Empire Towers Structural Integrity Incident: Information & Updates

Following a 911 call regarding the structural integrity of the building, first responders discovered that the parking garage beneath the privately owned, 10-story office building had been compromised during active and unpermitted construction work. The Department of Inspections and Permits Chief Building Inspector confirmed the building was unsafe for occupancy, and posted that determination publicly. As of today, the building remains classified as unsafe, meaning no public entry is permitted.
 

Yes. On October 22, 2026, following the successful completion of Phase 2 of the stabilization work, the Department of Inspections & Permits conducted its inspection onsite and reviewed the inspection reports and engineer's certification to determine that the building is stabilized. The county lifted the 150-foot safety perimeter at that time. The area is now safe to enter, surrounding businesses may open, and normal traffic flow may resume.

Due to the high structural instability risks, the county had established a 150-foot safety perimeter around the building. This distance is equal to one and a half times the building’s height - the standard measurement for a potential collapse zone. This measurement accounts for a total building collapse with a necessary buffer to account for debris bouncing, rolling, or being projected outward.

On October 22, 2026, the building was deemed fully stabilized and the 150-foot safety perimeter was lifted.

No. At this time, Empire Towers and the private parking garage remain closed to public access. The building owner and management company will continue to provide updates to impacted individuals.

Empire Towers is a privately owned and operated building. The building’s owner and management company are responsible for the work being done to remediate the building, and are best equipped to speak to the details of the work and project timeline. The building’s owner and management company are also responsible for communicating with tenants and individuals who are unable to access the building at this time.

The county’s primary concern is public safety. Following the county’s determination that the building was unsafe for occupancy, the Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits, Department of Public Works, Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management worked together to establish a safety perimeter and coordinate necessary building and road closures. 

On October 22, 2026, the building was deemed fully stabilized and the 150-foot safety perimeter was lifted.

Yes, this matter is under an active investigation. 

The building’s owner and management company are communicating directly with tenants and individuals who have vehicles in the parking garage regarding vehicle removal, project updates, and financial assistance with transportation expenses. If you have a vehicle in the garage, please reach out directly to empiretowers@rosenbergmartin.com. 

As reported to the county by building ownership, the contractor removed approximately 48 vehicles from the garage that were deemed safe to remove in order to gain access to areas of the garage they need to install shoring and lashing in for Phase 2 of remediation. The contractor is currently developing a plan to remove additional cars from the garage over the next two months. More information on the removal of those vehicles will be sent directly to vehicle owners who fall within this category by the building owner and property management.

If your vehicle is inaccessible due to this incident, the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) may be able to assist you with deferring your required emissions testing. Please complete this form, and the MVA will contact you directly to help extend your emissions testing due date and waive any financial penalties.

No, not at this time. Empire Towers and the private parking garage remain closed to public access. The building owner and management company will continue to provide updates to impacted individuals.

If you are a small business owner located in Empire Towers or the 150-foot perimeter, or your vehicle is currently inaccessible in the Empire Towers garage, the Maryland Insurance Administration has created a list of tips to help you navigate the insurance process. 

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation launched the Empire Towers Disaster Recovery Grant and accepted applications through July 24. Through this program, $2,500 grants were available to eligible businesses located at 7310 Ritchie Highway or within the 150-foot safety perimeter (7300 or 7314 Ritchie Highway). Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation awarded grants to 51 applicants for a total of $127,500. If you have questions about the grant program, please contact info@aaedc.org. 

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for Anne Arundel County, providing low-interest financial relief to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofits affected by the Empire Towers structural emergency that began on July 9, 2026. The declaration offers up to $2 million in working capital loans—with fixed interest rates of 4% for businesses and 3.625% for nonprofits, up to 30-year repayment terms, and no payment or interest accrual for the first 12 months—regardless of whether physical property damage occurred. 

Yes, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (info@aaedc.org) is available to assist impacted businesses explore potential temporary operating locations and work with them to better understand their specific needs and identify any opportunities that may exist to support them. 

Given the evolving nature of this situation, the county will provide public updates on this webpage as new information becomes available. Impacted individuals with questions regarding their belongings and updates on the reopening of Empire Towers and the parking garage should reach out to the building owner and property manager.