{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-13-902","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 13–902","heading":"","body":"(a) This section applies only to:\n(1) Calvert County;\n(2) Caroline County;\n(3) Dorchester County;\n(4) Frederick County;\n(5) Harford County;\n(6) Kent County; and\n(7) Worcester County.\n(b) The provisions of §§ 9–105 and 9–106 of this article apply to an act, an\nordinance, or a resolution adopted by a commission county under this section.\n(c) (1) A building code or housing code adopted under this section does\nnot apply to a building on a farm or to any premises devoted solely to agricultural\nuses.\n(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, a building code\nor housing code adopted under this section applies to:\n(i) in Calvert County, dwellings on which construction is\nbegun after July 1, 1979; or\n(ii) in Frederick County, residential buildings or buildings\nconstructed for human habitation regardless of location or other auxiliary use.\n(d) (1) The County Commissioners of Kent County shall adopt a building\ncode and a housing code.\n(2) The governing bodies of Calvert County, Caroline County,\nDorchester County, Frederick County, Harford County, and Worcester County may\nadopt a building code and a housing code.\n(e) (1) A building code or housing code adopted under this section, and\nall regulations adopted under the codes, shall be designed to protect the public health\nand welfare.\n(2) A building code shall include:\n(i) regulations requiring a building permit before a building is\nbuilt or improved; and\n(ii) standards for constructing, maintaining, and repairing,\nincluding structural safety, fire prevention, lighting, ventilation, and proper means\nof access.\n(3) A housing code shall include regulations and standards for\nhuman habitation, including sanitation, density of occupancy, open space, and rodent\ninfestation.\n(4) A building code or housing code may include provisions for\nenforcement of the code, including providing for inspectors and penalties for a\nviolation of the code or the regulations adopted under the code.\n(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a building\ncode or housing code adopted under this section may incorporate by reference all or\npart of a building code or housing code issued or proposed and made available for\ngeneral distribution by any governmental unit or trade or professional association.\n(2) In Caroline County, Frederick County, Harford County, Kent\nCounty, and Worcester County, any later amendment to a code or part of a code that\nis adopted by reference is not effective until the governing body of the county\nincorporates the specific amendment into the county’s building code or housing code.\n(g) (1) This subsection applies only to:\n(i) Frederick County;\n(ii) Harford County; and\n(iii) Kent County.\n(2) The governing body of the county may charge a fee for a zoning\ncertificate or permit for construction of improvements to real property.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=13-902","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"c7d871d37a9e05aa99ff7ecc90539636f8ac506fecd094167566521b9719b4c8","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-13-901","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-13-903"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}