Introduction

Thank you for your interest in submitting an application for a ceremonial street sign. The City of Baltimore is proud to honor individuals, religious groups, or non-profit organizations that have contributed significantly to our neighborhoods and enriched the lives of our residents.

A Few Things to Know:

Application Approval

• Completing this application does not guarantee approval of your ceremonial street sign request.
• Within 45 business days from the receipt of your application, you will be notified by the Department of Transportation whether your ceremonial street sign application was approved or denied.
• Ceremonial street sign installation events should not be scheduled until you receive confirmation of approval.

Community Support Requirement

• Applications must include a letter of support from the nearest community or neighborhood association.
  • The Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, or their designee, may waive this requirement on a case by case basis.

Sign Installation and Duration

• Approved ceremonial street signs will not alter the official name of any street.
• Signs will be displayed for one year from the installation date. After that, the applicant may request to retain the sign upon removal.
• The Department of Transportation may permanently remove a ceremonial street sign if the honoree no longer meets eligibility standards during the effective period.

Application Requirements and Fees

• Incomplete applications or those lacking sufficient justification will be denied.
• The cost for the fabrication of a ceremonial street sign is $150, payable upon approval.
• Once payment is received, the Department of Transportation will fabricate and install the sign within 15 business days or receipt of payment.

A Few Tips Before Applying:

• You must complete the application on a laptop or desktop computer.
• Plan to spend 30 minutes on the application to avoid it timing out.
• You must answer all required fields.

Ceremonial Street Sign Eligibility

The following entities are eligible consideration for a ceremonial street sign:

1. An individual.
2. Non-profit organization.
3. Religious organization.

Perspective honorees must meet the following minimum criteria.

For an individual

1. Prospective honorees must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous, demonstrable community involvement and a record of consistent voluntary commitment to the neighborhood or block, or they must have made significant contributions to the City of Baltimore.
2. Prospective honorees must demonstrate a substantial connection to the street and block where the ceremonial street sign is proposed for installation.
3. Prospective honorees must have no pending civil or criminal cases and must not have been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law within the past 6 years preceding this application.
4. Prospective honorees must have been current or former residents of the City of Baltimore for at least 10 years prior to the request for a ceremonial street sign, or they must have made significant and demonstrable contributions to the City of Baltimore.

For a non-profit organization

1. Prospective honorees must have a minimum of 20 years of continuous, demonstrable community involvement and a record of consistent voluntary commitment to the neighborhood or block, or they must have made significant contributions to the City of Baltimore.
2. Prospective honorees must demonstrate a substantial connection to the street and block where the ceremonial street sign is proposed for installation.
3. Prospective honorees must have no pending civil or criminal cases and must not have been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law within the past 6 years preceding this application.
4. Prospective honorees must be headquartered or have been founded in the City of Baltimore, or they must have made significant and demonstrable contributions to the City of Baltimore.
5. Prospective honorees must be properly registered, credentialed, and in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

For a Religious Organization

1. Prospective honorees must have been established and actively serving the community for a minimum of 20 years, demonstrating continuous, impactful community involvement and a record of consistent commitment to the neighborhood or block, or they must have made significant contributions to the City of Baltimore.
2. Prospective honorees must demonstrate a substantial connection to the street and block where the ceremonial street sign is requested for installation.
3. Prospective honorees must have no pending civil or criminal cases and must not have been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law within the past 6 years preceding this application.
4. Prospective honorees must be in good standing with the City of Baltimore and must not be indebted to the City of Baltimore, unless they are on a verifiable payment plan with the City of Baltimore.
5. Prospective honorees must be headquartered in the City of Baltimore, or they must have made significant and demonstrable contributions to the City of Baltimore.

Allowable Ceremonial Street Sign Naming Conventions

1. Any variation from the honoree’s legal name (such as abbreviations, nicknames, or initials) is subject to approval by the Department to ensure clarity and appropriateness.
2. Names are limited to a maximum of 24 characters, including spaces. This limit ensures readability and consistency across all ceremonial signs.
3. All ceremonial street signs must end with the word “WAY” to indicate the honorary nature of the designation.
4. The Department reserves the right to deny any naming conventions that are deemed inappropriate, offensive, or potentially confusing to the public.
5. Titles or professional designations (e.g., "Dr.," "Rev.," "Judge") are generally discouraged as they may impact the maximum character limit. 
6. Proposed names should not duplicate existing ceremonial or official street names within the city to avoid confusion.

Required Supplemental Documents

These documents must be completed and attached to the application prior to submission.

BPD Background Check Form

This application does not meet the minimum requirement for community involvement. 

If you need assistance identifying your council district, please use the Baltimore City Council District lookup tool by clicking here.

Information on how to get permit here.

https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/special-events-permitting-street-vending-licenses

 

In order to be considered for a ceremonial street sign, at the time of this application, you must have collected a petition with support from 60% of verifiable residents and/or businesses on the abutting block supporting the installation. The petition must include each supporter’s first name, last name, address, email address, and/or phone number. Failure to submit this form with your application will result in your application’s denial.

In order to be considered for a ceremonial street sign, you must also consent to a background check. Failure to submit this form with your application will result in your application’s denial.