<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 8.1-7 Complaint.">
  <section prefix="§" num="8.1-7" heading="Complaint.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Pre-complaint notice.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">Prior to filing a complaint under this subtitle, the Department shall send notice by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested, to the record owner of the subject property at the tax address on record among the City’s real property records.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Contents.">The notice required by this subsection shall:<para num="(i)">clearly identify the property;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">identify the tax and other municipal liens due to the Mayor and City Council; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">state that unless full payment of all municipal liens is made to the Department of Finance within 30 days, the Department may file an in rem foreclosure action in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and seek the vesting of title to the property in the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="In general.">The Department may file a complaint in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City to initiate an in rem foreclosure action if:<para num="(1)">the property otherwise meets the specifications in &lt;cite data-path="|28|§8.1-3|(b)"&gt;§ 8.1-3(b) {“Applicable properties”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the Department has sent the notice required by subsection (a) of this section; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">the full payment of municipal liens has not been paid within 30 days from the date the notice described in paragraph (2) of this subsection was sent.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Contents.">A complaint filed under this section shall include:<para num="(1)">a description of the property as it appears in City land records;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the tax identification number of the property;</para>
      <para num="(3)">a statement that taxes for the property are delinquent at the time of filing;</para>
      <para num="(4)">the amount of taxes that are delinquent for the property at the time of filing;</para>
      <para num="(5)">the names and last known addresses of all interested parties to the property and, if applicable, a statement that the address of a particular interested party to the property is unknown;</para>
      <para num="(6)">a statement that the property is either:<para num="(i)">a vacant lot; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">an improved property cited by the Department as vacant and unsafe or unfit for habitation or another authorized use;</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(7)">if the Department states that the property is an improved property cited by the Department as vacant and unsafe or unfit for habitation or another authorized use, a copy of any relevant notices or citations issued by the Department;</para>
      <para num="(8)">a request that the Circuit Court not schedule a hearing on the complaint until 30 days after the date that the complaint has been filed; and</para>
      <para num="(9)">a request that the Circuit Court enter a judgment that:<para num="(i)">forecloses the existing interests of all interested parties to the property; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">orders ownership of the property to be transferred to the City.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Amendment.">A complaint filed under this section may be amended to include all taxes that become delinquent after the commencement of the in rem foreclosure action.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Cure.">
      <para num="(1)">Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an interested party may cure the delinquent taxes and liens on the property by paying all past due fees, payments, and penalties at any time prior to the entry of the foreclosure judgment.</para>
      <para num="(2)">An interested party may not cure the delinquent taxes and liens on the property by paying all past due fees, payments, and penalties after the entry of the foreclosure judgment.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 20-393</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-124</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
