# Subtitle 21 – Prohibited Conduct; Penalties

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

## § 21-1 Rules and regulations.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-1 (2026)

No person may violate any rule or regulation adopted under <cite data-path="|24|§1-1">§ 1-1 of this article</cite> to protect the City’s water supply and facilities.

*History: Ord. 02-476*

## § 21-2 Suspension, etc., of certain uses.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-2 (2026)

No person may violate any order issued under <cite data-path="|24|§1-6">§ 1-6 of this article</cite> to suspend, condition, limit, or temporarily prohibit the use of water.

*History: Ord. 02-476*

## § 21-3 Injuring fire hydrants.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-3 (2026)

No person may wilfully injure or deface any fire hydrant belonging to the City.

*History: Rev. Ords. 1858-043*

*History: Ord. 1859-080*

*History: Ord. 50-1141*

*History: Ord. 02-476*

## § 21-4 Wrongful use after cut-off.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-4 (2026)

No person may, without authorization from the Department of Public Works, connect with any water pipe that belongs to the City or otherwise turn on the water to any premises to which the water was turned off by an officer of the Department.

*History: Rev. Ords. 1858-043*

*History: Ord. 1880-043*

*History: Ord. 50-1393*

*History: Ord. 76-142*

*History: Ord. 02-476*

## § 21-5 Refusal of entry.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-5 (2026)

No person may refuse to permit an agent of the Department of Public Works to visit his, her, or its premises in the discharge of that agent’s official duties.

*History: Rev. Ords. 1858-043*

*History: Ord. 50-1393*

*History: Ord. 02-476*

## § 21-6 Interference with equipment; Illegal use of water.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-6 (2026)

(a) This section does not apply to the lawful governmental regulation of water companies, their canals, springs, reservoirs, tunnels, mounds, dams, plugs, fire hydrants, mains, pipes, conduits, connections, taps, valves, engines, and machinery.

(b) Unless authorized by law or by permit from the Department of Public Works, no person may:

  (1) connect, disconnect, tap, or interfere or tamper with any of the canals, springs, reservoirs, tunnels, mounds, dams, plugs, fire hydrants, mains, pipes, conduits, connections, taps, valves, engines, or machinery belonging to the City;

  (2) connect with any canal, spring, reservoir, tunnel, mound, dam, plug, fire hydrant, main, pipe, conduit, connection, tap, valve, engine, or machinery for the purpose of using or wasting water;

  (3) tamper in any way with any meter used to register water consumption; or

  (4) introduce water to any premises not entitled to use it.

*History: Ord. 94-346*

*History: Ord. 02-476*

## §§ 21-7 to 21-10

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-7 to 21-10 (2026)

Reserved

## § 21-11 Enforcement by citation.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-11 (2026)

(a) 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”}.

(b) The issuance of an environmental citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law.

*History: Ord. 02-476*

*History: Ord. 03-595*

## § 21-12 Criminal penalties.

Balt., Md., Code art. 24, § 21-12 (2026)

(a) Any person who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense.

(b) Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.

*History: Ord. 02-476*