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Terms Used In Maryland Code, LAND USE 20-509

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section, by local law, the legislative body of a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district may impose an additional or stricter building requirement than is required by a State, regional, or county unit that exercises zoning or planning authority over the municipal corporation or governed district if the authority is exercised in addition to the State, regional, or county zoning or planning authority.

(b) A building requirement adopted under this section:

(1) shall be imposed for:

(i) the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare; or

(ii) the preservation, improvement, or protection of lands, water, and improvements in the municipal corporation or governed special taxing district; and

(2) may regulate only the construction, repair, or remodeling of single-family residential houses, buildings, or other structures on land zoned for single-family residential use as it relates to:

(i) fences, walls, hedges, and similar barriers;

(ii) signs;

(iii) residential parking;

(iv) residential storage;

(v) the location of structures, including setback requirements;

(vi) the dimensions of structures, including height, bulk, massing, and design; and

(vii) lot coverage, including impervious surfaces.

(c) Before adopting a local law under this section, a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district shall:

(1) hold a public hearing; and

(2) at least 30 days before the public hearing, transmit a copy of the proposed local law to the county council.

(d) A local law that a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district adopts under this section shall provide a procedure for a waiver from the strict application of the building requirements.

(e) By local law, a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district may enact an additional or stricter commercial sign regulation than is imposed by the State, the Commission, or the county.