# Subtitle 4 – Development Permits
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
## § 4-1 Permit required.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-1 (2026)
A Building permit issued by the Building Official under the Baltimore City Building Code:
(1) is required for all development in the Floodplain District; and
(2) may be granted only after necessary permits from the State Water & Science Administration and all other applicable Federal, State, and City agencies have been obtained and verified by the Planning Department.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 21-020*
## § 4-2 Applications.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-2 (2026)
(a) The application for the permit must be submitted by the owner or authorized agent of the owner to the Building Official.
(b) The application must contain, in addition to the information otherwise required by the Building Official for a building permit, the following information:
(1) the name and address of the applicant;
(2) the name and address of the owner of land on which development is proposed;
(3) the name and address of the contractor;
(4) the site location;
(5) a plan of the site showing the size and location of the proposed development, as well as any existing structures;
(6) plans, drawn to scale, that show the location, dimensions, and NAVD elevation of the site in relation to:
(i) the stream channel or shoreline, as the case may be; and
(ii) the Floodplain District delineation;
(7) a summary description of the proposed work and estimated cost; and
(8) copies of all necessary permits from the State Water & Science Administration and all other applicable Federal, State, and City agencies.
(c)
(1) Depending on the type of development or structure involved, the Floodplain Manager may require:
(i) that an elevation certificate for the proposed development be submitted with the application; and
(ii) that the following information be shown on plans submitted with the application:
(A) the size of each proposed structure and the position on the lot where it is to be constructed;
(B) the elevations of the proposed final grading and lowest floor and the existing ground and base-flood elevation, as certified by a licensed land surveyor or professional engineer; and
(C) the method of elevating the proposed structure, including details of proposed fills, pile structures, retaining walls, foundations, erosion protection measures, and the like.
(2) These plans must be prepared by a licensed professional engineer or professional architect.
(d) If substantial improvement to an existing structure is proposed, an appraisal must be submitted by a professional real estate appraiser of the fair market value of the existing structure, less land value.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 14-307*
*History: Ord. 21-020*
## § 4-3 Plans for subdivisions or new development.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-3 (2026)
(a)
(1) Every proposal for the subdivision of land or for new development must include a plan that shows the location of all existing and proposed public and private utilities, facilities, drainage structure, and road access.
(2) If the base-flood elevation has been determined by the Flood Insurance Study or other reliable source, as provided in § 2-3 {“Official map”} of this Division I, that flood elevation must be delineated on the plan.
(3) If the proposal involves more than 5 lots or more than 5 acres and the base-flood elevation has not been determined for the land area, the developer must determine the base-flood elevation and delineate that flood elevation on the plan. If hydrologic and hydraulic engineering analyses are submitted, they must be certified in accordance with the requirements of the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(b) All plans must be certified by a licensed professional engineer or professional architect and reviewed by the Department of General Services to assure that:
(1) all proposals are consistent with the need to minimize flood damage;
(2) all necessary permits have been received from the State Water & Science Administration and appropriate Federal agencies;
(3) all public and private utilities and facilities (including sewer, water, telephone, electric, gas, etc.) are located, constructed, and floodproofed to minimize or eliminate flood damage;
(4) adequate drainage is provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards;
(5) during a base flood, at least 1 access point provides safe vehicular access to and egress from the subdivision or new development; and
(6) adequate measures have been taken to minimize adverse environmental impacts of the proposed development.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 21-020*
## § 4-4 Conformance to codes required.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-4 (2026)
A permit may be granted only after it has been determined that the proposed work will be in conformance with the requirements of this and all other applicable laws.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
## § 4-5 Alteration of watercourse.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-5 (2026)
(a)
(1) When the proposed development includes the relocation or alteration of a watercourse, evidence must be presented as part of the permit application that all adjacent communities and the State Water & Science Administration have been notified by certified mail and have approved of the proposed alteration or relocation.
(2) Copies of these notifications must then be forwarded to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance Administration.
(b) In addition, the developer must assure the City, in writing, that the flood-carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse in question will be preserved.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 21-020*
## § 4-6 Changes to application, permit, etc.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-6 (2026)
After the issuance of a building permit by the Building Official, no changes of any kind may be made to the application, permit, or any of the plans, specifications, or other documents submitted with the application without the written consent or approval of the Building Official.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
## § 4-7 Inspections; permit revocation.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-7 (2026)
(a)
(1) During the construction period, the Building Official must inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the permit and with all applicable laws.
(2) The premises are also subject to inspection by the State Water & Science Administration.
(b) If the Building Official determines that the work is not in compliance with the permit and all applicable laws or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation by the applicant, the Building Official, on instruction from the Planning Department, may revoke the permit and report that fact to the State Water & Science Administration.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 21-020*
## § 4-8 Requisites for occupancy permit.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-8 (2026)
(a) An occupancy permit issued by the Building Official:
(1) is required for all new construction and substantial improvements in the Floodplain District; and
(2) may not be issued until the Building Official has been provided with an elevation certificate that certifies the “as-built” elevations of the new construction or substantial improvements.
(b) When applicable, a dry floodproofing certificate is also required prior to the approval of the occupancy permit.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 21-020*
## § 4-9 Record of permit actions.
Balt., Md., Code art. 7, § 4-9 (2026)
(a) A record of all permit actions in the Floodplain District, including all permits from applicable Federal, State, and City agencies, must be maintained by the Planning Department and must be made available on the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the State Water & Science Administration during periodic assessments of Baltimore City’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
(b) This record must include, at a minimum:
(1) the date the permit was issued;
(2) the “as-built” lowest floor elevation of all new construction or substantial improvement;
(3) a copy of all other elevation certificates submitted under this Division I;
(4) the issuance date of any occupancy permit; and
(5) any map amendments issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
*History: Ord. 88-188*
*History: Ord. 11-516*
*History: Ord. 14-208*
*History: Ord. 21-020*