§ 21-17 “Quick-take” condemnation — abandoned or distressed property.
Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Pub. Local Laws § 21-17 (2026)
§ 21-17 “Quick-take” condemnation — abandoned or distressed property.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Definitions.
(1)In general.
In <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)Abandoned property.
“Abandoned property” means:
(i)
an unoccupied structure or vacant lot on which taxes are in arrears for at least 2 years;
(ii)
a building:
1.
that is unoccupied by owner or tenant;
2.
that is unfit for habitation;
3.
that has deteriorated to the point where:
A.
the building is structurally unsound; or
B.
the cost of rehabilitation significantly exceeds the post rehabilitation market value; and
4.
regarding which the owner has been issued a violation notice from the City requiring the owner to:
A.
rehabilitate the building to conform to minimum code habitability requirements; or
B.
demolish the building for health and safety reasons;
(iii)
a vacant lot on which a building has been demolished; or
(iv)
any building in a block of row houses where the block:
1.
as a whole contains 70% abandoned property as defined under subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of this paragraph; and
2.
is determined by the City to require a whole-block remedy, provided that any tenant or owner-occupant has been offered assistance in accordance with <cite data-path="21|§21-17|(l)">subsection (l) of this section</cite>.
(3)Distressed property.
“Distressed property” means a parcel of real property that is subject to a tax lien or liens with a lien or liens to value ratio equal to or greater than 15%, as determined by the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, and that:
(i)
contains a dwelling unit or other structure that:
1.
has deteriorated to the extent that the dwelling unit or other structure constitutes a serious and growing menace to the public health, safety, and welfare; and
2.
is subject, under the Building Code of Baltimore City or the Housing Code of Baltimore City, to an expired violation notice and order to correct the deteriorated conditions; or
(ii)
is subject to a lien or liens in an amount greater than $1000 for work done by the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development.
(b)Petition for immediate taking.
The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore may file a petition in the District Court, for the public purpose of alleviating nuisance and blight, that seeks:
(1)
the condemnation of abandoned or distressed property; and
(2)
the immediate possession of, or the immediate possession of and title to, the abandoned or distressed property.
(c)Deposit in court of fair market value.
When the City files a petition under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite>, the City shall deposit with the District Court the amount of money estimated by a licensed appraiser to be the fair market value of the abandoned or distressed property.
(d)Service of process.
(1)
Service of process on an owner of abandoned or distressed property under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> shall be made in accordance with the provisions of <cite data-path="16|§16-16A">§ 16-16A of the Code of Public Local Laws of Baltimore City</cite>.
(2)
If an owner has properly registered a current local agent and local address for service of process under the requirements of the Baltimore City Code relating to rental property registration, and service is effected by mail and posting at a last known address other than that provided in the owner’s rental property registration form, then notice of the proceedings shall be sent by certified mail to the owner at the rental property registration address.
(e)Participation of judgment creditor.
(1)
A judgment creditor is not a required party to a proceeding initiated under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite>.
(2)
A judgment creditor may join a proceeding initiated under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> by filing a motion under <cite data-path="21|§21-17|(f)">subsection (f) of this section</cite> within 10 days of notice being given as required by law.
(f)Removal to Circuit Court of compensation issue.
(1)
On motion of any person with an interest in abandoned or distressed property that is the subject of a proceeding initiated under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite>, the issue of compensation related to the proceeding may be removed to the Circuit Court of Baltimore City for trial on that issue.
(2)
The motion for removal to the Circuit Court of Baltimore City for trial on the issue of compensation shall be filed within 30 days of the date the title to the abandoned or distressed property vests with the City under <cite data-path="21|§21-16|(c)">§ 21-16(c)</cite> of this subheading.
(g)Parties may agree to trial in District Court.
If the parties agree, trial on the issue of compensation may be held in the District Court.
(h)Judgment for excess of public charges, etc., over property value.
If the value of the abandoned or distressed property is determined to be less than the sum of public charges, City and state taxes, and other assessments regarding the abandoned or distressed property, the City is entitled to a judgment against the owner of the abandoned or distressed property for the difference.
(i)Titleholder.
When a court vests title to the abandoned or distressed property in the City, at the request of the City, the court may name as titleholder a public or quasi-public corporation that has been designated by the City to hold title to property acquired under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite>.
(j)Provisions of § 21-16 to apply.
Except as otherwise provided in <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite>, the provisions of <cite data-path="21|§21-16">§ 21-16</cite> of this subheading apply to a proceeding under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite>.
(k)Limitations on action against City.
(1)
An action at law or in equity filed against the City by a person with an interest in abandoned or distressed property that is the subject of a proceeding initiated under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> shall be filed within 3 years from the date a court vests title to the abandoned or distressed property in the City.
(2)
The damages awarded to a person for the improper taking of abandoned or distressed property in a proceeding initiated under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> are limited to the fair market value of the abandoned or distressed property at the time of the taking.
(l)Assistance to certain displaced persons.
If an owner-occupant or tenant of property described under subsection (a)(2)(iv) or (3) of <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> is displaced, regardless of whether the displacement involves the use of federal financial assistance, the City shall assure that the owner-occupant or tenant is offered, at a minimum, assistance and payments to the extent that the owner-occupant or tenant would qualify for assistance and payments as a displaced person under the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970.
(m)Satisfaction of liens.
If an owner of distressed property that is the subject of a proceeding initiated under <cite data-path="21|§21-17">this section</cite> satisfies the liens described in <cite data-path="21|§21-17|(a)|(3)">subsection (a)(3) of this section</cite> before a court vests title to the distressed property in the City, the court shall dismiss the petition filed by the City under <cite data-path="21|§21-17|(b)">subsection (b) of this section</cite>.
(n)Section supplemental of other authority.
<cite data-path="21|§21-17">This section</cite> does not affect the authority of the Mayor and City Council to condemn private property for public use under other provisions of law.