Baltimore City Council
File #: 07-0585    Version: 0 Name: Vacant Structures - Water Cut-Off
Type: Ordinance Status: Enacted
File created: 2/12/2007 In control: City Council
On agenda: Final action: 5/17/2007
Enactment #: 07-0434
Title: Vacant Structures - Water Cut-Off FOR the purpose of providing for notice to the Director of Public Works of structures determined to be vacant; and requiring the Director to take immediate action to cut off the water from vacant structures for which bills are in arrears.
Sponsors: Belinda Conaway, President Young, Stephanie President Rawlings-Blake, Edward Reisinger, Mary Pat Clarke, Kenneth Harris, James B. Kraft, Helen L. Holton, Rochelle Spector, Paula Johnson Branch, Nicholas C. D'Adamo
Indexes: Cut-off, Structures, Vacant, Water
Attachments: 1. 07-0585 - 1st Reader.pdf, 2. 07-0585 - 3rd Reader.pdf

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.

 

                     * 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          

                                                                                                                                                           

Introduced by:  Councilmember Conaway                                                                                        

 

                     A BILL ENTITLED

 

AN ORDINANCE concerning

Title

Vacant Structures - Water Cut-Off

 

FOR the purpose of providing for notice to the Director of Public Works of structures determined to be vacant; and requiring the Director to take immediate action to cut off the water from vacant structures for which bills are in arrears.

Body

BY repealing and reordaining, without amendments

Article - Building, Fire, and Related Codes

Section(s) 2-103 (IBC § 115.4 and 115.4.1)

Baltimore City Revised Code

(Edition 2000)

 

BY adding

Article - Building, Fire, and Related Codes

Section(s) 2-103 (IBC § 115.4.6)

Baltimore City Revised Code

(Edition 2000)

 

BY repealing and reordaining, with amendments

Article 24 - Water

Section(s) 2-3(b)

Baltimore City Code

(Edition 2000)

 

SECTION 1.  BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:

 

                     Baltimore City Revised Code

 

                     Article - Building, Fire, and Related Codes

 

                     Part II.  International Building Code

 

 

§ 2-103.  City modifications.

 

The additions, deletions, amendments, and other modifications adopted by the City are as follows:

 

Section 115  Unsafe Structures

 

115.4  Unsafe vacant structures.  Every vacant structure , as defined in this § 115.4, is declared to be a fire hazard and a nuisance per se, and must be safeguarded and otherwise maintained as required in this § 115.4.

 

115.4.1  Definition.  "Vacant structure" means an unoccupied structure that is unsafe or unfit for human habitation or other authorized use.

 

115.4.6  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.

 

                      Baltimore City Code

 

                     Article 24.  Water

 

                     Subtitle 2.  Bills

 

§ 2-3.  Cut-off for nonpayment.

 

(b)  Arrearages.

 

(1)                     Bills in arrears are sufficient reason for discontinuing water service until all arrearages are paid.

 

(2)                     IF A STRUCTURE FOR WHICH A BILL IS IN ARREARS IS A VACANT STRUCTURE, AS DEFINED IN BUILDING CODE § 115.4, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROCEED, WITHOUT DELAY OR GRACE PERIOD, TO CUT OFF THE WATER FROM THE PREMISES.

 

SECTION 2.  AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.

 

SECTION 3.  AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.

 

dlr07-1148~intro/07Feb07

BFR/26/WtrCutOff/bc:aa

 

 

dlr07-1148~intro/07Feb07

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BFR/26/WtrCutOff/bc:aa