Part I – Definitions
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. 8, § 2-1 (2026)
§ 2-1 In general.LinkCopy Citation
In <cite data-path="|8">this article</cite>, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires a different meaning or a different definition is adopted for a particular statutory unit.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-2 (2026)
§ 2-2 “Agency”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Agency” means any department, board, commission, council, authority, committee, office, or other unit of City government.
(b)Inclusions.
“Agency” also includes:
(1)
Baltimore Children and Youth Fund;
(2)
Baltimore City Parking Authority;
(3)
Baltimore Development Corporation;
(4)
Baltimore Police Department;
(5)
Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore City;
(6)
Housing Authority of Baltimore City;
(7)
Local Development Council, South Baltimore Video Lottery Terminal;
(8)
Pimlico Community Development Authority;
(9)
South Baltimore Gateway Community Impact District Management Authority; and
(10)
any individual not embraced in a unit of City government who exercises authority comparable to that of the head of a unit of City government.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 05-174
History: Ord. 10-272
History: Ord. 16-509
History: Ord. 17-063
History: Ord. 20-363
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-3 (2026)
§ 2-3 “Board”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Board” means any board, commission, council, authority, committee, or other unit of City government that comprises 2 or more members, all of whom are appointed and serve on a part-time basis.
(b)Inclusions.
“Board” also includes:
(1)
Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City;
(2)
Board of Directors of the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund;
(3)
Board of Directors of the Baltimore City Parking Authority;
(4)
Board of Directors of the Baltimore Development Corporation;
(5)
Board of Directors of the South Baltimore Gateway Community Impact District Management Authority;
(6)
Civilian Review Board of Baltimore City;
(7)
Local Development Council, South Baltimore Video Lottery Terminal; and
(8)
Pimlico Community Development Authority.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 05-174
History: Ord. 10-272
History: Ord. 16-509
History: Ord. 17-063
History: Ord. 20-363
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-4 (2026)
§ 2-4 “Business entity”.LinkCopy Citation
“Business entity” means any person engaged in business or other organized activity, whether for-profit or not-for-profit and regardless of form.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-5 (2026)
§ 2-5LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-6 (2026)
§ 2-6 “Child”.LinkCopy Citation
“Child” means a biological child, adopted child, stepchild, ward, or foster child, regardless of age.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-7 (2026)
§ 2-7 “Compensation”.LinkCopy Citation
“Compensation” means any money or thing of value, regardless of form, received or to be received by a person for services rendered.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-8 (2026)
§ 2-8 “Elected official”.LinkCopy Citation
“Elected official” means:
(1)
the Mayor;
(2)
the City Comptroller;
(3)
the President of the City Council; and
(4)
any member of the City Council.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-9 (2026)
§ 2-9 “Employee”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Employee” means any employee of the City who is not an official.
(b)Inclusions.
“Employee” also includes an employee of any agency or board included within the scope of § 2-2 {“Agency”} or <cite data-path="|8|§2-3">§ 2-3 {“Board”} of this subtitle</cite>.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-10 (2026)
§ 2-10 “Ethics Board”.LinkCopy Citation
“Ethics Board” means the Baltimore City Board of Ethics, established under <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="VII|§106">Article VII, § 106 of the City Charter</cite> and Subtitle 3 {“Administration”) of <cite data-path="|8">this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-11 (2026)
§ 2-11 “Executive Director”.LinkCopy Citation
“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Ethics Board or the Executive Director’s designee.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-12 to 2-15 (2026)
§§ 2-12 to 2-15LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-16 (2026)
§ 2-16 “Financial interest”.LinkCopy Citation
“Financial interest” means ownership of:
(1)
more than 3% of a business entity;
(2)
securities of any kind that represent or are convertible into ownership of more than 3% of a business entity; or
(3)
any interest as the result of which the owner:
(i)
received more than $1,000 in any 1 of the preceding 3 calendar years; or
(ii)
is entitled to receive more than $1,000 in the current or any subsequent calendar year.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-17 (2026)
§ 2-17 “Gift”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Gift” means, except as specified in subsection (b) of this section, the transfer of any thing or any service of economic value, regardless of the form, without adequate, identifiable, and lawful consideration.
