What a Vacant Building Notice means, what you must disclose to a buyer, the registration rule for vacant buildings, and your choices.
No obligation. No pressure. Takes about 2 minutes.
Baltimore places a Vacant Building Notice (VBN) on a property that is vacant, abandoned and uninhabitable. It's a violation notice, and the owner can be fined $1,000 for not removing it. Removing it takes rehab work under proper building permits and a final use and occupancy permit. You can check an address on the city's CoDeMap.
Source: Baltimore City DHCD, Buying a Rehabbed Home in Baltimore City?
If a VBN is still open when you sell, city law requires you to tell the buyer in writing, on or before entering into the contract, that the property has a VBN and whether it has been abated. A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000 per offense.
Every non-owner-occupied property in Baltimore City, including vacant buildings and vacant lots, must be registered each year, and again within 10 days of any transfer.
Source: Baltimore City DHCD, Property Registration and Rental Licensing
For a vacant structure with an outstanding order to rehabilitate or demolish, the city's Building Official may ask the court to appoint a receiver to rehabilitate it, demolish it, or sell it to a qualified buyer.
Source: Baltimore City Building Code, Section 121, Vacant Building Receiver
If you have the money and time for permitted repairs, the final use and occupancy permit removes the VBN, so there's no notice to disclose and a wider pool of buyers. That can be the better route when the numbers support it.
We buy vacant Baltimore houses in their current condition, VBN included, with the notice disclosed in writing as the law requires. A cash sale can close in as little as 7 days, with no fees or commissions and no obligation.
Listing an as-is vacant house can find a buyer who plans to renovate, and sometimes brings more if the neighborhood is strong. We'll show you the cash offer next to what listing could net.
Example: a $250,000 home
| Offer | $205,000 |
|---|---|
| Repairs | $0 |
| Commissions | $0 |
| Closing costs | $0 |
| You walk away with | $205,000 |
| In 7 to 14 days | |
| Sale price | $250,000 |
|---|---|
| Repairs | about $8,000 |
| Commissions | about $13,800 |
| Closing and holding | about $6,000 |
| You walk away with | about $222,200 |
| In 60 to 90 days | |
Example only. Your numbers depend on your home and market.
This page explains Baltimore City's general rules on vacant buildings. It isn't legal advice. Check your property's notices on CoDeMap or with DHCD, and talk to an attorney about your specific situation.
Yes. If the notice is still open, you must disclose it to the buyer in writing on or before signing the contract, including whether it has been abated. We look at the house as it is and make a cash offer.
The city says the property needs rehab work done under proper building permits, then a final use and occupancy permit showing it is habitable and up to code. Until then, the owner can be fined $1,000 for not removing the notice.
Yes. Baltimore City requires every non-owner-occupied property, including vacant buildings, to be registered each year and within 10 days of any transfer.
We are real estate investors based in Baltimore, helping homeowners since 2016. We buy houses directly for cash. We are not a licensed real estate brokerage and do not list homes ourselves; if listing could get you more, we show you the math so you can choose.
Know your numbers before you decide.
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