# Part 2 – Places Prohibited

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

## § 6-6 Fire hydrants, lanes, houses.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-6 (2026)

(a) No vehicle shall stand within 15 feet of any fire plug or fire hydrant in any part of the City unless in actual charge of a person capable of running or operating the same.

(b)

  (1) No vehicle shall stop within any designated fire lane on private property open to the use of the general public.

  (2)

    (i) The Fire Chief shall designate the lanes to be utilized as fire lanes.

    (ii) The owner of the property shall post these lanes in a manner approved by the Director of Transportation.

(c) No vehicle may stop in front of or opposite to any fire engine house in spaces designated by the Director of Transportation.

*History: Ord. 26-823*

*History: Ord. 75-920*

*History: Ord. 77-306*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-7 Limited-access highways.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-7 (2026)

No vehicle shall be permitted to stop at any limited-access highway within the confines of Baltimore City.

*History: Ord. 78-884*

## § 6-8 Entrances to parking lots or garages.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-8 (2026)

No vehicle shall be permitted to stand, at any time, on a street adjacent to the entrance to a public parking lot or garage, for a distance of 8 feet from each side of said entrance.

*History: Ord. 47-904*

## § 6-9 Space reserved for disabled persons.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-9 (2026)

(a) Each space restricted to the use of disabled persons must be marked by a sign that complies with this section.

(b) A vehicle without special registration plates for disabled persons or not displaying a disabled person’s parking permit issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration may not be stopped in a space or zone marked in accordance with this section as restricted to the use of disabled persons, on private or City-owned property open to the use of the general public.

(c)

  (1) The space or zone must be marked by a sign that meets the following specifications:

    (i) Sign size 18"x 24".

    (ii) Wheelchair symbol, white on blue background.

    (iii) Sign to read:
Parking for (Wheelchair Symbol) vehicles displaying handicapped tags or Motor Vehicle Administration permit.  Other cars towed away and owner subject to fine.

    (iv) Red letters on white background and red border.

  (2) Signs must be approved by the Director of Transportation.

(d) After erection of a handicapped parking sign, the owner of the property shall notify the Director of Transportation that a sign has been posted in accordance with this section.

*History: Ord. 78-856*

*History: Ord. 79-1104*

*History: Ord. 97-163*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-10 Space reserved for small cars.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-10 (2026)

(a) No vehicle larger than 5' 6" wide and 15' 6" long shall be permitted to be stopped or parked in any place marked as a parking space for small cars only.

(b) A vehicle occupying such a parking space shall not extend beyond the painted parking stall markings.

*History: Ord. 84-150*

## § 6-11 Private property.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-11 (2026)

(a) A person may not stop or stand a vehicle on any private property not owned by the owner or driver of the vehicle, unless the person has express or implied permission from the property owner, his tenant, or his agent to stop or stand the vehicle, as the case may be.

(b) In Baltimore City, upon request of the owner, his agent, or his tenant, a police officer may issue a citation for a violation of the provisions of this section.

*History: Ord. 83-1043*

## § 6-12 Private driveways.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-12 (2026)

(a) No vehicle may stop in or in front of any private driveway, without consent of the owner of the premises, in such manner as to obstruct or interfere with vehicles entering or leaving the premises.

(b) On request of the owner or occupant of the premises, the Director of Transportation:

  (1) shall determine the distance from the driveway in question, not to exceed a distance of 10 feet, in which parking should be prohibited in order to prevent obstruction or interference with vehicles entering and leaving the premises or in order to expedite the free movement of traffic; and

  (2) either:

    (i) may authorize the owner or occupant of the premises to paint the curbs adjacent to the driveway for the distance so determined and with the type of paint specified by the Director; or

    (ii) if the owner of the premises so requests in writing and also agrees in writing to waive his or her right to consent to the obstruction of the driveway, may place signs that prohibit stopping during the hours that the Director finds necessary.

(c)

  (1) On the written request of the owner or occupant and if the owner or occupant pays the complete cost of inspection, fabrication, and erection, the Director of Transportation shall:

    (i) determine, on a case-by-case basis, in the case of nonresidential property, the times when stopping is prohibited; and

    (ii) erect signs on either side of the entrance to a private way, driveway, or service drive.

  (2) Signs posted for residential property shall read “No Stopping Any Time – Cars Towed Away”.

  (3) Signs posted for nonresidential property shall read "No stopping from           to         .  Cars Towed Away”, or “No Stopping Any Time – Cars Towed Away”, as determined by the Director of Transportation.

  (4) These signs are and shall remain the property of the City of Baltimore.

(d) Nothing in this section is intended nor shall it be construed as an acceptance of dedication by the City of any private driveway, lane, alley, or street as public property.

*History: Ord. 50-1386*

*History: Ord. 51-1691*

*History: Ord. 62-1345*

*History: Ord. 65-464*

*History: Ord. 81-425*

*History: Ord. 95-506*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-13 Public buildings.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-13 (2026)

(a) In the following locations, no vehicle is permitted to stand longer than actually necessary to take on or discharge passengers, baggage, freight, or merchandise:

  (1) in front of the entrance to any church, theater, public dance or entertainment hall, or driveway (public or private);

  (2) within 25 feet to any entrance to any hospital; or

  (3) in front of any theater or place of amusement or in front of any exits or fire escapes from a theater or place of amusement, where performances or amusements are being held, or where persons in large numbers are assembled.

(b) No vehicle is permitted to stand longer than actually necessary to take on or discharge passengers, baggage, merchandise, or freight in front of any shipping or receiving entrance to business houses and other places where “No Parking” spaces have been established by the Director of Transportation and designated by proper signs or markings.

