(BALTIMORE – July 16, 2026) — The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has opened a 30-day public comment period on a proposed drone initiative designed to strengthen neighborhood revitalization, improve property inspections, and enhance the delivery of city services.
Known as the Bird’s Eye View (BEV) Program, the initiative would incorporate drone technology into DHCD’s work to assist with property inspections, redevelopment planning, documentation, and community improvement efforts.
According to the department, the technology is intended to help staff collect more accurate information, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase worker safety while supporting Baltimore’s ongoing efforts to revitalize neighborhoods.
If approved, the BEV Program would be used for a variety of functions, including:
- Inspecting building conditions and supporting home repair initiatives.
- Documenting illegal dumping sites to help coordinate cleanup efforts.
- Assisting property maintenance inspectors in identifying housing and code violations.
- Monitoring the progress of redevelopment projects and contractor compliance.
- Collecting site information for neighborhood planning and redevelopment.
- Creating data-driven models to support Reframe Baltimore, the City’s Vacancy Reduction Initiative.
DHCD officials say drone technology will allow inspectors to complete assessments more quickly while reducing disruptions for residents and property owners. The department also believes the program will improve the accuracy of field operations and provide more reliable information to guide redevelopment decisions.
Officials emphasized that the BEV Program is not intended for surveillance.
Instead, drones would be used solely for official DHCD activities related to property improvement, neighborhood revitalization, and municipal service delivery. Employees authorized to operate the drones would receive the necessary training and certifications to ensure safe and responsible use.
The department is encouraging residents, neighborhood organizations, and other stakeholders to review the proposed policy and submit comments during the public review period.
Public feedback will help shape the final implementation of the program, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, and responsible use of the technology.
The 30-day public comment period will provide residents, community organizations, and stakeholders an opportunity to review the proposed program policy, share feedback, and offer recommendations. Feedback received during the comment period will help shape implementation practices, ensure transparency, and support the responsible use of technology.
Review the Draft Policy and Share Your Comments Here
The public comment period ends on August 15, 2026.
