# § 28-105 Eligibility for SLBE Program.

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

## § 28-105 Eligibility for SLBE Program.

Balt., Md., Code art. 5, § 28-105 (2026)

(a) To be eligible for certification as an SLBE, the business enterprise must:

  (1) be an independently owned and operated business enterprise that is not a broker, that is not a subsidiary of another business, and that is not dominant in its field of operation;

  (2) have owners who are actively involved in day-to-day management and control of the business;

  (3) perform a commercially useful function;

  (4) not have employed more than 50 full-time persons at any time during the last 3 years;

  (5) have annual gross revenues, as averaged over its most recent past 3 fiscal years or, if the business has not existed for 3 years, over the course of the existence of the business, of not more than:

    (i) $5 million for construction firms, specialty trade contractors, and manufacturing firms;

    (ii) $2.5 million for architectural firms;

    (iii) $1.5 million for professional services firms;

    (iv) $1.25 million for engineering firms; or

    (v) $1 million for firms providing other services, materials, or equipment, except for manufacturing firms; and

  (6) have a principal place of business in Baltimore City;

  (7) have:

    (i) been established for at least 1 year; or

    (ii) managing principals of the business who each have at least 3 years of relevant experience prior to forming or joining the business; and

  (8) in the year preceding the date of the initial certification application, not have received more than $1,000,000 in City contract payments as a result of contract awards from the City achieved through an open competitive bidding process.

(b)

  (1) A business firm is not eligible to become a certified SLBE if it is owned by:

    (i) other businesses that cannot themselves qualify under the SLBE eligibility requirements in subsection (a) of this section; or

    (ii) the principals or owners of other businesses that cannot themselves qualify under the SLBE eligibility requirements in subsection (a) of this section.

  (2) A business firm that has graduated from the SLBE Program under § 28-109 {“Graduation[, etc.]”} is no longer eligible to participate in the SLBE Program even if it otherwise meets all other eligibility criteria.

*History: Ord. 16-595*