Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement

Overview

To keep our city's neighborhoods safe and looking nice, the Department of Housing and Community Development has a special division called Code Enforcement. This group makes sure that people follow the rules about housing, where you can build things, and other important regulations concerning property maintenance.  

The information on these pages is here to help people who rent out homes, homeowners, renters, and community groups understand the rules and how they can work with us to make sure everyone follows these rules. 

Zoning Office

• Phone: 410-396-4126
• Address: 417 E Fayette Street, Room 147

The Office of the Zoning Administrator is responsible for insuring that construction activity and land use comply with the City's zoning code. The primary responsibilities include issuing zoning authorizations and use permits, inspecting structures and reviewing land uses to ensure compliance with the zoning code, and initiating appropriate actions when zoning violations exist.

Construction / Demolition

DHCD condemns vacant and abandoned properties and oversees the demolition of unsafe structures throughout the City.
Managing Unsafe Structures

Legal Section

The Code Enforcement Legal Section prosecutes housing code violators. When violators fail to comply voluntarily with notices issued by Housing Inspectors, the matter is referred to the Legal Section where attorneys review it and prosecute violators if necessary. There is one attorney assigned to each of the nine Housing Inspection Districts, which are aligned with the nine planning districts in Baltimore City.

Strengthening Renters' Safety Act

The Baltimore City Council enacted the Strengthening Renters' Safety Act which takes effect on January 1, 2026. The Act is intended to identify owners of multi-family properties who have repeated and recurring violation notices and/or citations and establishes criteria for priority inspections of such sites.  

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