Baltimore City runs as its own jurisdiction, separate from Baltimore County, and a lot of the paperwork for a city sale has no match anywhere else in Maryland. Ground rent, vacant building notices, the city lien certificate, and a high property tax rate all shape how a rowhouse sale goes.
I’m Evan Weissman, and I buy houses in neighborhoods all over the city, from Highlandtown and Pigtown to Belair-Edison, Hamilton, and Edmondson Village. This guide is a starting map. Each section links to a longer article where I go deeper.
The city tax rate
The 2026-2027 SDAT tax rate table shows Baltimore City at 2.2480 per $100 of assessed value, plus the state rate of 0.1120. That’s 2.3600 combined, the highest real property rate of any Maryland jurisdiction. The city’s homestead credit cap is 4%.
The rate matters when you sell for two reasons. Taxes are prorated at settlement, so a big annual bill means a noticeable credit one way or the other. And investors and landlords factor that carrying cost into what they’ll pay.
City deed taxes
Baltimore City charges a transfer tax of 1.5% and a recordation tax of $5.00 per $500 of consideration, both higher than most counties. The state adds its own 0.5% transfer tax, reduced to 0.25% for a first-time Maryland homebuyer.
On a $200,000 sale with no exemptions:
- State transfer tax: $1,000
- City transfer tax: $3,000
- Recordation tax: $2,000
- Total: $6,000, or $3,000 each under Maryland’s default equal split
Your contract can split these differently. Some buyers ask the seller to pay all of them.
The lien certificate and old charges
Before settlement, the title company orders a city lien certificate showing what the city says is owed on the property: taxes, water, and other municipal charges the city treats as liens. Old environmental citations and unpaid bills can show up here and get paid out of your proceeds. My article on the Baltimore City lien certificate explains how to order one early and what to do if you dispute a charge.
Ground rent on older rowhouses
Some city houses still carry ground rent, a small yearly payment to a separate owner of the land under the house. Owners of residential ground rents in Maryland must register them with SDAT, and the registry is searchable online. A title company will look for it, but you’ll save time by checking first. See ground rent in Baltimore.
Vacant building notices and lead paint
If the city has issued a vacant building notice or a violation notice on the property, city code requires you to disclose it to a buyer in writing before the contract is signed. Failing to disclose is a misdemeanor under the city code. These houses can still be sold. They usually sell to investors who plan to do the repairs.
Most city housing was built before 1978. Federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet for those sales. Maryland also requires most rental properties built before 1978 to be registered with the Department of the Environment and to meet lead risk reduction standards. My article on lead paint in Baltimore houses covers both.
Landlords selling in the city
A lot of city sellers are landlords. A lease usually survives a sale, and Baltimore City requires rental properties to be licensed and inspected. If you have a voucher tenant, see selling a Section 8 rental in Baltimore. If a tenant is making things hard, see difficult tenants when you want to sell.
The May tax sale
The city held its 2026 tax sale on May 18, according to SDAT’s schedule. Owner-occupied homes have extra protections under state law, and the city’s tax sale office and the State Tax Sale Ombudsman at (410) 767-4994 can explain options before and after a sale. My Baltimore City tax sale guide has the details.
If a mortgage is behind as well, talk to the servicer about loss mitigation, call a HUD-approved counselor or Maryland HOPE at 1-877-462-7555, and consider a foreclosure defense attorney. Selling is one possibility, not the only one.
City estates and the Register of Wills
The Register of Wills for Baltimore City is at 111 N. Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, 410-752-5131. A lot of city houses pass through estates with several heirs, back taxes, and years of deferred repairs. My article on selling an inherited Baltimore rowhouse walks through the steps from opening the estate to settlement.
Ways to sell in the city
A renovated house in Canton, Federal Hill, or Hampden usually belongs on the open market. A house with a vacant notice, tenants, ground rent problems, or major repairs may fit better with a direct buyer. You can learn more on my Baltimore City page, or compare a cash offer and a listing.
Is the Baltimore City recordation tax higher than the counties?
Yes. The city charges $5.00 per $500, which is higher than most counties, plus a 1.5% city transfer tax.
Do I need to disclose a vacant building notice?
Yes. City code requires written disclosure of a vacant building or violation notice before the buyer signs the contract.
How do I find out if my house has ground rent?
Search the SDAT ground rent registry, check your deed, and ask the title company to confirm.
What is the Baltimore City property tax rate?
For 2026-2027, it is 2.2480 per $100 of assessed value, plus the 0.1120 state rate.
Can I sell a city house with tenants in it?
Yes. The lease usually carries over to the new owner, so the buyer has to be willing to take the tenancy as it stands.
Talk through your situation
If you’re selling a Baltimore City house and want a straight answer about your options, call or text me at (410) 498-7473. I’ll tell you what I see, including whether listing makes more sense.