Baltimore City inspection citation easy fix but 'permit required'

[Josh Thomas]

So I received a citation for under the Fire and Related Codes of Baltimore City for improper egress. Basically on my forth floor unit, a resident must walk a few steps along a very wide and flat platform to an existing fire escape. The inspector said it needs a safety railing that connects the building to the fire escape, and a permit would be required to do the work.

I'll spare you the details, but a phone call with Baltimore permitting revealed they would love to turn this simple task into VERY expensive enhancement (of which I could find no basis for in all the MD, Baltimore, or International Building Code books).

So, I'm curious if any other Baltimore City landlords, rehabbers, or property mangers have ever had a similar experience? Where you may have resolved a simple citation quickly without a permit, even though an inspector would be asking about it later? And if so what was the outcome? Would they go so far as to require a tear down of perfectly good work and then rebuild again with a permit? Or would it a a hand slap / relativity small fine?

[Rich Baer]

@Josh Thomas

I had a similar thing occur with a fire escape walk down we i owned on 33rd Street. The exterior walk down was made of wood and was partially crumbling. We needed to replace the steps in question. The inspector came out, told us what was needed, and we proceeded to do it after getting a permit. Another inspector came out to examine the finished project. He said it was not up to City code regulations. We argued that we were told to it this way. He said the first inspector was wrong and we had to start over before we could get the final approval.

To make a long story short. Get your permit but have the head guy in the permit/engineering department put into writing what is to be done.

The City of Baltimore is a wasteland of useless people and they enjoy putting you through difficult experiences.