Subtitle 2 – Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-1 (2026)
§ 2-1 CHAP established.LinkCopy Citation
There is a Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, constituted as an independent unit of the Department of Planning.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-2 (2026)
§ 2-2 Composition.LinkCopy Citation
(a)General.
The Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation comprises 13 members.
(b)Appointed members.
11 members are appointed by the Mayor, in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">City Charter Article IV, § 6</cite>, as follows:
(1)
1 member to be nominated by the Greater Baltimore Committee;
(2)
1 member to be nominated by Baltimore Heritage;
(3)
1 member to be nominated by the Board of Directors of Preservation Maryland;
(4)
1 member to be nominated by the Board of the Baltimore City Historical Society, Inc.; and
(5)
7 members appointed at-large.
(c)City representatives.
(1)
1 member is a Councilmember, to be designated by the Council President.
(2)
1 member is the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner’s designee.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 68-319
History: Ord. 93-169
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 06-247
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-3 (2026)
§ 2-3 Qualifications.LinkCopy Citation
(a)General.
Each member:
(1)
must be a resident of Baltimore City; and
(2)
must demonstrate a special interest, knowledge, or training in such fields as history, architecture, preservation, African-American history, or urban design.
(b)Appointed members.
Of the 11 members appointed by the Mayor under <cite data-path="|6|§2-2|(b)">§ 2-2(b) {“Composition: Appointed members”} of this subtitle</cite>:
(1)
at least 1 member must be an historian knowledgeable in the architecture, history, and culture of Baltimore City;
(2)
at least 1 member must be an historian knowledgeable in the African-American history and culture of Baltimore City;
(3)
at least 2 members must be licensed architects knowledgeable in architectural preservation;
(4)
at least 1 member must be a licensed real estate broker doing business in Baltimore City;
(5)
at least 1 member must own and occupy a contributing residence within an Historical and Architectural Preservation District;
(6)
at least 1 member must own and operate a contributing commercial property within an Historical and Architectural Preservation District; and
(7)
each of at least 2 different members must demonstrate a special interest, knowledge, or training in 1 of the following fields, not otherwise within the special interest, knowledge, or training of the other member:
(i)
landscape architecture;
(ii)
archeology; and
(iii)
construction or engineering.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 68-319
History: Ord. 93-169
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-4 (2026)
§ 2-4 Term of appointed members.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Regular terms.
(1)
Each of the 11 members appointed under <cite data-path="|6|§2-2|(b)">§ 2-2(b) {“Composition: Appointed members”} of this subtitle</cite> serves for a term concurrent with the Mayor’s term of office and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(2)
The Councilmember designated under <cite data-path="|6|§2-2|(c)|(1)">§ 2-2(c)(1) {“Composition: City representatives”} of this subtitle</cite> serves a term concurrent with that Councilmember’s service on the Council.
(b)Filling vacancy.
A member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term serves for the remainder of that term.
(c)Term limits.
A member may not be appointed under § 2-2(b) or (c)(1) of this subtitle to serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
(d)Removal on failure to attend meetings.
(1)
Any member who, during any period of 12 consecutive months, fails to attend 6 regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the Commission is considered to have resigned.
(2)
The Chair of the Commission must forward the member’s name to the member’s appointing authority as soon as practicable following the 6<sup>th</sup> unattended meeting.
(3)
The appointing authority must then appoint a successor for the rest of the term.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 93-169
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-5 (2026)
§ 2-5 Officers; Compensation.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Chair and Vice-Chair.
(1)
The Mayor designates one of the Commission members to serve as the Commission’s Chair.
(2)
The Commission elects one of the Commission members to serve as the Commission’s Vice-Chair.
(b)Compensation.
The members of the Commission:
(1)
serve without compensation; but
(2)
are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-6 (2026)
§ 2-6 Executive Director.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Appointment.
(1)
The Executive Director for Historical and Architectural Preservation is appointed by the Commission.
(2)
The appointment must be made from a list of at least 3 qualified candidates provided by the Director of Planning.
(3)
If the list is not satisfactory to the Commission, the Director of Planning must provide a new list until a satisfactory list of candidates is submitted.
(b)Qualifications.
(1)
The candidates must meet the qualifications specified in a position description developed by the Commission that conforms to the “Professional Qualifications Standards” of the Secretary of the Interior’s “Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation”.
(2)
The Executive Director may not also serve as a member of the Commission.
(c)General duties.
The Executive Director:
(1)
must perform the duties set forth in <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite> and as otherwise required by the Commission; and
(2)
also serves as Division Chief of the Planning Department’s Historical and Architectural Division.
