Subtitle 17 – Disturbing Sewers, etc.
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. 25, § 17-1 (2026)
§ 17-1 Disturbing sewer or stormwater drain.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Prohibited conduct.
Any person who shall:
(1)
willfully, intentionally, or negligently damage, obstruct, stop, or otherwise interfere with any sewer or stormwater drain in the City;
(2)
willfully, intentionally, or negligently place any obstruction or any matter in such sewer or stormwater drain of a nature to obstruct the same, and which shall obstruct the same and cause damage; or
(3)
willfully, intentionally, or negligently place any obstruction or any matter in any connection or sewer on public or private property or fixture connecting with the sewerage system, of a nature to obstruct or otherwise interfere with the said sewer or connection on such public or private property, and which shall obstruct the same and cause damage,
shall, upon notification by the City, take immediate action to correct the cause of the obstruction.
(b)Penalties.
This person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof:
(1)
shall be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both, as provided in <cite data-path="|25|§23-3">§ 23-3 of this article</cite>; and
(2)
shall be liable for costs incurred as a consequence of such obstruction, damage, or interference as provided in Subtitle 22 of <cite data-path="|25">this article</cite>.
History: Rev. Ords. 1858-018
History: Ord. 12-217
History: Ord. 46-443
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 17-2 (2026)
§ 17-2 Tapping, etc., sewer.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Prohibited conduct.
Without first obtaining a permit from the Director of Public Works, no person may:
(1)
tap, open, repair, alter, or cause to be tapped, opened, repaired, or altered any sewer, either stormwater or sanitary; or
(2)
connect with or cause to be connected with any sewer, either stormwater or sanitary, any land, building, or premises.
(b)Corrective action.
It shall be the duty of the Director to cause a notice to be served upon the person tapping, opening, repairing, altering, or connecting with any sewer without having first obtained a permit to do so, directing said person to close or restore the sewer so tapped, opened, altered, or connected with, in the manner prescribed in said notice.
(c)Penalties.
Any person tapping, opening, repairing, altering, or connecting with any sewer without a permit as aforesaid:
(1)
shall be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both, as provided in <cite data-path="|25|§23-3">§ 23-3 of this article</cite>; and
(2)
shall moreover pay the expenses incurred in case such sewer shall be closed or restored under the direction of the Director, which the Director is hereby authorized to have done in case of such neglect or refusal.
History: Ord. 14-462
History: Ord. 46-443
History: Ord. 76-146
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
History: Ord. 04-672
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 17-3 (2026)
§ 17-3 Disturbing manhole.LinkCopy Citation
(a)“Manhole” defined.
“Manhole” means a structure designed to provide access to the sewer or drain for purposes of examination, cleaning, or sampling.
(b)Prohibited conduct; penalties.
Any person who shall enter any manhole of any public sewer, either stormwater or sanitary, or who shall disturb or interfere with any such sewer or manhole in any manner whatsoever, without a permit from the Director of Public Works, shall be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both, as provided in <cite data-path="|25|§23-3">§ 23-3 of this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 14-462
History: Ord. 75-914
History: Ord. 76-146
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 17-4 (2026)
§ 17-4 Refuse in sewers.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
If any person or persons shall carelessly or intentionally throw, sweep, or place any waste paper, street sweepings, garbage, dirt, ashes, dead animal, offal, or other putrescible matter, or any rubbish or refuse of any sort, into any inlet, grating, manhole, or other appurtenance of any sewer in the City of Baltimore, he, she, or they shall be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both as provided in <cite data-path="|25|§23-3">§ 23-3 of this article</cite>.
(b)Exception.
Provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to matter commonly designated as sewage discharge from a house sewer into another sewer.
History: Ord. 1894-010
History: Ord. 46-450
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 17-5 (2026)
§ 17-5 Unused connections.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
Whenever it shall appear that more than 1 sanitary sewer connection has been made to any land, building, or premises and the subsequent improvement or alteration of said land, building. or premises makes 1 or more of said sanitary sewer connections unnecessary, then upon notice from the Director of Public Works it shall be the duty of the owner or occupier of said land, building, or premises under the action and supervision of the official giving said notice:
(1)
to remove the cast-iron pipe from the end or ends of such unused sanitary sewer connection or connections, or to cut off the terra cotta pipe, where no cast-iron pipe is used, at its connection to the sewer or at such other points as may be directed; and
(2)
to properly close up the terra cotta pipe of said sanitary sewer connection or connections.
(b)Penalties.
Any person failing or refusing to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both, as provided in <cite data-path="|25|§23-3">§ 23-3 of this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 14-462
History: Ord. 17-228
History: Ord. 76-146
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775