{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-304","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 4–304","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) The legislative body of a municipality may initiate a proposed\namendment to the municipal charter by a resolution that, except as otherwise\nprovided in this subtitle, is adopted in the same manner as other resolutions in the\nmunicipality by a majority of all the individuals elected to the legislative body.\n(2) Before adopting a resolution initiated by the legislative body of a\nmunicipality that proposes an amendment to the municipal charter, the legislative\nbody shall:\n(i) hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment; and\n(ii) give at least 21 days’ advance notice of the public hearing.\n(b) (1) The chief executive officer of the municipality shall give notice of\nthe resolution that proposes an amendment to the municipal charter by:\n(i) posting an exact copy of the resolution at the main\nmunicipal building or other public place for the 40 days after the resolution is\nadopted; and\n(ii) 1. publishing a fair summary of the proposed\namendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality:\nA. at least four times;\nB. at weekly intervals; and\nC. within the 40 days after the resolution is adopted; or\n2. A. publishing a fair summary of the proposed\namendment in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least once;\nand\nB. delivering a copy of a fair summary of the proposed\ncharter amendment either by hand or by mail once to every residence in the\nmunicipality.\n(2) The delivery required under paragraph (1)(ii)2B of this subsection\nmay be accomplished by including a fair summary of the proposed charter\namendment in a printed newsletter or any other regular municipal publication.\n(3) The municipality delivering a copy of a fair summary under\nparagraph (1)(ii)2B of this subsection shall:\n(i) maintain a record of or a copy of the receipt for the delivery\nunder the records retention and document disposal schedule of the municipality; and\n(ii) make the record or copy available to the general public in\naccordance with the Maryland Public Information Act.\n(c) Unless a petition meeting the requirements of subsection (d) of this\nsection is presented to the legislative body of a municipality on or before the 40th day\nafter the legislative body adopts a charter amendment resolution, the amendment\nshall take effect as a part of the municipal charter on the 50th day after the resolution\nis adopted.\n(d) (1) A petition for a referendum on a proposed charter amendment\nshall:\n(i) be signed by at least 20% of the qualified voters for the\nmunicipal general election; and\n(ii) request that the proposed amendment be submitted to\nreferendum of the qualified voters of the municipality.\n(2) Each individual signing the petition shall indicate on the petition\nthe individual’s name and residence address.\n(3) The petition shall be delivered to the legislative body of the\nmunicipality by:\n(i) presentment; or\n(ii) certified mail, return receipt requested.\n(4) (i) On receiving the petition, the legislative body shall verify\nthat each individual who signed the petition is a qualified voter for the municipal\ngeneral election.\n(ii) The petition has no effect if it is signed by less than 20% of\nthe qualified voters for the municipal general election.\n(5) If the petition complies with this section, the legislative body shall\nspecify by resolution adopted in accordance with its normal legislative procedure:\n(i) the day and hours for the referendum; and\n(ii) the exact text that is to be placed on the ballot.\n(6) (i) The legislative body may schedule the referendum for the\nnext regular municipal general election or at a special election.\n(ii) If the legislative body schedules a special election, it shall\nbe held not less than 40 days or more than 60 days after the resolution scheduling\nthe referendum is adopted.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=4-304","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"fedb991dbb1df6c9cf50e41faa58ac9c5445902b5286395a0a942e1cd8ebe1ed","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-303","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-4-305"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}