Vacant Building Notice (VBN) Issued
A vacant building notice is issued by the City of Baltimore. Learn more about VBNs.
Baltimore City-owned VBNs
Only 7% of VBNs as of April 2025 are owned by the City of Baltimore.
Privately-Owned VBNs
93% of all VBNs as of April 2025 are privately owned.
Baltimore City-owned VBNs
The City of Baltimore can take ownership of a property, and it can’t happen overnight.There are multiple processes by which that can happen and Mayor Scott has worked to help streamline the process. Learn about the available paths to acquiring properties.
City of Baltimore Sells Property to Developer
City-owned properties can be sold to a developer through BuyIntoBmore. Baltimore City prioritizes working with mission-oriented developers who are committed to neighborhood-led development.
City of Baltimore Demolishes the Property
Demolition may occur either to remove hazardous structures that pose immediate safety risks or as part of a community-driven effort to eliminate blight and support neighborhood revitalization.
Privately Owned VBNs
93% of all vacant properties in Baltimore City are privately owned. This limits the City of Baltimore's ability to take swift action. Addressing vacancy at scale requires cooperation or legal intervention with private owners, many of whom may be unresponsive or difficult to locate. Publicly accessible information about vacant properties is available on CoDeMap. On CoDeMap, you can see who owns the property, and the properties with red squares indicate a vacant property.
If a vacant property is located on the TIF District map, the owner may be eligible for funding to support their own renovation of the property.
Owner Rehabs a Property
The property owner can choose to rehab the property on their own.
Owner Donates a Property
The property owner can choose to donate their property to the City of Baltimore. The property may be eligible for donation, and DHCD staff can guide the owner through the review process. This can help a property owner’s interest, and support revitalization of the neighborhood.
Owner Sells Property to Developer
The property owner can sell a vacant property to a developer and then the developer can move forward with planning and executing renovations.
Rehab Begins
The property owner or developer takes steps to renovate by pulling permits and beginning rehabilitation work. When a property owner starts pulling permits and working on a property it helps shift the momentum on a block toward revitalization.
Owner Applies for Use and Occupancy Permit
Once renovations are complete, the owner or developer can apply for a Use and Occupancy permit
Use and Occupancy Permit Issued
As the rehab is completed, DHCD issues a Use and Occupancy (U&O) permit, confirming the property is safe and ready for use.
This step marks the transition from vacancy to active use. In Baltimore, each U&O permit is a sign that a home is coming back to life and helping to reweave the fabric of the neighborhood.
Use and Occupancy Permit Granted
Once the final permits are in place, the VBN can be abated.
Demolition
The community collaborates with city officials, stakeholders, and residents to identify properties that pose safety risks or hinder neighborhood revitalization. This ensures that demolitions are prioritized based on local needs, and residents have a voice in improving their own communities. In cases of imminent danger, such as structural collapse or fire hazards, emergency demolition can be initiated quickly by the city.
Demolition Complete
Once the demolition is completed, the site is cleared and potentially prepared for redevelopment or other community-focused uses. The demolition of a property is the other way to formally abate a Vacant Building Notice (VBN), and reduce the number of VBNs.
This can open the door for new investment, whether for housing, parks, or commercial spaces, which can revitalize a block and enhance the neighborhood’s overall well-being.
VBN Abated
Once a property receives the Use and Occupancy (U&O) permit the property can officially be removed from the Vacant Building Notice (VBN) list. This means one less vacant home on the block - reducing safety concerns, improving the health of the community, and supporting whole block outcomes.