Baltimore County Creates Portal to Identify Vacant Properties
Industry Update
November 22, 2023
Source: baltimorefishbowl.com
Baltimore County has just made it easier to identify vacant properties with the release of a new data portal.
“Providing the public with the tools they need to identify—and now view—vacant properties is another step in our ongoing work to find and transform today’s blighted and abandoned properties into tomorrow’s housing opportunities,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski in a statement. “This portal continues our work to provide a more accessible and open government for everyone, including our first responders who will now have critical safety information about properties before arriving on the scene of a potential emergency.”
After Baltimore County passed the Vacant Structures law earlier this year, the county created its first-ever process to designate properties as “vacant.” The new law gives the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections the ability to identify vacant structures and maintain a running inventory of these vacant buildings. The law also authorizes the department to verify that the building complies with all applicable laws, and is not detrimental to the public health, safety, or a hazard to police officers or firefighters who might enter the structure in an emergency.
Since April, more than 160 properties have been identified and verified as vacant, and 10 have been resolved or remediated by either becoming occupied or being demolished.
“Having the ability to identify, inspect and monitor vacant structures in Baltimore County is a game changer for us in Code Enforcement, and this new portal is a great way to share important data with residents and first responders,” said Adam Whitlock, the county’s code enforcement chief, in a statement. “This process is yet another way we are able to coordinate efforts with County agencies to address issues and keep the public informed.”
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