How can a resident propose a new capital project?

Contact the relevant city department with a project summary and supporting materials; confirm deadlines with the Department of Planning or Mayor’s Office.

Where are adopted CIP priorities published?

Adopted priorities and the City’s CIP are published with the Mayor’s proposed and adopted budget documents and on departmental capital project pages.

Can a project be re-prioritized after adoption?

Yes, through amendment processes, but changes typically require Board of Estimates approval and may depend on funding availability.

Baltimore City Capital Improvement Priority Guide

Utilities and Infrastructure Maryland 3 Minutes Read · published February 08, 2026

Introduction

Baltimore, Maryland maintains a formal process to set priorities for capital improvement projects across city agencies. This guide explains how the city identifies, evaluates and programs capital projects, who is responsible, how residents can propose or object to priorities, and where to find official documents and forms.

Follow official submission windows and public comment opportunities to influence project priority.

How the Priority Setting Process Works

Capital project priorities are developed through agency proposals, technical review, and executive and legislative approval as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Departments submit project requests and supporting materials; the Mayor’s budget office and the Department of Planning review and rank requests before inclusion in the proposed CIP. For department guidance and submission schedules see the Department of Planning capital projects page Department of Planning - Capital Projects^[1].

Project proposals follow annual cycles tied to the Mayor’s proposed budget.
Technical review scores typically consider public safety, state/federal match funding, and asset condition.
Final priorities are included in the adopted CIP and ordinance adopted by the Mayor and Board of Estimates.

Who Decides and Who Enforces

The primary actors are the submitting city department, the Mayor’s Office of Budget and Management, the Department of Planning, and the Board of Estimates which approves contracts and the adopted CIP. Where the municipal charter or budget rules specify procedures, see the City code and charter provisions governing the budget and capital program Baltimore City Code - Budget and Capital Provisions^[2].

Submitting department: prepares scope, cost estimates and justification.
Mayor’s Office/OBM: aggregates and proposes the CIP to the Board of Estimates.
Board of Estimates: legal approval of capital budget items and funding mechanisms.

Penalties & Enforcement

Penalties specific to the capital improvement priority-setting process (such as misrepresenting project data or failing to follow submission rules) are not set out with dollar amounts on the cited process pages; where numeric sanctions exist they will appear in procurement, contract, or code sections cited by the enforcing department. For the process itself, disciplinary or corrective measures are generally administrative and applied by the relevant department or Board of Estimates. See the department pages for contact and complaint procedures.^[1]

Fines: not specified on the cited process pages.
Escalation: typically administrative review, corrective directives, or referral to procurement/ethics processes; specific ranges not specified on the cited pages.
Non-monetary sanctions: withholding of funding, reassignment of projects, contract termination, or referral to legal action where applicable.
Enforcer: submitting department, Department of Planning, Mayor’s Office of Budget and Management, and Board of Estimates; complaints start via department contact pages and Mayor’s office channels.
Appeals/review: administrative review through the submitting department or Mayor’s Office; where ordinance actions occur, appeal routes follow the City code or contested case procedures in the applicable procurement or permitting rules (time limits not specified on the cited process pages).

If you suspect misuse of capital funds, submit a formal complaint to the responsible department promptly.

Applications & Forms

Project submittals generally require department-specific project request forms, cost worksheets, and supporting documentation; a consolidated city form for proposing CIP priorities is not published on the main process pages. Contact the submitting department or the Department of Planning for current submission templates and deadlines.^[1]

How-To

Identify the appropriate submitting department for your project idea and review their CIP submission guidance.
Prepare supporting documents: scope, cost estimate, justification, and any community support materials.
Contact the Department of Planning or Mayor’s Office to confirm the submission window and required form versions.
Submit the package by the published deadline and request confirmation of receipt.
Monitor the proposed CIP, attend public hearings, and provide public comment during the budget/CIP adoption period.

Public hearings and written comments are the most effective ways to change a project’s priority before adoption.

FAQ

How can a resident propose a new capital project?: Contact the relevant city department with a project summary and supporting materials; confirm deadlines with the Department of Planning or Mayor’s Office.
Where are adopted CIP priorities published?: Adopted priorities and the City’s CIP are published with the Mayor’s proposed and adopted budget documents and on departmental capital project pages.
Can a project be re-prioritized after adoption?: Yes, through amendment processes, but changes typically require Board of Estimates approval and may depend on funding availability.

Key Takeaways

The CIP runs on an annual cycle tied to the Mayor’s budget.
Department submissions, technical review, and Board of Estimates approval determine final priorities.
Engage early, follow department guidance, and use public comment opportunities.