{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-9-112","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Local Government § 9–112","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) The governing body of each county may erect two pillars 100 feet\napart on the same meridian line in a public spot adjacent to the county courthouse of\neach county.\n(2) There shall be a distinctly visible needle point on the top of one of\nthe pillars and a hair sight on top of the other pillar so that a straight line passing\nthrough its center and the center of the needle point would be on the true meridian\nline running north and south.\n(3) The needle point and hair sight required under this subsection\nshall be properly enclosed and protected.\n(b) (1) The governing body of the county may:\n(i) determine the accurate latitude and longitude of the pillars\nerected under subsection (a) of this section; and\n(ii) mark the latitude and longitude on one of the pillars in\ndegrees, minutes, seconds, and parts of seconds.\n(2) The longitude shall be determined from the meridian of\nWashington, D.C.\n(c) (1) The pillars and enclosures are under the custody of the county\nclerk.\n(2) The pillars and enclosures shall be made available to any\nsurveyor or civil engineer residing or engaged in surveying in the county for the\npurpose of:\n(i) testing compass variations; and\n(ii) verifying the meridian line when required by order of the\ncircuit court for the county.\n(d) (1) If a county has erected pillars under this section, a surveyor who\nsurveys land in the county shall annually test the surveyor’s compass and note the\nvariation of the compass from the meridian line identified under subsection (a) of this\nsection.\n(2) (i) The surveyor shall record in the county where the surveyor\nresides the results of the test, including:\n1. the date and time of the test; and\n2. an affidavit verifying the correctness of the results.\n(ii) The test results shall be recorded in a book kept for the\npurpose of recording such results.\n(3) A surveyor who violates this subsection is subject to a fine of $50\nand court costs.\n(4) A fine imposed under this subsection may be used as directed by\nthe governing body of the county.\n(e) (1) The county clerk may charge a fee for:\n(i) recording a certificate of variation;\n(ii) recording an affidavit of correctness;\n(iii) providing copies or abstracts of certificates of variation or\naffidavits of correctness; and\n(iv) providing certificates and seals regarding certificates of\nvariation or affidavits of correctness.\n(2) The fee collected by the clerk shall be the same as fees allowed by\nlaw for similar services regarding matters of record in the clerk’s office.\n(3) The fee shall be paid by the party:\n(i) recording the document; or\n(ii) requesting a copy or abstract of recorded documents.\n(f) (1) A person may not:\n(i) willfully erase, deface, displace, or otherwise harm a pillar,\nor any part of a pillar, erected under subsection (a)(1) of this section; or\n(ii) destroy, break down, or remove the enclosure, or any part\nof the enclosure, required under subsection (a)(3) of this section.\n(2) On conviction, a person who violates this subsection is subject to\na fine of not less than $50 and not exceeding $500.\n(g) The governing body of a county that erects pillars under this section may\npay the costs of carrying out this section in the same manner that other county\nexpenses are paid.","path":["Article - Local Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=glg\u0026section=9-112","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:58Z","sha256":"2489d426f004617dbd11a194ad2e181f9e03b341d820beb9fe8d72d62b42f1fa","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-9-111","next":"us-md/md.-code-local-government-9-113"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}