(d)Suspension or dismissal.
The Director of Planning, with the approval of a majority of the Commission, may suspend or dismiss the Executive Director.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 74-677
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-7 (2026)
§ 2-7 Staff; Consultants.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Staff.
(1)
The Department of Planning serves as staff to the Commission.
(2)
Staff serving in the Planning Department’s Historical and Architectural Preservation Division must meet the qualifications of a position description that conforms to the “Professional Qualifications Standards” of the Secretary of the Interior’s “Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation”.
(b)Consultants.
The Commission may employ consultants and other personnel necessary or appropriate for the proper performance of its duties, as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 05-123
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-8 (2026)
§ 2-8 Meetings; Records.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Meetings.
(1)
7 members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Commission.
(2)
An affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum is needed for any Commission action.
(3)
All meetings of the Commission must be conducted in accordance with the State Open Meetings Act, Title 3 of the State <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>.
(b)Records.
(1)
The Commission shall keep records of all its proceedings, showing the vote of each member on each question or, if a member is absent or fails to vote, indicating that fact.
(2)
The Commission shall keep a record of all resolutions, transactions, findings, determinations, and decisions.
(3)
All records of the Commission are open to public inspection in accordance with the State Public Information Act, Title 4 of the State <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-9 (2026)
§ 2-9 CHAP purposes; Funding.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Annual appropriation.
(1)
It is the intent of the Mayor and City Council that the annual Ordinance of Estimates appropriate an adequate sum of money that the Commission may expend for or in connection with the purposes contemplated by <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>.
(2)
These purposes include:
(i)
preparing surveys and maintaining an inventory of historically or architecturally noteworthy structures in Baltimore City;
(ii)
recommending the designation of and providing for the perpetual protection of:
(A)
preservation and conservation districts, as designated under Subtitle 3 {“Designation of Preservation Districts and Conservation Districts”} of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>; and
(B)
individual structures that have special historical or architectural significance, as designated under Subtitle 4 {“Designation of Landmarks”} of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>;
(iii)
recommending the designation of and providing for the temporary protection of individual structures that have historical or architectural significance, as designated under Subtitle 5 {“Designation of Potential Landmarks”} of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>;
(iv)
reviewing and determining the appropriateness of proposed alterations to or affecting protected properties, as provided in Subtitle 8 {“Alterations, etc., to or Affecting Properties”} of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>;
(v)
acquiring, restoring, and possible reselling of properties that have historical or architectural significance;
(vi)
implementing the incentive improvement program authorized by <cite data-path="|6|§2-10">§ 2-10 {“Incentive improvement program”} of this subtitle</cite>; and
(vii)
general administration and enforcement of the provisions of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite> and of any other duties imposed on the Commission by law.
(b)Grants, loans, etc.
The Commission may, on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and with the prior approval of the Board of Estimates, contract with or accept any grant, loan, or aid of any kind from any federal, state, or private source, to be expended for the purposes contemplated by <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>, including the purposes listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(c)Proceeds from resale of properties.
If permitted by <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter">the City Charter</cite>, sums received from the resale of properties acquired and restored by or on behalf of the Commission may be retained by the Commission for the acquisition and restoration of additional properties.
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 76-022
History: Ord. 07-550
History: Ord. 15-408
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-10 (2026)
§ 2-10 Incentive improvement program.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Program established.
There is an incentive improvement program, as provided in this section.
(b)Scope of program.
Subject to appropriations by the Ordinance of Estimates, the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation may contract with the owner or lessee of a structure that is located within a Historical and Architectural Preservation District or a Historical Conservation District or included on the Landmark List to reimburse that owner or lessee of up to 20% of the cost incurred by her or him in the reconstruction, alteration, removal, repair, or painting of an architectural feature in a manner that furthers the purposes of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>.
(c)Limitations.
In no event may the Commission authorize any reimbursement under the program until all of the work to be done and the estimated cost of that work has been approved by the Commission.
(d)Commission discretion.
In all cases, the Commission retains full discretion to determine the scope, nature, and cost of all work subject to reimbursement under the program.
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 76-022
History: Ord. 07-550
History: Ord. 15-408
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 2-11 (2026)
§ 2-11 Rules and regulations.LinkCopy Citation
Subject to Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act – Regulations”} of the <cite data-path="|general">City General Provisions Article</cite>, the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation must adopt, after notice and a public hearing, rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 64-229
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 15-408
History: Text Conformed 02/15/21