+ How can I get to know my neighbors?

There’s no substitute for meeting your neighbors in person! See our Upcoming Events page and the LIA Facebook page to find upcoming events… Or walk down your street and start a conversation.

There are also several Facebook groups for Lauraville and nearby neighborhoods. Our own Facebook page is Lauraville Improvement Association. The largest local Facebook group is the Harford Road Community Collective. Two specifically for parents are the Hamilton/Lauraville Parents’ Exchange and HL Sprouts.

+ Who organizes neighborhood cleanups and how can I request one?

We all do! The Association aims to organize seasonal events as time and capacity allow, but any Lauraville neighbor can organize a cleanup at any time. The Association is happy to assist with getting the word out through our communication channels and lending out trash pickers, trash bags, and reflective safety vests for your group.

Please contact us about what you’re thinking or planning, and let’s chat about how LIA can help.

+ How do I report overgrown weeds, grass, or trash dumped on my street, alley, or property?

The best way to request help with these issues is to put in a request through the city’s 311 system. There are a few ways to do this:

• By phone: Dial 311, listen to the prerecorded options, and press “1” in order to file a service request with an operator.
• Baltimore 311 website: Alternatively, you can visit the 311 website and file a service request there. If you file an online request, click on either “Dirty Street Cleaning”, “Dirty Alley Cleaning”, “Illegal Dumping”, or “Housing Inspections- trash and/or weeds” on the Service Type drop-down menu.
• Baltimore 311 mobile app: City residents can download the 311 mobile app (Apple | Android) to report issues on the go.

When you file your request, either online or by phone, please remember to write down the 10-digit Service Request Number provided to you so that you can monitor your request’s progress.

+ How do I request a speed bump/hump for my street?

Download the Traffic Calming Study request form, fill it out, and mail it to the address listed on the form. If you think a speed bump/hump is necessary for your area, please reach out to LIA for assistance with organizing support from other nearby residents — not only out of courtesy to your neighbors, but also because a community effort is more likely to be enacted than an individual one. Download a blank petition to gather signatures from others on your block.

If you submit a petition showing support from your neighbors, along with a letter from LIA’s president, your application will have more weight.

+ How do I get a tree planted on my street?

If you would like a tree planted on your street, visit Baltimore City Rec & Parks’ forestry division for more information, or download the Street Tree request form. You can either print and fill out the form by hand or just fill it out electronically; in either case, use the contact information on the form’s last page to mail or email the completed form. Please be prepared to water the tree regularly, as it may be deemed the requester’s responsibility depending on where the tree is planted.

+ Can I have the city pick up extra trash outside of a weekly trash pickup?

Yes! You can do this by filing a 311 request. If you file online or use the Baltimore 311 mobile app, look for the request type “Housing Inspections- trash and/or weeds” on the Service Type drop-down menu. When you file your request, either online or by phone, please remember to write down the 10-digit Service Request Number provided to you so that you can monitor your request’s progress.

+ How to I report a housing code violation?

The easiest way is to call 311 and, after listening to the prerecorded options, press “1” and explain the violation to an operator. You can also report the violation online. In either case, please remember to write down the 10-digit Service Request Number provided to you so that you can monitor your request’s progress.

+ How do I get an abandoned vehicle removed from my street?

First, call 311. Once you get to their pre-recorded options menu, press “1” on your phone. You should be connected to an operator quickly, at which point you can file a request to have said vehicle removed. Please remember to write down the 10-digit service request number the 311 operator gives you, so that you can monitor your request’s progress.

+ I’m planning a block party for my neighbors. Can I close off my street?

If you would like to host a block party, which involves closing off one block of a residential street for the party’s duration, you should print and fill out an application to the Department of Transportation, and then mail it to the address at the top of the form. Please keep in mind that block parties are allowed no more than 200 guests, and the application must be mailed at least 4 weeks in advance, though the application fee is smallest if you mail it in at least 8 weeks in advance.

+ I need smoke detectors for myself or my neighbors. How can I get some?

If you do not have any hearing impairments, you can acquire a smoke detector simply by calling 311. Once you hear the prerecorded options, press “1” and ask for the Fire Dept. to install one in your home. Firefighters should arrive at your house to install the smoke detector within a couple hours. If you are deaf or hearing impaired, you can call the Office of the Fire Marshal at (410) 396-5752 for a special smoke detector.