Subtitle 60 – Gun Offender Registration
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, § 60-1 (2026)
§ 60-1 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b)Convicted.
“Convicted” means:
(1)
having been found guilty of a gun offense by a jury or judicial officer;
(2)
the acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for a gun offense;
(3)
having been granted a probation before judgment after a finding of guilt for a gun offense, if the court orders compliance with this subtitle as a condition of probation; or
(4)
having been found not criminally responsible for a gun offense.
(c)Correctional facility.
“Correctional facility” means a facility that is operated for the purpose of detaining or confining adults who are charged with or found guilty of a crime.
(d)Gun offender.
(1)In general.
“Gun offender” means any person who is convicted of a gun offense in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City or the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City.
(2)Exclusions.
“Gun offender” does not include a person:
(i)
whose conviction for a gun offense has been reversed on appeal or otherwise set aside pursuant to law; or
(ii)
who has been pardoned by the Governor.
(e)Gun offense.
“Gun offense” means:
(1)
a violation of any of the following sections of the State Criminal Law Article:
(i)
§ 4-203 {Wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun};
(ii)
§ 4-204 {Use of a handgun or antique firearm in commission of a crime};
(iii)
§ 4-303 {Assault [pistols] weapons – Prohibited};
(iv)
§ 4-305 {Detachable magazines – Prohibited};
(v)
§ 4-305.1 {Rapid fire trigger activators – Prohibited};
(vi)
§ 4-404 {Use of a machine gun in a crime of violence};
(vii)
§ 4-405 {Use of a machine gun for an aggressive purpose};
(viii)
§ 5-621 {Crimes involving controlled dangerous substances and paraphernalia – Use of a weapon as separate crime}; or
(ix)
§ 5-622 {Firearm crimes}; or
(2)
a violation of any of the following sections of the State Public Safety Article:
(i)
§ 5-106 {License required to engage in the business of selling, renting, or transferring regulated firearms};
(ii)
§ 5-123 {Dealer – Sale, rent, or transfer of a regulated firearm prior to the expiration of 7-day waiting period};
(iii)
§ 5-124(a) {Non-dealer – Sale, rent, or transfer of a regulated firearm prior to the expiration of 7-day waiting period};
(iv)
§ 5-125(b) {Sale, rent, or transfer of a regulated firearm to a firearm applicant whose firearm application is placed on hold};
(v)
§ 5-132(c)(1) {Dealer – sale, offer for sale, rent, or transfer a handgun manufactured on or before December 31, 2002, without an external safety lock};
(vi)
§ 5-133(b) {Possession of a regulated firearm prohibited};
(vii)
§ 5-133(c) {Restrictions on possession of regulated firearms – Penalty for possession by a person convicted of crime of violence};
(viii)
§ 5-133(d) {Possession of regulated firearms by a person under age of 21 years prohibited};
(ix)
§ 5-134 {Sale, rent, or transfer of a regulated firearm to a restricted individual};
(x)
§ 5-136 {Straw purchase of a regulated firearm};
(xi)
§ 5-138 {Sale, transfer, or disposal of a stolen regulated firearm prohibited};
(xii)
§ 5-140 {Transporting a regulated firearm for unlawful sale or trafficking};
(xiii)
§ 5-141 {Knowing participation in straw purchase};
(xiv)
§ 5-142 {Removal or alteration of identification mark or number on firearm};
(xv)
§ 5-144 {Knowing participation in any violation of Title 1, Subtitle 5 of the State Public Safety Article}
(xvi)
§ 5-203 {Possession of a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun};
(xvii)
§ 5-205 {Possession of a rifle or shotgun by a person with mental disorder};
(xviii)
§ 5-206 {Person convicted of crimes of violence prohibited from possessing a rifle or shotgun}; or
(xix)
§ 5-406 {Manufacture or sale of handguns}; or
(3)
a violation of any of the following sections of this City Code <cite data-path="|19">Article 19 {“Police Ordinances”}</cite>:
(i)
§ 59-1 {Carrying long-barrel firearms}; or
(ii)
§ 59-2 {Discharging firearms}.
(f)Police Commissioner.
“Police Commissioner” means the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City or his or her designee.
History: Ord. 07-506
History: Ord. 09-168
History: Ord. 20-339
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-2 (2026)
§ 60-2 Rules and regulations.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Commissioner may adopt.
The Police Commissioner may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this subtitle.
(b)Scope.
These rules and regulations may govern:
(1)
the form, content, and processing of the acknowledgment required by this subtitle;
(2)
the form and content of the registration required under this subtitle;
(3)
the documentation required to verify the content of the registration required under this subtitle;
(4)
the maintenance, use, and availability of the information that is collected by the Police Commissioner under this subtitle.
(c)Filing.
A copy of all rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle must be filed with the Department of Legislative Reference before they take effect.
History: Ord. 07-506
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-3 (2026)
§ 60-3 Registration – In general.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Registration required.
A gun offender must register with the Police Commissioner.