(c) No vehicle, not belonging to the Police Department, Fire Department, or other municipal departments, is permitted to stand longer than actually necessary to take on or discharge passengers, baggage, merchandise, or freight in any space reserved by appropriate signs or markings, provided by the Director of Transportation, in front of any public building or other places for the parking of vehicles belonging to the a municipal department.

*History: Ord. 26-823*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-14 Street cleaning routes.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-14 (2026)

(a) The Director of Transportation shall, at the request of the Director of Public Works, post “Street Cleaning” signs on certain streets, lanes, or alleys throughout the City.

(b) Whenever such signs are posted, no vehicle shall be permitted to park during the hours designated on such signs.

(c) Any vehicle parked in violation of the aforesaid signs:

  (1) shall be subject to the impounding provisions set forth in <cite data-path="|31|§31-7">§ 31-7 of this article</cite>; but

  (2) shall be subject to the fine generally applicable to violations of <cite data-path="|31">this article</cite>.

*History: Ord. 37-523*

*History: Ord. 68-131*

*History: Ord. 73-457*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-15 Snow emergency routes.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-15 (2026)

(a) Whenever the Director of Transportation has declared that an emergency exists due to the covering or partial covering of any of the streets in Baltimore City by snow, sleet, or freezing rain, no vehicle is permitted to park on any of the streets of the City that the Director has designated as “snow emergency routes”.

(b) When a snow emergency has been declared by the Director of Transportation, the Police Commissioner may take possession of and remove any vehicle parked or abandoned so as to obstruct traffic on any street that has been designated as a “snow emergency route”.

(c) To defray the cost of removing or towing any such vehicle, the Police Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge and collect:

  (1) the sum of $5 for each vehicle so removed, to cover the cost of removal and storage for a period, not exceeding 48 hours; with

  (2) an additional charge of $1 for each day or fraction thereof which said vehicle is stored in excess of the first 48 hours said vehicle is impounded,
these charges to be in addition to any fine or other penalty imposed for the violation of any traffic ordinance.

*History: Ord. 58-1234*

*History: Ord. 58-1364*

*History: Ord. 61-1060*

*History: Ord. 99-526*

*History: Ord. 15-435*

## § 6-16 Passenger and freight loading zones.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-16 (2026)

(a)

  (1) In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

  (2) “Freight loading zone” means a space adjacent to a curb that, during specified times, is reserved exclusively for the use of commercial vehicles during the expeditious loading or unloading of property.

  (3)

    (i) “Passenger loading zone” means a space adjacent to a curb that, during specified times, is reserved exclusively for the use of vehicles that are loading or unloading passengers and their baggage.

    (ii) “Passenger loading zone” does not include:

      (A) a valet parking zone established under Title 14 {“Valet Parking”} of <cite data-path="|31">this article</cite>; or

      (B) a mobile vending zone designated under <cite data-path="|15|§17-5">Article 15, § 17-5 {“Mobile vending zones”}</cite> for the use of mobile vendors.

(b)

  (1) The Director of Transportation may determine the location of and operational hours for passenger loading zones and freight loading zones.

  (2) The Director shall place and maintain at each passenger loading zone and freight loading zone appropriate signs that:

    (i) indicate the location of the zone; and

    (ii) state the operational hours during which the restrictions of this section apply.

(c)

  (1) No person may park a vehicle in a freight loading zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours.

  (2) No vehicle person may stop a vehicle in a freight loading zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours unless:

    (i) the vehicle is a commercial vehicle actually in the process of expeditiously loading or unloading property; or

    (ii) the vehicle is a passenger vehicle stopping for the purpose of and while actually engaged in expeditiously loading or unloading passengers, as long as its stopping does not interfere with any commercial vehicle that is waiting to enter or about to enter that zone.

(d)

  (1) No person may park a vehicle in a passenger loading zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours.

  (2) No person may stop a vehicle in a passenger loading zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours unless the vehicle is a passenger vehicle stopping temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in expeditiously loading or unloading of passengers and their baggage.

*History: Ord. 26-823*

*History: Ord. 54-1179*

*History: Ord. 56-461*

*History: Ord. 76-006*

*History: Ord. 13-098*

*History: Ord. 14-237*

## § 6-17 Valet parking zones.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-17 (2026)

(a) In this section, “valet parking zone” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|31|§14-1">§ 14-1 of this article</cite>.

(b) No person may park a vehicle in a valet parking zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours unless the person:

  (1) is in the process of seeking valet parking services then being provided there; and

  (2) has been instructed by the valet parking attendant to park there.

(c) No person may stop a vehicle in a valet parking zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours unless:

  (1) the person is in the process of seeking the valet parking services being offered there; or

  (2) the vehicle is a passenger vehicle stopping temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in expeditiously loading or unloading passengers, as long as its stopping does not interfere with any other vehicle that is waiting to enter or about to enter the zone for valet parking services.

*History: Ord. 13-098*

## § 6-17.1 Mobile vending zones.

Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 6-17.1 (2026)

(a) In this section, “mobile vending zone” means an area designated in accordance with <cite data-path="|15|§17-5">Article 15, § 17-5 {“Mobile vending zones”}</cite> for the use of mobile vendors.

(b) No person may park a motor vehicle in a mobile vending zone for any purpose or period of time during its operational hours unless the motor vehicle is a vendor truck as defined in <cite data-path="|15|§17-1|(k)">Article 15, § 17-1(k) {“Definitions – Vendor truck”}</cite>.

*History: Ord. 14-237*