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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 2-3 Cut-off for arrearage.">
  <section prefix="§" num="2-3" heading="Cut-off for arrearage.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Property owners responsible.">The owners of property are in all cases responsible for the payment of water bills.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Arrearages.">
      <para num="(1)">If a structure for which a bill is in arrears is not a vacant structure, as defined in &lt;cite data-path="|building-codes|II"&gt;Building Code&lt;/cite&gt; &lt;cite data-path="|building-codes|II|116.4"&gt;§ 116.4&lt;/cite&gt; {“Vacant structures”}, the Department may cut off water service, subject to the requirements of &lt;cite data-path="|24"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt;, until all arrearages are paid.</para>
      <para num="(2)">If a structure for which a bill is in arrears is a vacant structure, as defined in Baltimore City &lt;cite data-path="|building-codes|II"&gt;Building Code&lt;/cite&gt; &lt;cite data-path="|building-codes|II|116.4"&gt;§ 116.4&lt;/cite&gt; {“Vacant structures”}, the Department shall proceed as follows:<para num="(i)">for a structure that has an accessible water meter, the Department shall cut off the water to the premises; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">for a structure that does not have an accessible water meter, the Department shall cut off the water to the premises if damage to adjacent property is imminent or demolition of the property is planned.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Charge to restore service.">
      <para num="(1)">Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, when a water supply is cut off for nonpayment of water charges, a service-restoration fee must be paid before the supply is turned on again.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The amount of the service-restoration fee shall be as determined by the Board of Estimates in accordance with Subtitle 3 of &lt;cite data-path="|24"&gt;this article&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      <para num="(3)">While enrolled in the Water-for-All Discount Program, a recipient is not liable for any service-restoration fee imposed under this subsection.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Unauthorized use.">The Department of Public Works may cut off the water from the premises of any person who:<para num="(1)">introduces water to his, her, or its premises without authorization from the Department; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">permits another person (not entitled to use the water) to use the water without authorization from the Department.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1879, art. 53, §21</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1893, art. 54, §22</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1927, art. 48, §35</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1950, art. 39, §9</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1966, art. 29, §9</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">1976/83, art. 29, §9</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 1862-010</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 1866-083</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 48-502</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 76-142</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 78-923</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-526</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 02-476</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-434</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 13-093</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-427</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 20-336</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
