Question about Baltimore County code ordinance and FINES

[George Heller]

I have a property in Dundalk and my tenant got a $2,000 fine because my tenants left the lid off the trash can and also have debris in the back yard. How should I handle the tenant and Baltimore County? I paid a $300 fine earlier in the year.

I want to ask

1) Isn't $2,000 a little excessive?

2) Can I talk to the county and do anything about it?

3) What is my best course of action?

[Laticia Braxton]

I had to deal with this exact issue a year ago for a property I managed in Dundalk (Cornwall Road) for an out of state investor. We had metal cans in the yard because those lids were the best for staying fastened and keeping rodents out.  The trash guys would come and throw the lids and crush them with their truck tires (yep, the Balto. Co. trash guys are thee best). I contacted the sanitation office multiple times to report what was happening and the tenants even took photos and video of the trash guys repeatedly destroying the lids and of course, nothing changed.  The crushed lids were useless at that point.  We got the fine notice, so I immediately purchased large heavy duty plastic cans with attached lids (Baltimore County doesn't want those either but oh well) and we attached them to the fence with a combo lock.  I went to the hearing because I was livid. 

What I learned during that three hour hearing, was that the inspector seems to focus on that area of Dundalk because 90% of the people there, were from that immediate area and everyone had the same story about the trash guys!  I was able to get my owner's fine waived because I had photo documentation of everything, including my remedy with the new cans.  I'm not sure when the courts will reopen, but in the meantime, I would suggest you take pictures of everything and send a letter to the office requesting the fine be removed. 

Best of luck to you!

Laticia