Baltimore City Council
File #: 20-0526    Version: 0 Name: Baltimore City COVID-19 Renter Relief Act
Type: Ordinance Status: Enacted
File created: 4/27/2020 In control: City Council
On agenda: Final action: 5/18/2020
Enactment #: 20-364
Title: Baltimore City COVID-19 Renter Relief Act For the purpose of prohibiting the increase of rent during and after certain declared emergencies; prohibiting certain notices to tenants; requiring certain notices to tenants; prohibiting certain late fees; defining certain terms; providing for a date of termination of the prohibitions; providing for a special effective date; and generally relating to protecting Baltimore City tenants.
Sponsors: Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Bill Henry, Zeke Cohen, Ryan Dorsey, Kristerfer Burnett, Leon F. Pinkett, III, John T. Bullock, Mary Pat Clarke, Sharon Green Middleton, Edward Reisinger, Eric T. Costello, Shannon Sneed, Robert Stokes, Sr., Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer
Indexes: Baltimore City, COVID-19, Rental
Attachments: 1. 20-0526~1st Reader, 2. Finance 20-0526, 3. HCD 20-0526, 4. Law 20-0526, 5. HABC 20-0526, 6. Bill Synopsis 20-0526, 7. Hearing Agenda 20-0526, 8. Hearing Minutes 20-0526, 9. Hearing Notes 20-0526, 10. 20-0526~3rd Reader, 11. Signed Ordinance 20-0526, 12. 2nd Reader Amendments Floor Amendment 1 20-0526, 13. 2nd Reader Committee Amendment 20-0526, 14. 2nd Reader Floor Amendment 2 20-0526
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
6/15/20200 Mayor Signed by Mayor  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/11/20200 Land Use Committee Recommended Favorably with Amendment  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/11/20200 City Council Advanced to 3rd Reader on same day  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/11/20200 City Council Approved and Sent to the Mayor  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/6/20200 Land Use Committee Recommended Favorably with AmendmentPass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/20200 The City Council Refer to Dept. of Finance  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/20200 The City Council Refer to City Solicitor  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/20200 The City Council Refer to Dept. of Housing and Community Development  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/30/20200 The City Council Refer to Housing Authority of Baltimore City  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/20200 City Council Assigned  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/20200 City Council Introduced  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/20200 Land Use Committee Scheduled for a Public Hearing  Action details Meeting details Not available
Introductory*

City of Baltimore
Council Bill

Introduced by: President Scott

A Bill Entitled

An Ordinance concerning
title
Baltimore City COVID-19 Renter Relief Act
For the purpose of prohibiting the increase of rent during and after certain declared emergencies; prohibiting certain notices to tenants; requiring certain notices to tenants; prohibiting certain late fees; defining certain terms; providing for a date of termination of the prohibitions; providing for a special effective date; and generally relating to protecting Baltimore City tenants.
body

By adding
Article 13 - Housing and Urban Renewal
Section(s) 8-4
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)

By renumbering current
Article 13 - Housing and Urban Renewal
Sections 8-4 and 8-5, respectively, to 8-5 and 8-6, respectively
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 Code

Article 13. Housing and Urban Renewal

Subtitle 8. Rent Increases

§ 8-4. Rent increases barred - during states of emergency.

(a) “Emergency” defined.

In this section, “emergency” means the catastrophic health emergency declared by the Governor of Maryland on March 5, 2020, as amended or extended by the Governor, under State Public Safety Article, _ 14-3A-02.

(b) Scope.

This section only applies to rental fee increases on existing tenants. Nothing in this section may be construed as applying to leases for new tenants.

(c) In general.

A landlord may not increase a tenant’s rental fee if:

(1) the increase would take effect during an emergency; or

(2) notice of the increase is not in compliance with subsection (d) of t...

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