Maryland state guideCity compliance · Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Ban the Box Act (Art. 11, Subt. 17, Baltimore City Code)

Conditional-offer rule for 10+ FTE employers; inquiry forbidden until after the offer with violations enforced by the Community Relations Commission.

Effective: August 13, 2014

Covered employers

Employers with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees in Baltimore City.

Timing of inquiry

No conviction inquiry — application, interview, or background check — until after a conditional offer of employment is extended.

Individualized assessment

Maryland law requires consideration of the offense's relationship to job duties before adverse action; written analysis is best practice.

Adverse-action workflow

FCRA-aligned pre-adverse and adverse-action notices; the conditional offer may be withdrawn only based on a specific, articulable concern.

Notice & posting

Required workplace posting issued by the Baltimore Community Relations Commission.

Enforcement & penalties

Baltimore Community Relations Commission. Penalties up to $500 per violation, plus reinstatement and damages.

Citations

  • Baltimore City Code Art. 11, §17