Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland

Baltimore City Environmental Control Board

In order to transfer a deed from my mother to me I had to pay $2110 in environmental fines. I paid them to get the deed recorded. However, those fines were bogus. They were due to someone else depositing trash on my lot. I reported it constantly, but to no avail. I sent letters to the board to appeal them. They said they sent me a date to appear, and I did not. I never recevied such a letter. I went there personally, and they said the fines were unappealable. I am aware that the neighborhood assns are taking whatever action they can to clean up the neighborhood, but why must it be taken out on me. Instead of locating the culprits, Env Cntrl just issues summonses to the owner where the debris is deposited. Is there no way I can appeal these fines?


Asked on 11/28/07, 2:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Baltimore City Environmental Control Board

As a practical matter the environmental control inspectors have no way of ascertaining who might dump refuse on someone else's property. I am sure that your situation, where the property owner is not the one actually trashing the property, is the exception, except where the property is abandoned. Their only practical recourse is to hold the property owners responsible. Typically, the property owner receives a notice, sent to the address registered for tax purposes, that they must clean up their property or the government will do so at the owner's expense.

Of course, if you can identify the culprits, you could sue them to recover the fees you paid.

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Answered on 11/28/07, 4:39 pm


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