Title 6 – Zoning Districts; Maps and Profiles
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
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-101 (2026)
§ 6-101 Purpose.LinkCopy Citation
The purpose of this title is to outline the different zoning districts and the zoning map, floodplain overlay maps, and flood profiles subject to this Code.
History: Ord. 16-581
Subtitle 2 – Zoning Districts
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-201 (2026)
§ 6-201 Establishment of districts.LinkCopy Citation
To carry out the purposes of this Code, the City is divided into zoning districts, as listed in this subtitle and located on the zoning map, floodplain overlay maps, and flood profiles adopted under this Code.
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-202 (2026)
§ 6-202 Open-Space and Environmental Districts.LinkCopy Citation
The Open-Space and Environmental Districts are:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>OS</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Open-Space Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FP</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Floodplain Overlay Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CBCA</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zoning District</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-203 (2026)
§ 6-203 Detached and Semi-Detached Residential Districts.LinkCopy Citation
The Detached and Semi-Detached Residential Districts are:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>R-1A</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-1B</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-1C</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-1D</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-1E</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-1</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-2</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached and Semi-Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-3</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-4</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached and Semi-Detached Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-204 (2026)
§ 6-204 Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts.LinkCopy Citation
The Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Districts are:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>R-5</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-6</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-7</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-8</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-9</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-10</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse and Multi-Family Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-205 (2026)
§ 6-205 Commercial Districts.LinkCopy Citation
The Commercial Districts are:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>C-1</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Neighborhood Business Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C-1-E</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Neighborhood Business and Entertainment Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C-1-VC</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Neighborhood Business Zoning District (Village Center)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C-2</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Community Commercial Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C-3</td>
<td data-text-align="center">General Commercial Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C-4</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Heavy Commercial Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C-5</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Downtown District</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-206 (2026)
§ 6-206 Industrial Districts.LinkCopy Citation
The Industrial Districts are:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>OIC</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Office-Industrial Campus Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BSC</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Bio-Science Campus Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IMU-1</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Industrial Mixed-Use Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IMU-2</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Industrial Mixed-Use Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I-1</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Light Industrial Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I-2</td>
<td data-text-align="center">General Industrial Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MI</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Maritime Industrial Zoning District</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
History: Ord. 16-581
History: Ord. 19-244
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-207 (2026)
§ 6-207 Special Purpose Districts.LinkCopy Citation
The Special Purpose Districts are:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>OR</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Office-Residential Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TOD-1</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Transit-Oriented Development District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TOD-2</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Transit-Oriented Development District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TOD-3</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Transit-Oriented Development District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TOD-4</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Transit-Oriented Development District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EC</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Educational Campus Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>H</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Hospital Campus Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Transportation Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>W</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Waterfront Overlay Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R-MU</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Rowhouse Mixed-Use Overlay District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>D-MU</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Detached Dwelling Mixed-Use Overlay District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AU</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Adult Use Overlay Zoning District</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PC</td>
<td data-text-align="center">Port Covington Zoning District</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
History: Ord. 16-581
History: Ord. 19-244
Subtitle 3 – Maps and Profiles
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-301 (2026)
§ 6-301 Maps and profiles part of Code.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The zoning map, floodplain overlay maps, and flood profiles adopted under this Code are incorporated in and made a part of this Code as fully as if they were set forth and described in this Code.
(b)Evidence of authenticity.
As evidence of the authenticity of these maps and profiles, each is to be signed by the Mayor and by the President of the City Council.
(c)Digital format authorized.
(1)
The Zoning Administrator may convert these maps and profiles into, and maintain and periodically update them in, a geographic database or other digital format that is capable of depicting the zoning lines and designations in both electronic and printed forms.
(2)
On certification by the Director of Transportation, the maps and profiles converted to a digital format under this subsection:
(i)
are legalized for purposes of the Zoning Code of Baltimore City; and
(ii)
may be taken by all public officials and others as evidence of the original maps and profiles adopted under this Code.
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-302 (2026)
§ 6-302 Letter or letter-number designations.LinkCopy Citation
The use on the zoning map of a letter or a letter-number combination to designate a district indicates that the regulations applying to that district extend throughout the whole area bounded by the district boundary lines, as determined by the provisions of <cite data-path="|32|§6-303">§ 6-303 {“Boundary line determination”} of this subtitle</cite>.
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-303 (2026)
§ 6-303 Boundary line determination.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The precise location of a zoning district boundary line is determined as specified in this section.
(b)Along streets, alleys, streams, etc.
Where a district boundary line is shown as being within or along a street, alley, other public or private way, or an extension of any of them, or as being within or along a non-navigable stream, the boundary is the center line of that street, alley, other way, extension, or stream.
(c)On lot lines.
Where a district boundary line is shown as along or superimposed on a lot line, the boundary is that lot line.
(d)Designated distances.
Where the location of a district boundary line is indicated by a designated number of feet, that distance controls.
(e)Along railroad rights-of way.
Where a district boundary line is shown as being within or along a railroad right-of-way, the boundary line of that railroad right-of-way controls.
(f)Along navigable waters.
Where a district boundary line is shown as along a navigable waterway and is not otherwise fixed, the boundary is:
(1)
the line that coincides with the “pierhead line” (that is, the legal boundary beyond which artificial structures, such as piers, may not project); or
(2)
where no pierhead line has been established, the line that coincides with the mean low tide line.
(g)Reclaimed submerged land.
Unless otherwise indicated on the zoning map, submerged land that is later reclaimed is in the same district as the non-submerged premises to which the reclaimed land is contiguous.
(h)Others.
Where a district boundary line is shown and its location is not fixed by any of the rules of this section, its precise location is determined by scaling from fixtures, objects, or other structures shown on the zoning map.
History: Ord. 16-581
Balt., Md., Code art. 32, § 6-304 (2026)
§ 6-304 Property divided by zoning district line.LinkCopy Citation
Where a lot is divided into 2 or more parts by a zoning district line:
(1)
for all purposes except density, each part must comply with all of the regulations applicable to its zoning classification; and
(2)
for density purposes, the lot area computation of each part may be totaled and then distributed throughout the lot, without regard to the zoning lines.
History: Ord. 16-581