The landscape of Baltimore County is poised for transformation with county officials revealing new legislation aimed at addressing the scourge of vacant and deteriorating properties. County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the introduction of punitive measures against owners of such neglected sites, presenting it as a strategy to foster local economic development and expand housing options within the community. "Transforming blighted and abandoned properties in our communities supports economic development, improves residents’ quality of life and creates much-needed housing opportunities for all," Olszewski stated in a county's official press release. The move is designed to both disincentivize property neglect and support community revitalization efforts.
Last year's legislation saw the creation of Baltimore County’s first process to officially identify properties as "vacant." Since then, over 430 properties have been tagged and entered into the publicly accessible Vacant Properties Portal. Following the statewide legislative endorsement through House Bill 2, Baltimore County is now poised to fully utilize the power provisioned, aiming to proactively reshape its neighborhood landscapes.
With concerns aimed squarely at the detriment of vacant and blighted properties, Baltimore County is proposing a penalty of $10 per every $100 of assessed property value. This enforcement tool applies strictly to properties that fail to meet habitability standards, with a clear window of time for owners to act and avoid financial penalties. According to the Baltimore County Government's announcement, the collected fines will not go unutilized, revenue will be split evenly between improving compliance through the Neglected Property Community Fund and fostering affordable housing via the Baltimore County's Housing Opportunities Fund.
Expected to take effect from July 1, 2025, the legislation is intended to provide a constructive pathway forward, offering a balance between enforcement and rehabilitation. This wields to strike a balance between accountability and support, with the latter evidenced by the redirection of penalty revenue to fund corrective and community development projects.
