Nuisance Property Process

If three or more nuisance activities occur within a sixty day period on a property, the Chief of Police, or his designee, shall notify the property owner at the address shown on the records of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and the person in charge of the property in writing that the property is in danger of being declared a chronic nuisance property.

Step 1

The notice shall be either personally served, or delivered by first class mail to the owner and person in charge of the property.

Step 2

If the owner or person in charge fails to respond to the notice within the time prescribed, the Chief of Police, or his designee shall post such notice at the property and issue the owner and person in charge a municipal infraction citation, to be served as required by article 23A, §3, of the Maryland Annotated Code.

Step 3

If the owner or person in charge responds as required by the notice and agrees to provide for the discontinuance of the nuisance activity, the Chief of Police, or his designee, and the person in charge and/or property owner, may work out an agreed-upon course of action which would result in the discontinuance of the nuisance activity.

If an agreed course of action does not result in the discontinuance of the nuisance activity or if no agreement is reached, the Chief of Police or his designee may issue the owner and person in charge a municipal infraction citation and the matter shall be forwarded to the City Administrator for possible additional enforcement action, including referral of the matter to the City Attorney to initiate a civil action for injunctive and other relief.