Part I – General Provisions
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 § 9-301 (2026)
§ 9-301 Declaration of findings and intent.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Findings.
Having received an increasing number of complaints from citizens about noise and having made certain observations of the subject, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore finds that:
(1)
excessive noise, when unnecessary for religious, political, civic, commercial, or other constitutionally protected activities or when not generated in the course of other activity needed to carry on daily life, creates a significant threat to the public health, safety, and welfare in an area as densely populated as Baltimore City;
(2)
the noises most obnoxious to the public health, safety, and welfare and least necessary for any constitutionally protected or otherwise necessary activity are those that are loud, boisterous, raucous, or unseemly or that are generated solely for the purpose of entertainment, without regard to the health, welfare, and safety of others who, because of population density, are unable to avoid being subjected to those noises; and
(3)
an alarming increase is occurring in the frequency and volume of this sort of noise, particularly from loud parties and from the plethora of portable sound-producing and reproducing devices available today.
(b)Intent.
The Mayor and City Council intend this subtitle, therefore, to serve as a vehicle for the control and regulation of noises that pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of Baltimore. One part of this subtitle regulates noises generated solely for entertainment purposes. Another balances the public interest in regulating certain types of noisy commercial advertising to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, on the one hand, against the interests of the commercial establishments employing that advertising, on the other.
History: Ord. 99-548
Balt., Md., Code § 9-302 (2026)
§ 9-302 Scope of subtitle.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Commercial, etc., speech.
This subtitle applies to commercial, religious, political, civic, or free speech activities only:
(1)
where the application is clearly indicated; or
(2)
where religious, fraternal, civic, political, charitable, or civic organizations provide entertainment, as in the case of “fund raisers” or similar activities.
(b)Exemptions from subtitle.
This subtitle does not apply to:
(1)
City-sponsored events in public parks;
(2)
sound equipment used at any professional sports stadium; or
(3)
any public service company, as defined in State Code <cite data-path="|78">Article 78</cite>.
History: Ord. 99-548
Balt., Md., Code § 9-303 (2026)
§ 9-303 Temporary exemptions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The Commissioner of Health may issue a permit for a temporary exemption from this subtitle for commercial, political, civic, charitable, or other organizations to conduct activities such as fund raisers, carnivals, bazaars, meetings, and other special events.
(b)Application.
(1)
An application for a temporary exemption must be made in the form that the Commissioner requires.
(2)
In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the application for must contain:
(i)
the name of the applicant;
(ii)
the location of the property for which the exemption is requested;
(iii)
the dates and the hours for which the exemption is requested;
(iv)
the equipment, instruments, or devices that will be producing the sound;
(v)
the name of the person in charge of operating the equipment, instruments, or devices; and
(vi)
a statement of the reason the exemption is needed or appropriate.
(c)Considerations.
Before issuing a temporary exemption, the Commissioner must consider the impact of the proposed activity on the surrounding area.
(d)Form and contents of exemption.
A temporary exemption must:
(1)
be in writing;
(2)
be signed by the Commissioner; and
(3)
set forth:
(i)
the name of the person granted the exemption;
(ii)
the location of the property for which the exemption is granted;
(iii)
the dates and hours for which the exemption is effective;
(iv)
the equipment, instruments, or devices to which the exemption is limited; and
(v)
any conditions or requirements that the Commissioner specifies.
History: Ord. 99-548
Balt., Md., Code § 9-304 to 9-305 (2026)
§§ 9-304 to 9-305LinkCopy Citation
Reserved