Important Links & Information
City and District Links
Office of the Mayor (Hon. Brandon Scott)
https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/
City Council ( District 8, Kristerfer Burnett)
https://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/council-members
Mayor's Office of Constituent Services
https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/help
Baltimore City Homestead Tax Credit
To insulate somewhat against rising property values - not dependent on income
https://livebaltimore.com/resident-resources/financial-incentives/homestead-property-tax-credit/
City 311 Service (online and by telephone)
For links on how to report an abandoned car, illegal parking, problems with water, and many other things: https://balt311.baltimorecity.gov/citizen/servicetypes
Historic District ("CHAP") permits
"Exterior changes to all properties within Baltimore City's historic districts and local Landmarks must be presented to the Commission for Historical and Architectural Review (CHAP) for review and approval."
For CHAP's online application and guidelines: https://chap.baltimorecity.gov/applications-procedures-guidelines
Information about historic district designation, with FAQs regarding the effect on property values, CHAP procedures for work not visible from the street, the applicability of the designation to non-historic structures, and etc. :
https://chap.baltimorecity.gov/historic-districts/local-historic-district-designation
CHAP's Tax credit FAQs:
https://chap.baltimorecity.gov/tax-credit-faq
City Department of Housing & Community Development permits page
https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/pi/permits.
"A permit is required to: .>Construct, enlarge, alter, repair, rehabilitate, demolish (interior or exterior) or move any structure > Erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system >Change the use of any structure or land > Perform any grading or excavating. As a general rule of thumb, minor repairs do not usually require [DHCD] permits, unless the item is being replaced altogether or significantly altered. Renovations, modifications, and reconstructions always require a permit."
Building permits in historic districts, ways to apply, and etc.:
https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/Permits%20Brochure%20March%202021.pdf
FAQs on DHCD's permitting process, including contractor's need to register a license
https://cels.baltimorehousing.org/permit/faq.aspx
To look up the status of a permit
(this can be helpful for a new homeowner who wonders about work that has been done on their house):
http://cels.baltimorehousing.org/Search_TM_MAP.aspx
Info on DHCD's enforcement process, including the status of violations and inspector contact information
https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/ce/code-enforcement-legal-section
Info on weatherization and lead abatement programs and grants
https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/hho/lead-hazard-reduction.
For a few examples of "responsibilities" of owners of occupied buildings
https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/ce/owner-tenant-responsibilities
For parking pad permits and info
https://parking.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/parking%20pad%20info%20sheet%20for%20PABC%20website%202017.pdf
State of Maryland - Contractor licensing: Maryland Home Improvement Commission
For info on licensing requirements, checking the status of a contractor's license, mediation services, Maryland's door-to-door solicitation law, and mediation services: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/mhic/mhiccon.shtml
State delegates and representatives
Maryland General Assembly website:
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District
Voter registration and election information
https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/
https://elections.maryland.gov/
Our post office and other nearby USPS locations
https://tools.usps.com/find-location.htm?location=1357114
For houses built before 1978
City Info on lead (the rules have changed in recent years): "Lead is a poisonous metal that was used in building construction and in the making of household paints prior to 1978. Most homes built before 1950 have lead paint. After 1950, the use of lead in paint declined; but many homes built until 1978 still had some lead paint."
https://health.baltimorecity.gov/lead-poisoning-prevention/about-lead.
State Info on lead: https://mde.state.md.us/programs/LAND/LeadPoisoningPrevention/Pages/homeowners.aspx.
Info on what to do if you find/lose a pet, animal shelters, leash laws, licensing info
https://www.petdata.com/for-pet-owners/blt
311 Services (reporting potholes, etc.)
https://balt311.baltimorecity.gov/citizen/servicetypes
Get a free tree
https://www.treebaltimore.org/.
State DNR guidance on choosing and planting trees: https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/pages/marylandersplanttrees/introduction.aspx
Zoning map, permitted uses, driveway rules, etc.
To find our district designation: https://baltplanning.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=11c9d6cbbdbe4e47be6830d5af20570c.
For a short description of uses permitted in each district: https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/transform%20legend_cleaned2019.pdf.
Tables of permitted and conditional uses for each district: https://ca.baltimorecity.gov/codes/Art%2032%20-%20Zoning.pdf.
City Code
Ordinances on things such as driveways, vehicle storage, commercial vehicle parking, refuse container storage, etc. Articles 31 and Art. 32, titles 15 and 16, among other places. https://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/