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Baltimore council introduces 10-day tenant reclamation rule after Taubman ruling
Summary
Councilman Torrance introduced Bill 25-0087 to require landlords to hold a tenant’s evicted personal property for 10 days, citing Taubman v. City of Baltimore; after 10 days landlords may dispose of items or charge a reasonable storage fee.
Councilman Torrance introduced City Council Bill 25-0087, a measure that would require landlords to retain a tenant’s personal property for a 10-day reclamation period following an eviction and provide a specified notice to the tenant. "This bill is both needed and technical," Torrance said, citing the state supreme court decision Taubman v. City of Baltimore as directing the city to provide a reclamation period.
The legislation would guarantee a 10-day notice window for tenants to reclaim personal items after an actual eviction; after the period a landlord may dispose of property or continue to hold items if the tenant pays a reasonable storage fee. Torrance said the change is intended to avoid property being set out on the street while balancing dignity and administrative burdens on landlords.
The bill was introduced and referred to the Housing and Economic Development Committee. Torrance said he could provide the case law to colleagues and asked for support as the council refines local code language to align with the court’s guidance. No vote or committee hearing date on the ordinance was recorded in the meeting transcript.
