# Title 10 – Commercial Districts
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
## Subtitle 1 – Purpose of Title
### § 10-101 Purpose.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-101 (2026)
The purpose of this title is to set out the use regulations and the bulk and yard regulations for Commercial Zoning Districts.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
## Subtitle 2 – District Descriptions
### § 10-201 C-1 Neighborhood Business District.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-201 (2026)
(a) The C-1 Neighborhood Business Zoning District is intended for areas of commercial clusters or pedestrian-oriented corridors of commercial uses that serve the immediate neighborhood.
(b) The C-1 District standards are crafted to:
(1) ensure compatibility between neighboring residential and commercial uses;
(2) maintain the proper scale of commercial use; and
(3) address the unique issues related to smaller commercial sites.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-202 C-1-E Neighborhood Business and Entertainment District.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-202 (2026)
(a) The C-1-E Neighborhood Business and Entertainment Zoning District is intended for areas of commercial clusters or pedestrian-oriented corridors of commercial uses that serve the immediate neighborhood and allow for clustering of entertainment uses.
(b) The C-1-E District standards are crafted to:
(1) ensure compatibility among neighboring residential, commercial, and entertainment uses;
(2) maintain the proper scale of commercial use; and
(3) address the unique issues related to smaller commercial sites.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-203 C-1-VC Neighborhood Business District (Village Center).
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-203 (2026)
(a) The C-1-VC Neighborhood Business Zoning District (Village Center) is intended for areas of commercial clusters or pedestrian-oriented corridors of commercial uses that serve the immediate neighborhood in a low scale and with a mix of attached and detached structures.
(b) The C-1-VC District standards are crafted to:
(1) ensure compatibility between neighboring residential and commercial uses;
(2) maintain the proper scale of commercial use; and
(3) address the unique issues related to small commercial sites.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-204 C-2 Community Commercial District.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-204 (2026)
(a) The C-2 Community Commercial Zoning District is intended for areas of small to medium-scale commercial use, typically located along urban corridors, that are designed to accommodate pedestrians and, in some instances, automobiles.
(b) The C-2 District standards are crafted to:
(1) ensure compatibility among neighboring residential, commercial, and entertainment uses;
(2) maintain the proper scale of commercial use; and
(3) maintain a balance between high traffic volume and pedestrian circulation.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
*History: Ord. 17-015*
### § 10-205 C-3 General Commercial District.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-205 (2026)
(a)
(1) The C-3 General Commercial Zoning District is intended for more intensive commercial uses and key commercial nodes that require additional controls, particularly for shopping centers and larger retail establishments.
(2) The C-3 District accommodates larger developments that may require significant parking, such as shopping centers and large-scale mixed-use development.
(b) The C-3 District standards are crafted to:
(1) ensure compatibility among neighboring residential, commercial, and entertainment uses;
(2) ensure high quality pedestrian connections between public sidewalks and business entrances; and
(3) create store fronts that are oriented towards streets and other public ways.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-206 C-4 Heavy Commercial District.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-206 (2026)
(a) The C-4 Heavy Commercial Zoning District is intended for areas of more intense commercial use that are generally not appropriate for lower intensity commercial districts, including uses related to motor vehicles and those that might require outdoor storage.
(b) Because of the impacts from more intensive commercial uses, the standards for this district ensure that setbacks, buffering, and site development controls are in place to mitigate negative impacts on neighboring uses.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-207 C-5 Downtown District.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-207 (2026)
(a) The C-5 Downtown Zoning District is intended for Baltimore’s Downtown and accommodates a wide range of uses normally associated with the downtown of a major city.
(b) The C-5 District standards are crafted to:
(1) maintain or improve the pedestrian environment;
(2) ensure that new construction is compatible with existing development; and
(3) develop a greener downtown.
(c)
(1) In order to address the different character areas that make up Downtown, the C-5 District is divided into the following subdistricts, for which varied bulk and yard regulations are provided to recognize the different physical characteristics of Downtown.
(2)
(i) The purpose of the C-5-DC Downtown Core Subdistrict is to establish these standards for structures located within the majority of Downtown.
(ii) The standards recognize that this subdistrict is to be the most intensely developed portion of Downtown and is to be predominately pedestrian-oriented in nature.
(3)
(i) The purpose of the C-5-IH Inner Harbor Subdistrict is to establish these standards for structures located adjacent to and facing the Inner Harbor.
(ii) The standards recognize that development within this subdistrict is to be oriented to the Inner Harbor waterfront and be predominantly pedestrian-oriented and mixed-use.
(4)
(i) The purpose of the C-5-DE Downtown East Subdistrict is to establish these standards for structures within a high intensity waterfront-oriented area.
(ii) The standards recognize that this area is to contain intense levels of development to create a high density, walkable, mixed-use environment where careful placement of structures affords visual access to the waterfront as well as pedestrian access within.
(iii) Because this subdistrict is adjacent to lower density neighborhoods of historic and traditional character, the intensity and height of development on the periphery of the subdistrict are intended to provide a transition between the core of this subdistrict and the adjacent neighborhoods.
