# 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.

## § 2-1 In general.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-1 (2026)

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*

## § 2-2 “Agency”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-2 (2026)

(a) “Agency” means any department, board, commission, council, authority, committee, office, or other unit of City government.

(b) “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*

## § 2-3 “Board”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-3 (2026)

(a) “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) “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*

## § 2-4 “Business entity”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-4 (2026)

“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*

## § 2-5

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-5 (2026)

Reserved

## § 2-6 “Child”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-6 (2026)

“Child” means a biological child, adopted child, stepchild, ward, or foster child, regardless of age.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

## § 2-7 “Compensation”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-7 (2026)

“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*

## § 2-8 “Elected official”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-8 (2026)

“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*

## § 2-9 “Employee”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-9 (2026)

(a) “Employee” means any employee of the City who is not an official.

(b) “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*

## § 2-10 “Ethics Board”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-10 (2026)

“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*

## § 2-11 “Executive Director”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-11 (2026)

“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Ethics Board or the Executive Director’s designee.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

## §§ 2-12 to 2-15

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-12 to 2-15 (2026)

Reserved

## § 2-16 “Financial interest”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-16 (2026)

“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*

## § 2-17 “Gift”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-17 (2026)

(a) “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) “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*

## § 2-18

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-18 (2026)

Reserved

## § 2-19 “Interest”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-19 (2026)

(a) “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) “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*

## § 2-20 “Lobbyist”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-20 (2026)

“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*

## § 2-21 “Official”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-21 (2026)

(a) “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) “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*

## § 2-22 “Person”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-22 (2026)

(a) “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) 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*

## § 2-23 “Public servant”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-23 (2026)

“Public servant” means any official or employee.

*History: Ord. 04-795*

## § 2-24 “Quasi-governmental entity”.

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-24 (2026)

“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: *

## §§ 2-25 to 2-30

Balt., Md., Code art. 8, § 2-25 to 2-30 (2026)

Reserved

*History: *