{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-204","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 4–204","heading":"","body":"(a) A proposal to incorporate an area as a municipality is initiated when a\nvalid petition is presented to the county commissioners or county council of a county\nby:\n(1) at least 25% of the registered voters who are residents of the area\nproposed to be incorporated; or\n(2) at least 20% of the registered voters who are residents of the area\nproposed to be incorporated, together with the owners of at least 25% of the assessed\nvaluation of the real property of the area proposed to be incorporated.\n(b) The Office of the Attorney General shall:\n(1) create a standard petition form for use by an organizing\ncommunity; and\n(2) provide the board of elections of each county with the form for\ndistribution to an organizing community.\n(c) A petition presented under subsection (a) of this section shall:\n(1) express the interest of the subscribing individuals in the\nincorporation of the area;\n(2) contain a detailed description of the boundaries of the area\nproposed to be incorporated, including a survey of courses and distances or general\nlandmarks and place names;\n(3) state the name of the new municipality, which may not be the\nsame as a name used by a municipality or county in the State; and\n(4) state the names of the individuals who will initially represent the\norganizing community on the organizing committee.\n(d) The organizing community shall obtain the minimum number of valid\nsignatures required under subsection (a) of this section within 18 months after the\norganizing community receives the standard petition form from the county board of\nelections.\n(e) Each person signing the petition shall indicate on the petition:\n(1) the person’s name and residence address; and\n(2) if the petition is intended to be presented under subsection (a)(2)\nof this section and the person signing the petition owns real property in the area\nproposed to be incorporated, the location and assessed valuation of the property.\n(f) Within 60 days after receiving a petition, the county commissioners or\ncounty council shall:\n(1) verify that each person who signed the petition:\n(i) resides in the area proposed to be incorporated;\n(ii) is registered to vote in the elections of that county; and\n(iii) if applicable, owns real property within the area proposed\nto be incorporated;\n(2) verify that the petition meets the requirements of this section;\nand\n(3) appoint a county liaison if the petition meets the requirements of\nthis section.\n(g) A petition, when received, becomes the property of the county\ncommissioners or county council and may not be used to initiate another\nincorporation.\n(h) A proposal to incorporate a municipality and to adopt a municipal\ncharter may not be rescinded after the formal submission of the proposal in a manner\nother than that of a formal charter repeal as provided in §§ 4–313 and 4–314 of this\ntitle.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=4-204","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"1dc8b78e0842b535dd3c1a47a75ce03eceb57b318c7c16bc7e97249a1e318070","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-203","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-205"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}