City of Baltimore - File #: 23-0153R

• File #: 23-0153R
• Version: 0
• Name: Investigative Hearing - Vacant Building Water Shut Offs
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 1/23/2023
• In control: Economic and Community Development
• Final action: 7/17/2023
• Title: Investigative Hearing - Vacant Building Water Shut Offs For the purpose of inviting representatives from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Real Estate, the Baltimore Fire Department, and the Office of the City Administrator to report on why Section 116.4.6 of the Baltimore City Building Code, which requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to inform the Department of Public Works that there is a vacant building and that the water must be shut off, is not being implemented, the impact of not implementing this section of the Building Code, and a path toward implementation.
• Sponsors: Odette Ramos, John T. Bullock, Kristerfer Burnett, Sharon Green Middleton, Phylicia Porter
• Indexes: Building, Investigative Hearing, Vacant, Water

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/17/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Adopted
7/17/2023	0	Economic and Community Development	Recommended Favorably
7/11/2023	0	Economic and Community Development	Recommended Favorably	Pass
6/26/2023	0	Economic and Community Development	Scheduled for a Public Hearing
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to Dept. of Housing and Community Development
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to Fire Department
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to Baltimore City Administrator
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to Dept. of Real Estate
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to Dept. of Finance
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to City Solicitor
1/26/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Refer to Dept. of Public Works
1/23/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Assigned
1/23/2023	0	Baltimore City Council	Introduced

* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*

City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmember Ramos



A Resolution Entitled

A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Vacant Building Water Shut Offs
For the purpose of inviting representatives from the Department of Public Works, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Real Estate, the Baltimore Fire Department, and the Office of the City Administrator to report on why Section 116.4.6 of the Baltimore City Building Code, which requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to inform the Department of Public Works that there is a vacant building and that the water must be shut off, is not being implemented, the impact of not implementing this section of the Building Code, and a path toward implementation.
body

In Section 116.4.6 of the Baltimore City Building Code it states: “Notice to Public Works. Whenever the Building Official determines a structure to be vacant, the Building Official must promptly notify the Director of Public Works of that determination. On receipt of the notice, the Director of Public Works must proceed to cut off water service”.

Currently, no vacant properties with Vacant Building Notices (“VBN”) have had their water turned off unless there were pipes bursting or there were other hazards. Refusing to shut off the water immediately when a VBN is issued causes multiple concerns listed below.

1. In the colder temperatures, these properties are unheated and of...