# Subtitle 16 – Ticket Sales – Charges by Operators and Agents

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

## Part 1 – Definitions; General Provisions

### § 16-1 Definitions.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-1 (2026)

(a) In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

(b) “Authorized sales agent” means a person that:

  (1) is engaged in the business of selling tickets for others; and

  (2) by written contract with an operator, has been authorized to sell tickets for and on behalf of that operator.

(c)

  (1) “Box office price” means the price that:

    (i) has been established by the operator of an entertainment venue for admission to the venue or to a specified seat or area within the venue; and

    (ii) is so identified on the face of the ticket.

  (2) “Box office price” includes the applicable State or City admissions and amusement tax only if the tax is determined by the operator on a “tax-included basis” authorized by the <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gtg|4-102">State Tax-General Article, § 4-102(f)</cite>.

  (3) “Box office price” does not include:

    (i) any additional service or other charge or fee imposed by an operator, by an operator’s authorized sales agent, or by any other person; or

    (ii) except as specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any tax to be collected by an operator or the operator’s authorized sales agent.

(d) “Entertainment” includes any of the following, whether presented live, recorded, televised, or otherwise:

  (1) any theatrical, musical, sports, dance, movie, cultural, or educational event, performance, competition, or exhibition; and

  (2) any other form of diversion, recreation, or show.

(e)

  (1) “Entertainment venue” means any place in Baltimore City for which a charge is imposed for admission to any form of entertainment.

  (2) “Entertainment venue” includes:

    (i) any theater, hall, stage, arena, stadium, field, amusement park, circus, carnival, or fairgrounds; or

    (ii) or any other place, including any area within a venue for which a separate charge is imposed.

(f) “Gross ticket cost” means the sum of:

  (1) the box office price;

  (2) all State and City taxes collected by the operator or the operator’s authorized sales agent; and

  (3) all service or other charges or fees imposed on the ticket by the operator or the operator’s authorized sales agent.

(g) - (i)

(j) “Operator” means any person who:

  (1) owns, operates, or controls an entertainment venue in Baltimore City; or

  (2) promotes or produces entertainment in Baltimore City.

(k)

  (1) “Person” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107|(a)">§ 1-107(a) {“Person: In general”}</cite> of the City Code’s <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>.

  (2) Notwithstanding <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107|(b)">§ 1-107(b) {“Person: Exclusion”}</cite> of the <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>, in this subtitle “person” also includes, except for the application of <cite data-path="|general|16|1|16-11">§ 16-11{“Prepayable citation”} and § 16-12 {“Criminal penalties”}</cite>, a governmental entity or an instrumentality or unit of a governmental entity.

(l) “Sell” means to sell or exchange or offer to sell or exchange a ticket, whether:

  (1) in-person;

  (2) by mail or delivery service; or

  (3) by telephone, facsimile, email, internet website, or other electronic medium.

(m) “Ticket” means any ticket, card, token, receipt, or other evidence of the privilege of admission to any entertainment venue.

*History: Ord. 13-157: Ord. 22-125*

### § 16-2

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

Reserved

### § 16-3 Applicability of other laws.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-3 (2026)

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, nothing in this subtitle affects the applicability and enforceability of any other law, rule, or regulation, including those concerning consumer protection, licensing and regulation, fraudulent or misleading advertising, or theft.

(b) If any provision of <cite data-path="|2">this article</cite> is either more or less restrictive than a comparable condition imposed by any other law, rule, or regulation of any kind, the condition that is the more restrictive governs.

*History: Ord. 13-157*

### § 16-4 Rules and regulations.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-4 (2026)

Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Director of Finance may adopt rules and regulations as necessary or appropriate to:

(1) define or further define any terms used in this subtitle; and

(2) otherwise promote the implementation and enforcement of this subtitle.

*History: Ord. 13-157*

*History: Text Conformed 02/12/21*

### § 16-5

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-5 (2026)

Reserved

## Part 2 – Charges by Operators and their Agents

### § 16-6 In general.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-6 (2026)

An operator or an operator’s authorized sales agent may not impose, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, for any ticket more than the following:

(1) the box office price;

(2) any separately stated admissions and amusement tax; and

(3) additional service or other charges or fees that have been identified and disclosed as required by this subtitle.

*History: Ord. 13-157*

### § 16-7 Required disclosures.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-7 (2026)

(a) Every ticket printed by or under authority of an operator or an operator’s authorized sales agent must prominently disclose on its face the box office price of that ticket.

(b) If a printed advertisement or listing prepared by or for an operator or an operator’s authorized sales agent states the box office price of a ticket (or a range of tickets), and if the gross ticket price of the ticket (or range of tickets), as sold by the operator or the operator’s authorized sales agent, exceeds the stated box office price (or range of prices), the advertisement or listing must, in the same or larger font as that used for the stated box office price (or range of prices), include the following statement: “Additional Charges May Apply”.

(c)

  (1) This subsection does not apply if the gross ticket cost of the ticket, as sold by either the operator or the operator’s authorized sales agent, does not exceed the box office price disclosed on the face of the ticket.

  (2) Every operator and its authorized sales agent must prominently post at its box office, sales outlet, or other point of sale (including a website or other electronic medium), an itemized list of the following, as applicable to each entertainment venue and each entertainment event at that venue for which tickets are being sold:

    (i) the box office price of the tickets; and

    (ii) in the same or larger font as that used for the box office price:

      (A) the type and amount of each State and City tax that is applicable to the transaction and that has not been determined by the operator on a “tax-included basis” as authorized by the <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gtg|4-102">State Tax-General Article, § 4-102(f)</cite>;

      (B) the type and amount of each service or other charge or fee imposed on the ticket by the operator and by the operator’s authorized sales agent, respectively; and

      (C) the gross ticket cost of the ticket, as sold by the operator and as sold by the operator’s authorized sales agent, respectively.

  (3) In addition:

    (i) immediately before finalization of any sale by an operator or its authorized sales agent:

      (A) the itemized list of costs described in paragraph (2) of this subsection must be disclosed to each potential purchaser; or

      (B) if the purchase is being finalized by telephone, the itemized list of costs described in paragraph (2) of this subsection must be read to the purchaser in a clear and distinct manner; and

    (ii) immediately after finalization of any sale by an operator or its authorized sales agent:

      (A) the itemized list of costs described in paragraph (2) of this subsection must be given to each purchaser; or

      (B) the ticket provided to the purchaser must prominently disclose on its face both the amount of the box office price of the ticket and, in the same or larger font size, the amount of the gross price of the ticket.

*History: Ord. 13-157*

### §§ 16-8 through 16-10

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-8 through 16-10 (2026)

Reserved

## Part 3 – Enforcement

### § 16-11 Prepayable citation.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-11 (2026)

(a) In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of:

  (1) an environmental citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}; or

  (2) a civil citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}.

(b) 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.

*History: Ord. 13-157*

### § 16-12 Criminal penalties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 2, § 16-12 (2026)

(a) Any person who violates any provision of this subtitle or of a rule or regulation adopted under this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both fine and imprisonment for each offense.

(b) Each ticket sold or exchanged or offered for sale or exchange in violation of this subtitle is a separate offense.

*History: Ord. 13-157*