The City Council has introduced Ordinance 25-O-14, which updates the municipal fine structure to hold chronic violators accountable and improve neighborhood quality of life. The proposed changes would increase fines for repeat, serious, or ongoing violations of City Code—especially when violations affect safety, housing conditions, or public peace.

Under Maryland’s new Senate Bill 820, cities can now issue fines up to $5,000. College Park’s current maximum is $1,000, which in some cases has not been strong enough to stop repeat offenders.

What types of violations are affected?

Type of Violation Current Fine Proposed Fine
Building without a permit (Chapter 87) $100–$200 per day $500–$2,000 per day
Fire safety violations (Chapter 115) $100–$200 $1,000–$2,000
Unfit or unsafe housing (condemnation cases) $500 Up to $2,000
Noise violations (Chapter 138) $500 first offense, $1,000 repeat $1,000 first offense, $2,500 repeat, up to $5,000
Unruly social gatherings (“nuisance house”) $500–$1,000 $1,000–$2,500–$5,000
Rental occupancy permit violations $1,000 $2,500–$5,000

Source: City Council agenda packet, 10/21/25, Staff Report on Ordinance 25-O-14

Why is this change being proposed?

Some violations in College Park are not isolated incidents—they happen repeatedly and disrupt quality of life for neighbors. For example:

  • A party house repeatedly receives noise complaints but continues hosting large disruptive gatherings.

  • A rental property remains in unsafe condition, putting tenants at risk.

  • A contractor continues construction without permits, ignoring stop-work orders.

  • A business operates without a license, avoiding safety and zoning review.

In many of these cases, current fines are too low to deter repeat violations. This ordinance ensures consequences escalate if problems continue.