Subtitle 5 – Designation of Potential Landmarks
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, § 5-1 (2026)
§ 5-1 List components.LinkCopy Citation
The Potential-Landmark List consists of two components:
(1)
a Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors; and
(2)
a Potential-Landmark List: Public Interiors.
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 5-2 (2026)
§ 5-2 CHAP to designate.LinkCopy Citation
Only the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation may:
(1)
add a structure and its appurtenant property to the Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors or the Potential-Landmark List: Public interiors; or
(2)
for a structure already on the Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors, modify the boundaries of the appurtenant land or other property that is included in the Potential-Landmark designation.
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 5-3 (2026)
§ 5-3 Criteria for designation.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors.
(1)
The Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors comprises those structures that, in accordance with the Commission’s Historic Preservation Procedures and Guidelines, the Commission considers to be of such historical or architectural significance that, even if not located within a Historical and Architectural Preservation District or a Historical Conservation District, those structures and their exteriors (with or without, as the case may be, their appurtenant land and other property) should be extended temporary protection under <cite data-path="|6|§5-5">§ 5-5 {“Protections pending decision”} of this subtitle</cite> and under <cite data-path="|6|8">Subtitle 8 {“Alterations, etc, to or Affecting Properties”}</cite> of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>.
(2)
The boundaries of a structure on the Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors are as indicated by the Commission, as follows:
(i)
by street address, which indicates that all appurtenant land or other property at that street address and on the same lot is included in and protected by the Potential-Landmark designation;
(ii)
by Section, Block, and Lot Number, which indicates that all land or other property on that lot is included in the Potential-Landmark designation; or
(iii)
by a metes and bounds description or other clear delineation, which indicates that less than all land or other property at a street address or on a lot is included in the Potential-Landmark designation.
(b)Potential-Landmark List: Public Interiors.
The Potential-Landmark List: Public Interiors comprises those structures with public interiors that, in accordance with the Commission’s Historic Preservation Procedures and Guidelines, the Commission considers to be of such historical or architectural significance that, whether or not within a Historical and Architectural Preservation District or a Historical Conservation District, those public interiors should be extended temporary protection under <cite data-path="|6|§5-5">§ 5-5 {“Protections pending decision”} of this subtitle</cite> and under <cite data-path="|6|8">Subtitle 8 {“Alterations, etc, to or Affecting Properties”}</cite> of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 07-550
History: Ord. 15-408
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 5-4 (2026)
§ 5-4 Procedure to designate.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
A proposal to add a structure to the Potential-Landmark List must comply with the following procedures.
(b)Notice of hearing.
(1)
The Commission’s Chair or the Executive Director must give notice of a public hearing to be held by the Commission on the proposal, as follows:
(i)
by causing a sign to be conspicuously posted on the structure; and
(ii)
by first-class mail to each person who appears on the tax records of the City as an owner of the subject property.
(2)
The notice must include:
(i)
a statement that the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation proposes to add the structure to the Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors or Potential-Landmark List: Public Interiors, as the case may be;
(ii)
the proposed date, time, and place of the public hearing to be held on the proposal; and
(iii)
the Commission’s contact information (including a phone number) for obtaining additional information on the proposal and updated information on the date, time, and place of the hearing.
(c)Timing of hearing.
The public hearing must be held on a date that is:
(1)
no sooner than 30 days from the time the sign is posted; and
(2)
except as agreed to by the owner of the subject property, no later than 60 days from the time the sign is posted.
(d)Final decision.
At the end of the public hearing, the Commission must render its decision on whether to include the structure on the Potential-Landmark List.
History: Ord. 67-939
History: Ord. 07-550
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 5-5 (2026)
§ 5-5 Protections pending decision.LinkCopy Citation
From the time the sign is posted until the Commission makes its final decision, the structure is subject to the requirements, procedures, and protections of Subtitle 8 {“Alterations, etc., to or affecting Properties”} of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 07-550
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 5-6 (2026)
§ 5-6 Expiration of designation.LinkCopy Citation
The inclusion of any property in the Potential-Landmark List: Exteriors or the Potential-Landmark List: Public Interiors, as the case may be, automatically expires:
(1)
on the 180<sup>th</sup> day after the Commission’s decision to add the structure to that List, unless, before that date, a proposed ordinance is introduced into the City Council to add the structure to the Landmark List: Exteriors or the Landmark List: Public Interiors, respectively; or
(2)
if a proposed Landmark ordinance is introduced into the City Council before that 180<sup>th</sup> day but has not yet been enacted, 18 months from the date of the proposed ordinance’s introduction.
History: Ord. 15-408
Balt., Md., Code art. 6, § 5-7 (2026)
§ 5-7 Limitations on re-proposal.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Scope.
This section applies to:
(1)
any property for which notice of its proposed addition to the Potential-Landmark List was posted under <cite data-path="|6|§5-4">§ 5-4 {“Procedure to designate”} of this article</cite>, but for which no final decision to include it on the List was rendered within the period required by that section; or
(2)
any property that was included on the Potential-Landmark List, but whose designation has expired by operation of <cite data-path="|6|§5-6">§ 5-6 {“Expiration of designation”} of this article</cite>.
(b)General prohibition.
Except as expressly permitted in subsection (c) of this section, the Commission may not:
(1)
re-propose the addition or reinstatement to the Potential-Landmark List of any property described in subsection (a) of this section; or
(2)
initiate a proposed ordinance to add that property to the Landmark List.
(c)When re-designation permitted.
(1)
The Commission may again propose to add or reinstate the property to the Potential-Landmark List, subject again to the procedures and other provisions of this subtitle, only after the first to occur of:
(i)
2 years from the date on which the previous proposal failed or the designation expired, as the case may be;
(ii)
the election and start of a new 4-year term of office for the members of the City Council; or
(iii)
the City Council’s passage of a simple resolution requesting or authorizing the Commission to do so.
(2)
The Commission may initiate proceedings to add the structure to the Landmark List, subject to the procedures and other provisions of Subtitle 4 {“Designation of Landmarks”} of <cite data-path="|6">this article</cite>, only after the first to occur of:
(i)
2 years from the date on which the previous proposal failed or the designation expired, as the case may be;
(ii)
the election and start of a new 4-year term of office for the members of the City Council; or
(iii)
the City Council’s passage of a simple resolution requesting or authorizing the Commission to do so.
History: Ord. 15-408