notice to the person responsible, as described in <cite data-path="|19|§45-5">§ 45-5 of this subtitle</cite>, ordering that person to remove the sign within the time specified in the notice.
(b)From City property – by others.
(1)
For any sign posted in violation of § 45-2(1) through (6) of this subtitle, any individual may:
(i)
summarily remove the sign; and
(ii)
either:
(A)
discard the sign in an appropriate manner; or
(B)
submit the sign to the Department of Housing and Community Development for further enforcement proceedings.
(2)
A submission to the Department of Housing and Community Development for further enforcement proceedings:
(i)
must be accompanied by an affidavit, in the form and tenor required by the regulations adopted under <cite data-path="|19|§45-4">§ 45-4 of this subtitle</cite>, that describes the circumstances of the violation and removal; and
(ii)
may designate a non-profit community or neighborhood association listed with the Department of Planning to share in any fines that might be collected in the matter.
(3)
An association so designated is entitled to receive 50% of any fine collected under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”} or Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}.
(c)From public utility property.
For any sign posted in violation of <cite data-path="|19|§45-2|(7)">§ 45-2(7) of this subtitle</cite>:
(1)
the public utility may summarily remove the sign; or
(2)
the public utility or the Department of Housing and Community Development may send written notice to the person responsible, as described in <cite data-path="|19|§45-5">§ 45-5 of this subtitle</cite>, ordering that person to remove the sign within the time specified in the notice.
History: Ord. 85-478
History: Ord. 99-520
History: Ord. 06-232
History: Ord. 07-622
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 45-4 (2026)
§ 45-4 Liability for costs and expenses.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
Any person who posts a sign in violation of this subtitle and any other person responsible for the sign, as described in <cite data-path="|19|§45-5">§ 45-5 of this subtitle</cite>, is liable to the City or to the public utility, as the case may be, for the costs of:
(1)
removing the sign; and
(2)
repairing any damage caused by the placement or removal of the sign.
(b)Rules and regulations for City property.
(1)
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development shall adopt regulations to provide for the removal of signs illegally placed on City property.
(2)
The regulations shall include:
(i)
charges to be assessed for the costs of removing illegal signs and repairing damages;
(ii)
rules, procedures, and forms to carry out <cite data-path="|19|§45-3|(b)">§ 45-3(b) {“Removal of illegal signs: From City property – by others”} of this subtitle</cite>; and
(iii)
provisions that require the Director to report:
(A)
the name of the person or entity represented on the material removed;
(B)
the number of advertisements, notices, or other signs removed;
(C)
the location of the material; and
(D)
the type of structure from which the material was removed.
History: Ord. 85-478
History: Ord. 99-520
History: Ord. 06-232
History: Ord. 07-622
History: Text Conformed 02/21/21
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 45-5 (2026)
§ 45-5 Persons responsible.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Political campaigns.
(1)
In the case of a political campaign, a candidate for any office and the chairman and treasurer of any registered political committee is presumptively liable for the costs of sign removal imposed by <cite data-path="|19|§45-4">§ 45-4 of this subtitle</cite>, as well as for the civil and criminal penalties imposed by this subtitle, if the candidate or the committee was responsible for printing the sign. If the liability is contested, the burden of overcoming the presumption is on the contesting party.
(2)
A candidate for public office shall, at the time of filing with the Board of Supervisors of Elections for the candidacy, sign a written statement that acknowledges the candidate’s responsibilities under this subtitle. Failure to sign the statement does not affect the liability of the candidate for the penalties and costs provided for in this subtitle.
(b)Other cases.
In all other cases, the person whose name, event, business, location, or merchandise is written on the sign is presumptively liable for the charges imposed by <cite data-path="|19|§45-4">§ 45-4 of this subtitle</cite>, as well as for the civil and criminal penalties imposed by this subtitle. The burden of overcoming the presumption is on the contesting party.
History: Ord. 85-478
History: Ord. 07-622
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 45-6 (2026)
§ 45-6LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 45-7 (2026)
§ 45-7 Enforcement; penalties.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Enforcement by citation.
(1)
In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of:
(i)
an environmental citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}; or
(ii)
a civil citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}.
(2)
The issuance of a citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law.
(b)Criminal penalties.
Any person who posts a sign in violation of this subtitle or who fails to comply with a notice to remove a sign posted in violation of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $500 for each sign.
History: Ord. 85-478
History: Ord. 99-520
History: Ord. 03-595