Real estate transactions in Baltimore City will resume on May 20.

If you have tried to conduct business at Baltimore City offices in the last couple of weeks, you may have run into a major problem. On May 7, 2019, Baltimore City became the victim of a ransomware attack. The attack has paralyzed digital communications, online payment systems, and lien recordings. The city is working with the FBI to investigate the origins of the attack, and cybersecurity experts are working to restore the systems. 

Residents trying to pay bills or apply for licenses and permits were left without answers. Because the city was unable to process deeds and verify lien statuses, families expecting to close on a home have been stuck with no place to go. Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young released a statement on Friday detailing actions the city is taking to handle transactions while the systems are down. 

Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young delivers statement on May 8, 2019, courtesy @BaltCityHall

Real estate transactions will be restored in a manual process beginning on Monday, May 20. Requests for lien certificates will have to be made in person at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building. Sellers or transferors will have to sign an affidavit for payment, and the city will then issue a lien certificate. Contact your title company or attorney for more information on the closing process.

Here are the other departments and systems that are impacted:

City voice mailboxes are not functional.

City email accounts are not functional. Some departments have created emergency accounts the public can use to communicate; please visit the city website for more details.

The city online payments system is not operational. You can pay bills by mail (water bills, vehicle citations, property taxes) or in person at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building, 200 N Holliday St., (check or money order only).

The parking fines database is also down, but the city has a process in place for customers to get vehicles from the impound lot. Please call 410-396-9958.

Permits and licenses in process will continue to be processed. Customers can call the Department of Housing & Community Development at 443-984-1809 for assistance.

For general questions or inquiries, residents are instructed to call 311.