(b)Acknowledgment of duty to register.
When requested to do so, the gun offender must acknowledge, in writing, his or her duty to register under this subtitle.
History: Ord. 07-506
History: Ord. 09-168
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-4 (2026)
§ 60-4 Registration – When and where.LinkCopy Citation
(a)When.
The registration must be made within 48 hours of:
(1)
if the gun offender receives a sentence that does not include imprisonment, the date that the sentence is imposed;
(2)
if the gun offender receives a sentence that includes imprisonment, the date of the gun offender’s release from a correctional facility;
(3)
if the gun offender is granted probation before judgment, the date that the probation before judgment is granted;
(4)
if the gun offender is found not criminally responsible and is released, the date of the gun offender’s release; or
(5)
if the gun offender is found not criminally responsible and committed to the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the date of the gun offender’s discharge or conditional release from that commitment.
(b)Where.
To register, a gun offender must personally appear at an office designated by the Police Commissioner.
History: Ord. 07-506
History: Ord. 09-168
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-5 (2026)
§ 60-5 Registration – Content and form.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The registration must be in the form and contain the information that the Police Commissioner requires.
(b)Specific information.
The registration must specify:
(1)
the gun offender’s name;
(2)
a description of the crime for which the gun offender was convicted;
(3)
the date that the gun offender was convicted;
(4)
any other name by which the gun offender has been legally known;
(5)
a list of all aliases that the gun offender has used;
(6)
identifying factors of the gun offender, including a physical description;
(7)
the gun offender’s residence; and
(8)
any other information required by the rules and regulations adopted by the Police Commissioner under this subtitle.
(c)Signature and date.
The registration must be signed and dated by the gun offender.
(d)Photograph permitted.
At the time that the gun offender appears at the office, the Police Commissioner may photograph the gun offender.
(e)Documentation required.
The Police Commissioner may require the gun offender to provide documentation that verifies the contents of the registration
History: Ord. 07-506
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-6 (2026)
§ 60-6 Verification by resident offenders.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Scope.
This section applies only to gun offenders who are residents of Baltimore City.
(b)Periodic verification.
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 20 calendar days after each 6-month anniversary of a gun offender’s initial registration, the gun offender must personally appear at an office designated by the Police Commissioner to verify and update, as appropriate, the contents of the registration.
(2)
If a gun offender is confined to any correctional facility, hospital, or institution throughout the 20-day period described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the gun offender must personally appear at an office designated by the Police Commissioner, within 48 hours of release, to verify and update, as appropriate, the contents of the registration.
(c)Update on change of residence.
A gun offender must personally appear at an office designated by the Police Commissioner to update his or her residence address and other contents of the registration:
(1)
within 10 calendar days after establishing a residence in Baltimore City;
(2)
within 10 calendar days after moving from one residence in Baltimore City to another residence in Baltimore City; and
(3)
before moving from a residence in Baltimore City and assuming a new residence out of Baltimore City.
(d)Photograph permitted.
At the time that the gun offender appears at the office, the Police Commissioner may photograph the gun offender.
(e)Documentation required.
The Police Commissioner may require the gun offender to provide documentation that verifies the contents of the registration.
History: Ord. 07-506
History: Ord. 09-168
History: Ord. 10-363
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-7 (2026)
§ 60-7 Term of verification requirement.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The gun offender must verify the contents of the registration, as required by <cite data-path="|19|§60-6">§ 60-6 of this subtitle</cite>, for a period of 5 years from the date of the gun offender’s initial registration.
(b)Calculation of time.
A gun offender’s term of registration under this section is stayed if the gun offender is subsequently convicted and incarcerated for another gun offense.
History: Ord. 07-506
History: Ord. 09-168
History: Ord. 20-339
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-8 (2026)
§ 60-8 Sharing registration information.LinkCopy Citation
The Police Commissioner may make the information collected under this subtitle available to:
(1)
any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency; and
(2)
any City agency.
History: Ord. 07-506
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-9 (2026)
§ 60-9 Cooperation with other agencies.LinkCopy Citation
The Police Commissioner may cooperate with other federal, state and City agencies and the judiciary to facilitate implementation of this subtitle.
History: Ord. 07-506
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-10 (2026)
§ 60-10 Prohibited conduct.LinkCopy Citation
No gun offender may:
(1)
knowingly fail to acknowledge in writing his or her duty to register under this subtitle;
(2)
fail to register as required by this subtitle or the rules and regulations adopted under it;
(3)
fail to verify information as required by this subtitle or the rules and regulations adopted under it; or
(4)
provide false information in the registration or verification required by this subtitle or the rules and regulations adopted under it.
History: Ord. 07-506
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 60-11 (2026)
§ 60-11 Penalties.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
Any gun offender who violates any provision of <cite data-path="|19|§60-10">§ 60-10 of this subtitle</cite> is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 12 months or both fine and imprisonment for each offense.
(b)Each day a separate offense.
Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense
History: Ord. 07-506