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Council hears gaps in eviction notification: city not routinely notified; staff suggest county coordination
Summary
Council asked how the city becomes aware of evictions after a member observed courthouse activity. Staff said the city is not routinely notified of evictions; responsibility rests with property owners and Prince George’s County processes, and staff recommended exploring county notification or legislative options.
Council members raised questions about eviction notifications and city capacity to respond when tenants are displaced and belongings are placed curbside.
Council Member Orlins described observing a cluster of eviction‑related court filings and asked whether the city receives advance notice when landlords pursue evictions. Terry Ruby said the Planning & Community Development Department does not receive routine eviction notices from the county or sheriff and therefore is not part of the formal eviction process: "Our department does not get notified of an eviction, so we are not involved in that process." Ruby said the department typically becomes aware of eviction‑related debris when inspectors encounter items during routine windshield inspections and then contacts property owners to remove abandoned belongings; owners are given 48 hours to clear items once the city is notified.
Council discussed whether a county‑level notification requirement or a local referral to county officials could be pursued. Council Member Daniel noted prior coordination during COVID when the Greenbelt CARES program and sheriff’s office shared eviction lists to target rental assistance; that assistance funding has since lapsed, limiting the city’s ability to intervene. Council members suggested approaching the county sheriff’s office or county council about formal eviction notification so the city can better support displaced residents and address resulting curbside debris.
Why this matters: lack of eviction notifications limits the city’s ability to provide timely outreach, coordinate services or manage the public‑space impacts of property owners failing to clear discarded possessions. Council asked staff to explore whether the county or sheriff’s office can provide notification lists or whether county legislation requiring notification is feasible.
Ending: staff will investigate county notification practices, report whether prior CARES‑era data sharing still exists and consider drafting a request to the county for formal notice of scheduled evictions.
