# Subtitle 1 – Director of Public Works
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
## § 1-1 Rules and regulations.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-1 (2026)
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the City General Provisions Article, the Director of Public Works may adopt and enforce rules and regulations governing:
(1) the operations of the Department of Public Works; and
(2) the protection of the City’s water supply and facilities.
*History: Ord. 1862-010*
*History: Ord. 1896-026*
*History: Ord. 48-463*
*History: Ord. 76-142*
*History: Ord. 02-476*
*History: Text Conformed 02/23/21*
## § 1-2 Rates and charges.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-2 (2026)
(a) The Director of Public Works shall:
(1) assess the water rates or charges on all buildings and premises where the rates are established by law; and
(2) keep suitable books in which shall be entered:
(i) all transactions of the department;
(ii) the kind of building or premises;
(iii) the amount charged;
(iv) the names of the owners of all buildings or premises;
(v) the street and number of the building or premises; and
(vi) the front footage.
(b) The Director of Public Works must ensure that:
(1) every consumer’s accessible water meter is actively read and the actual reading accurately recorded at least once a month; and
(2) no water bill based on an estimated rather than actual reading is sent to any residential consumer whose water meter is accessible to Department of Public Works employees when they attempt to read the water meter.
(c) The charges imposed under this article and all increases, interest, and penalties thereon shall be a lien upon the property of any person liable to pay the same to the City. Such lien shall be recorded in the Tax Lien Records maintained by the Department of Finance.
*History: Ord. 1862-010*
*History: Ord. 48-462*
*History: Ord. 76-142*
*History: Ord. 79-959*
*History: Ord. 11-455*
*History: Ord. 16-523*
## § 1-3 Payments on claims.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-3 (2026)
(a) No payments for any claims upon the Department of Public Works shall be made unless the bill or claim be certified by the officer or other person duly authorized to make an agreement or contract for the Director of Public Works.
(b) All payments shall be ordered by the Director and the order recorded on his records.
*History: Ord. 1862-010*
*History: Ord. 48-496*
*History: Ord. 76-142*
## § 1-4 Installations.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-4 (2026)
(a) The Director of Public Works is empowered and authorized to make installations of water supply service pipes from the water mains to the curb line or, lacking such limit at the time of installation, to a corresponding appropriate location within the public way, or the private way used or intended to be used by the public.
(b) No pipe or main shall be tapped, opened, or reopened for a supply of water unless it be done under the direction of the Director of Public Works.
*History: Ord. 1862-010*
*History: Ord. 48-496*
*History: Ord. 76-142*
## § 1-5 Work by contract or labor.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-5 (2026)
The Department of Public Works is authorized and empowered to do any of the work either by contract or by day labor as in the judgment of the Director of Public Works may be best for the interests of the City, in each instance.
*History: Ord. 1862-010*
*History: Ord. 48-496*
*History: Ord. 76-142*
## § 1-6 Suspension, etc., of certain uses.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-6 (2026)
(a) Whenever the Director of Public Works determines that the state of the water supply requires, the Director may issue an order to suspend, condition, limit, or temporarily prohibit the use of water.
(b) The Director’s order may encompass, as the Director considers appropriate under the circumstances:
(1) some or all types of water users, including industrial, commercial, residential, and other users; and
(2) some or all types of water uses, including lawn sprinkling, air conditioning, street or pavement washing, car or other vehicle washing, and industrial or commercial processes.
*History: Ord. 04-125*
*History: Ord. 11-043*
*History: Ord. 48-508*
*History: Ord. 76-142*
*History: Ord. 02-476*
## §§ 1-7 to 1-10
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-7 to 1-10 (2026)
Reserved
## § 1-11 Definitions.
Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 1-11 (2026)
(a) In this article, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Applicant” means a customer who applies for the Water-for-All Discount Program.
(c) “Authorized representative” means a person who has been designated in writing by the applicant or recipient to act on behalf of the applicant or recipient. The writing need not be notarized.
(d) “Customer” means:
(1) the owner or tenant of a property who receives or is requesting to receive water or wastewater services from the Department; or
(2) that owner’s or tenant’s authorized representative.
(e) “Department” or “DPW” means the Department of Public Works.
(f) “Director” or “DPW Director” means the Director of the Department of Public Works or the Director’s designee.
(g) “Eligible residential-water-utility customer” and “eligible tenant-water-utility customer” mean a customer who is eligible for the Water-for-All Discount Program.
(h) “Household” means an individual or group of individuals who are living together as one unit and for whom water and wastewater services are purchased in common.
(i) “Recipient” means a person who is eligible for and enrolled in the Water-for-All Discount Program.
(j) “Residential-water-utility customer” means a customer:
(1) who owns and occupies real property as his or her principal residence;
(2) whose name appears on Department records or who is a legal heir to a person whose name appears on Department records; and
(3) who is responsible for payment of the cost of water or wastewater services at that residence.
(k) “Tenant” means an individual who is renting or leasing real property as his or her principal residence.
(l) “Tenant-water-utility customer” means a customer who is a tenant and who can verify that he or she pays a landlord, separate from the fixed periodic rent, an amount for water or wastewater services provided to his or her principal residence.
(m) “Unused credit” means any portion of a Water-for-All Credit not applied to the recipient’s water and wastewater bill or sent to the recipient prior to cut-off of service.
(n) “Water-for-All Credit” means the total credit towards the cost of water or wastewater services for a household that a customer is eligible to receive from the Water-for-All Discount Program for the calendar year, as determined on review of the customer’s application.
(o) “Water-for-All Discount Program” or “Program” means the Water-for-All Discount Program established under this article.
*History: Ord. 02-476*
*History: Ord. 20-336*
*History: Ord. 22-125*