(b)Exclusions.
“Gift” does not include the solicitation, acceptance, receipt, or disposition of a political contribution that is regulated under State Election Law Article, Title 13 {“Campaign Finance”} or under any other state law that regulates the conduct of elections or the receipt of political contributions.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 11-484
History: Ord. 17-068
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-18 (2026)
§ 2-18LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-19 (2026)
§ 2-19 “Interest”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Interest” means, except as specified in subsection (b) of this section, any legal or equitable economic interest, whether or not subject to an encumbrance or a condition, that is owned or held wholly or partly, jointly or severally, or directly or indirectly.
(b)Exclusions.
“Interest” does not include:
(1)
an interest held in the capacity of a personal representative, agent, custodian, fiduciary, or trustee, unless the holder has an equitable interest in the subject matter;
(2)
an interest in a time or demand deposit in a financial institution;
(3)
an interest in an insurance policy, endowment policy, or annuity contract under which an insurer promises to pay a fixed amount of money, either in a lump sum or periodically for life or some other specified period;
(4)
an interest in a mutual fund that is publicly traded on a national scale, unless the mutual fund is composed primarily of holdings of stocks and interests in a specific sector or area that is regulated by the public servant’s agency;
(5)
an interest in a trust that is qualified under § 401 or § 501 of the Internal Revenue Code and forms part of a pension or a profit-sharing plan;
(6)
an interest in a qualified tuition plan under § 529 of the Internal Revenue Code; or
(7)
a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund that is publicly traded on a national scale unless the mutual fund or exchange-traded fund is composed primarily of holdings of stocks and interests in a specific sector or area that is regulated by the public servant’s agency.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 16-585
History: Ord. 19-239
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-20 (2026)
§ 2-20 “Lobbyist”.LinkCopy Citation
“Lobbyist” means any person required to register with the Ethics Board under Subtitle 8 {“Lobbying”} of <cite data-path="|8">this article</cite>.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-21 (2026)
§ 2-21 “Official”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Official” means:
(1)
an elected official;
(2)
the head of any department;
(3)
the head of any bureau or division within a department; and
(4)
any other individual in a unit of City government who, whether acting alone or as a member of a board acting jointly with other board members:
(i)
has authority comparable to that of the head of a department or the head of a bureau or division;
(ii)
has decision-making authority in making City policy;
(iii)
has decision-making authority in the exercise of quasi-judicial, regulatory, licensing, inspecting, or auditing functions; or
(iv)
acts as a principal advisor to one who has authority of the type listed.
(b)Inclusions.
“Official” also includes the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Executive Secretary, or Administrator of any agency or board included within the scope of § 2-2 {“Agency”} or <cite data-path="|8|§2-3">§ 2-3 {“Board”} of this subtitle</cite>.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 16-509
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-22 (2026)
§ 2-22 “Person”.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
“Person” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107|(a)">§ 1-107(a) {“Person: In general”}</cite> of the City Code’s <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>.
(b)Qualified inclusion of governmental entities.
Notwithstanding <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107|(b)">§ 1-107(b) {“Person: Exclusion”}</cite> of the <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>, in <cite data-path="|8">this article</cite> “person” also includes, except as used in Subtitle 9 {“Enforcement”} for the imposition of criminal penalties, a governmental entity or an instrumentality or unit of a governmental entity.
History: Ord. 04-795
History: Ord. 10-267
History: Ord. 19-332
History: Ord. 22-125
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-23 (2026)
§ 2-23 “Public servant”.LinkCopy Citation
“Public servant” means any official or employee.
History: Ord. 04-795
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-24 (2026)
§ 2-24 “Quasi-governmental entity”.LinkCopy Citation
“Quasi-governmental entity” means an entity that:
(1)
is created by a state statute;
(2)
performs a public function; and
(3)
is supported in whole or in part by the state, but is managed privately.
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-25 to 2-30 (2026)
§§ 2-25 to 2-30LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
History: