# § 20-2 Constructing, etc., sewers — notice and assessment.

Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## § 20-2 Constructing, etc., sewers — notice and assessment.

Balt., Md., Pub. Local Laws § 20-2 (2026)

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore shall have full power to provide for constructing, opening, enlarging or straightening, subject to the provisions hereinbefore contained as to the Board of Public Improvements and the Board of Estimates, any sewer or drain, public or private, through any private property, upon giving thirty days’ notice in writing to the owner or agent of said private property, or to one of them, if more than one, leaving such notice at the usual place of abode of such owner or agent, or at the usual place of abode of one of them, if more than one, or if none of said parties live in the City of Baltimore, by setting up said notice on the land or premises; to provide for ascertaining what amount of actual benefit will thereby accrue to the owner or possessor of any ground or improvements within or adjoining the City, being governed as far as practicable by the number of superficial feet drained, and to provide for assessing and levying, either generally on the whole assessable property of the said City, or by a loan for the special purpose of constructing, opening, enlarging or straightening any sewer, the sum necessary to pay the expense or cost, or specially on the property of persons actually benefitted, the whole or any part of the damages and expenses which they shall ascertain will be incurred in constructing, opening, enlarging, or straightening any sewer in any street, lane or alley, or through any private property in said City; to provide for granting appeals to the court having jurisdiction thereof in Baltimore City, from the decision of any commissioners or other persons appointed in virtue of any ordinance to ascertain the damage which will be incurred or the benefits which will accrue to the owners or possessors of any ground or improvements for constructing, opening, enlarging or straightening in any street, lane or alley, or through any private property, any sewer which in their opinion the public welfare or convenience may require, and for securing to every such owner or possessor the right on application within a reasonable time to have decided by a jury trial whether any damage and what amount of damage has been caused, or whether any benefit and what amount of benefit, has accrued to them; and to provide for collecting and paying over the amount of compensation adjudged to each person to receive the same, or investing in stock of said corporation, bearing interest of five per centum per annum, for the use of any person who, because of infancy, absence from the City, or other cause, may be prevented from receiving it, before any sewer shall be constructed, opened, enlarged or straightened in any street, lane or alley, or through any private property, and to enact and pass all ordinances from time to time which shall be deemed necessary and proper to exercise the power and effect the objects herein specified.