# Subtitle 7 – Weeds

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 5-701 Responsibility of persons in charge.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-701 (2026)

Every person in charge of any property is obligated, jointly and severally, to comply with the requirements of this subtitle.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

## § 5-702 Cutting grass, weeds, etc., required.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-702 (2026)

No person in charge of any land may allow:

(1) any grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation on that land to reach a height of 8 inches or more; or

(2) any grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation on an abutting sidewalk, gutter, or alley to reach a height of 4 inches or more.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

*History: Ord. 15-427*

## § 5-703 Destroying noxious weeds, etc., required.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-703 (2026)

(a) Every person in charge of any land must keep that land free from ragweeds, wild mustard, wild lettuce, wild parsley, common thistle, milkweed, poison ivy, and all other noxious weeds.

(b) The person in charge must destroy any noxious weeds on the land by:

  (1) spraying with a chemical compound approved by and applied in accordance with the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency;

  (2) cutting and removal;

  (3) digging under; or

  (4) any other method that the Commissioner approves.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

## § 5-704 Notice to person in charge.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-704 (2026)

Whenever the Commissioner of Health discovers a violation of this subtitle, the Commissioner may issue a written notice to the person in charge, as provided in Subtitle 2 {“Nuisance Abatement — Generally”} of this title.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

## § 5-705 Abatement by Public Works.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-705 (2026)

(a)

  (1) If the condition is not corrected within 10 days of the notice, the Commissioner may notify the Director of Public Works, who must proceed to correct the condition at the expense of the person in charge.

  (2) Grass, weeds, and other rank vegetation must be cut to a height of not more than 3 inches.

(b) All costs and expenses incurred by the Director of Public Works are a lien on the property as provided in Subtitle 2 {“Nuisance Abatement — Generally”} of this title.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

## §§ 5-706 to 5-707

Balt., Md., Code § 5-706 to 5-707 (2026)

Reserved

## § 5-708 Enforcement by citation.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-708 (2026)

(a) In addition to any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement procedure, this subtitle may be enforced by issuance of an environmental citation as authorized by City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}.

(b) The issuance of an environmental citation to enforce this subtitle does not preclude pursuing any other civil or criminal remedy or enforcement action authorized by law.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

## § 5-709 Penalties.

Balt., Md., Code § 5-709 (2026)

(a) Any person who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to the penalties specified in this section.

(b) Except as specified in subsection (c) of this section, the penalty for a violation is a fine of not more than $500 for each offense.

(c) For a person who receives a notice under §5-704 {“Notice to person in charge”} of this subtitle and fails to comply with that notice, the penalty is a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense.

*History: Ord. 99-548*