Baltimore County officials hope to reduce the number "nuisance houses" and reports of students misbehaving in off-campus housing by cracking down on land lords who violate the County's zoning code.
The Baltimore County zoning code states that unless a structure is zoned as a "boarding or rooming house" no more than two unrelated individuals may reside in the same home. The code does not apply to apartment buildings.
Baltimore County spokeswoman Ellen Kobler said the code isn't new, but the push to have residents report violations stems from "complaints in the community."
In August the County issued a press release, coinciding with the start of the fall semester, to remind residents and students about the County's housing code. The release also urged residents to report any housing code violations they observe.
Kobler said the fines can reach $200 daily for each housing code violation at a residence.
"If an infraction is found, there would be a violation notice and a citation sent to the residents and the land lord," Kobler said. "If necessary it could go to a hearing board."
The County is also reaching out to colleges in Baltimore County, including Towson University, to educate students about proper behavior students should display while living in residential communities.
"There's a real effort made on the part of the University and the County to be mutually beneficial to each other," Kobler said. "The county executive works with officials from Towson, and we know that a majority of students are good neighbors. We just want to ensure that everybody is following rules so that people can live comfortably."
Jana Varwig, associate vice president for student affairs, said students who live off-campus received letters during the summer about the University's expectation for students in Towson's residential neighborhoods. The letter did not specifically focus on the County's housing code, she said.
"The University does not see its role as managing this particular code. We will be glad to make sure that students are aware, but it's not our role to enforce it," Varwig said.
Varwig said that she believes the surrounding community is accepting of TU students.
"We have some very welcoming neighbors. Many of our neighbors went to college and are willing to work with students. But sometime there are some instances where students' behavior crosses the line," she said. "Noise, intoxicated behavior, public urination, all that can be troubling to live next door to. Our real tactic is to do what we can to educate students so they can learn to be good neighbors. It's part of moving off campus and growing up."
Most of the complaints about TU students are related to noise violations rather than housing code violations, Varwig said.
Students who violate the University's code of conduct could face fines, and an investigation from judicial affairs.
In Fall 2006 judicial affairs received 38 complaints about houses and issued 15 warnings.
"If we receive a complaint, an officer from the Towson University Police Department and a student life representative will visit the house to talk to the students about how to work with their neighbors," she said. "If we receive another complaint, then we'll launch an investigation. And we can charge the student up to $250. They could also be placed on University probation."
For more information about the County's housing code, visit
http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/releases/0821coderemind.html.
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