Baltimore City inspection citation easy fix but 'permit required'

[Josh Thomas]

So I received a citation for under the Fire and Related Codes of Baltimore City for improper egress. Basically on my forth floor unit, a resident must walk a few steps along a very wide and flat platform to an existing fire escape. The inspector said it needs a safety railing that connects the building to the fire escape, and a permit would be required to do the work.

I'll spare you the details, but a phone call with Baltimore permitting revealed they would love to turn this simple task into VERY expensive enhancement (of which I could find no basis for in all the MD, Baltimore, or International Building Code books).

So, I'm curious if any other Baltimore City landlords, rehabbers, or property mangers have ever had a similar experience? Where you may have resolved a simple citation quickly without a permit, even though an inspector would be asking about it later? And if so what was the outcome? Would they go so far as to require a tear down of perfectly good work and then rebuild again with a permit? Or would it a a hand slap / relativity small fine?