(5)
(i) The purpose of the C-5-HT Downtown Historic and Traditional Subdistrict is to establish these standards for structures in an area of Downtown containing substantial historic and traditional architecture that has evolved since the founding of the City.
(ii) Given the character of that development, this district is designed to require relatively low heights and the use of materials that reflect the existing development context.
(6) The purpose of the C-5-TO Downtown Traditional Office Subdistrict is:
(i) to establish these standards for structures in an area that primarily consists of early 20th Century office development; and
(ii) to seek to maintain a distinctive and desirable environment.
(7) The purpose of the C-5-HS Howard Street Mixed-Use Subdistrict is to establish these standards for structures to facilitate a transition between the intensive development of the Downtown core and the more modest-scale development found in adjacent, primarily residential environments.
(8)
(i) The purpose of the C-5-G Government Center Subdistrict is to establish these standards for structures that reflect the scale of major governmental buildings located within the district.
(ii) The intent is to ensure that future development reflects the existing scale of development and maintains critical views of these public buildings from the adjacent areas.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
*History: Ord. 17-015*
*History: Ord. 24-319*
## Subtitle 3 – Use Regulations
### § 10-301 As listed in Table 10-301.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-301 (2026)
Only those uses of land listed in Table 10-301: Commercial Districts – Permitted and Conditional Uses are allowed within these zoning districts.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
## Subtitle 4 – Bulk and Yard Regulations
### § 10-401 In general.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-401 (2026)
Table 10-401: Commercial Districts – Bulk and Yard Regulations sets forth the applicable bulk and yard regulations for these zoning districts.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-402 Measurement methodologies; Exceptions, etc.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-402 (2026)
(a) Measurement methodologies are as set forth in Title 15, Subtitle 3 {“Measurement Methodologies”} of this Code.
(b) Exceptions and requirements are as set forth in Title 15, Subtitle 4 {“Exceptions and Requirements”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
## Subtitle 5 – Design Standards for C-5 District
### § 10-501 Harbor promenade.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-501 (2026)
Within certain areas of the C-5-DC, C-5-IH, and C-5-DE Subdistricts, a harbor promenade is required. (The applicable areas are shown on the zoning map for the Waterfront Overlay Zoning Districts.) New development in these areas must comply with Title 12, Subtitle 9 {“Waterfront Overlay Zoning Districts”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-502 Open-space plazas.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-502 (2026)
(a) Public open-space plazas are permitted within the C-5 District.
(b) Open-space plazas must comply with the following design requirements:
(1) a plaza must be designed to be accessible from adjoining buildings and for generally unobstructed pedestrian circulation throughout the plaza; and
(2) visibility into the plaza may not be entirely blocked by structures.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
*History: Ord. 17-015*
### § 10-503 Parking and access.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-503 (2026)
(a) The C-5 District is exempt from the parking requirements of this Code.
(b) New curb cuts are prohibited on primary streets (see Design Manual).
(c) Along Pratt Street:
(1) parking garages as principal uses are prohibited;
(2) vehicle entries to parking garages are prohibited; and
(3) all parking garages must be faced with active ground-floor uses, whether residential or non-residential.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
*History: Ord. 22-181*
### § 10-504 View protection.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-504 (2026)
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, skyways and street bridges are prohibited in the C-5 District.
(b) For hospital uses, a skyway or street bridge is allowed, subject to conditional use approval from the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
## Subtitle 6 – Other Applicable Standards
### § 10-601 In general.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-601 (2026)
The Commercial Zoning Districts are also subject to the standards listed in this subtitle.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-602 Accessory structures and uses.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-602 (2026)
Standards governing accessory structures and uses are set forth in Title 15, Subtitle 5 {“Accessory Structures and Uses”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-603 Site development.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-603 (2026)
On-site development standards are set forth in Title 15 {“Site Development Standards”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
*History: Ord. 17-015*
### § 10-604 Off-street parking and loading.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-604 (2026)
Standards governing off-street parking and loading are set forth in Title 16 {“Off-Street Parking and Loading”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-605 Design standards.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-605 (2026)
All developments of the type described in § 4-405 {“Design Review: Applicability”} of this Code must comply with the applicable design standards required by the Baltimore City Design Manual.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-606 Landscaping and screening.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-606 (2026)
All landscaping and screening must comply with the requirements of the Baltimore City Landscape Manual.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
*History: Ord. 17-015*
### § 10-607 Signs.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-607 (2026)
Standards governing signs are set forth in Title 17 {“Signs”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-608 Temporary uses.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-608 (2026)
Standards governing temporary uses are set forth in Title 14, Subtitle 4 {“Temporary-Use Standards”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*
### § 10-609 Residential conversions.
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 10-609 (2026)
The conversion of a single-family dwelling to a multi-family dwelling is allowed in the Commercial Zoning Districts, subject to the requirements of § 9-702 {“Residential Conversions: Design review”} and § 9-703 {“Residential Conversions: Conversion standards”} of this Code.
*History: Ord. 16-581*