§ 14-811

# (a)

# (1)

Except as provided in this section, the collector may withhold from sale any property, when the total taxes on the property, including interest and penalties, amount to less than $250 in any 1 year.

# (2)

The governing body of a county or municipal corporation may withhold from sale owner–occupied residential property or residential property occupied by an heir of a deceased owner that meets objective criteria established by the governing body of the county or municipal corporation.

# (b)

# (1)

The collector may withhold from sale any non–owner–occupied residential property, when the total taxes on the property, including interest and penalties, amount to less than $750.

# (2)

When the total taxes on the property, including interest and penalties, amount to less than $1,000, the collector shall withhold from sale:

(i) owner–occupied residential property; and

(ii) residential property occupied by an heir of a deceased owner.

# (3)

In Baltimore City, the collector shall withhold from sale residential property or property that is exempt from taxation under § 7–204(1) or (2) of this article, if the taxes on the property consist only of a lien for unpaid charges for water and sewer service.

# (c)

Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the governing body of a county or municipal corporation may withhold from sale property that:

# (1)

has a vacant building or structure that the county or municipal corporation intends to demolish because the building or structure is unsafe or unfit for habitation; or

# (2)

has been designated for redevelopment purposes if:

(i) the county or municipal corporation certifies that the property:
1. is a vacant lot; or
2. has a building or structure that is:
A. vacant; and
B. unsafe or unfit for habitation;

(ii) the governing body of the county or municipal corporation finds that withholding the property from sale under this subsection is necessary:
1. to eliminate a blighting influence; and
2. to prevent the tax abandonment of the property; and

(iii) the property meets any additional objective criteria established by the governing body of the county or municipal corporation for withholding property from sale for redevelopment purposes.

# (d)

# (1)

The governing body of a county or municipal corporation may withhold from sale a residential property or a property owned by a nonprofit organization if the property is enrolled in a payment program established by law by the governing body of the county or municipal corporation for the payment of taxes in arrears.

# (2)

If the governing body of a county or municipal corporation withholds property from sale under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the governing body shall arrange for the payment to the State of any State property taxes in arrears on the property.

# (e)

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or municipal corporation may withhold from sale property that has been designated for redevelopment purposes if the property meets objective criteria established by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body.

# (f)

The governing body of a county or municipal corporation may cancel or postpone a tax sale during a state of emergency declared:

# (1)

by the Governor in accordance with Title 14 of the Public Safety Article; or

# (2)

by a county or municipal corporation in accordance with State and local law.

# (g)

The collector shall withhold from sale under this part of this subtitle any real property designated by the governing body of a county or municipal corporation for foreclosure and sale under Part V of this subtitle.

# (h)

# (1)

In this subsection, “dwelling” and “homeowner” have the meanings stated in § 9–105 of this article.

# (2)

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or municipal corporation may withhold from sale a dwelling owned by a homeowner or occupied by an heir of a deceased homeowner who is low–income, at least 65 years old, or disabled if the homeowner or heir meets eligibility criteria established by the county or municipal corporation.

# (i)

The collector shall withhold from sale the dwelling of a homeowner who is enrolled in the Homeowner Protection Program established under Part VII of this subtitle.

# (j)

# (1)

The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county shall establish a registry for interested parties or the Tax Sale Ombudsman to designate a property to be withheld from tax sale in accordance with this section.

# (2)

On request of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county, the Department shall provide assistance in creating and maintaining the registry required under paragraph (1) of this subsection.