reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-413 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 4 - Annexation|Section 4-413 - Right of Property Owners to Participate

    If fewer than 20 residents in an area to be annexed are eligible to sign a petition for annexation and vote in a referendum under this subtitle, any person, including the two or more joint owners of jointly owned property, who owns real property in the area to be annexed may sign the petition and vote in the referendum.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-414 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 4 - Annexation|Section 4-414 - Copies of Resolution

    (a)    (1)    The chief executive and administrative officer of a municipality that has annexed property shall send a copy of the annexation resolution with the new boundaries to:            (i)    the clerk or similar official of the municipality;            (ii)    the clerk of the court in any county in which the municipality is located;            (iii)    the Department of Legislative Services in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection; and            (iv)    for any municipality located in the regional district, the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission.        (2)    The annexation resolution shall be sent to the Department of Legislative Services within 10 days after the resolution takes effect.    (b)    Each official or agency that receives an annexation resolution under subsection (a) of this section shall:        (1)    keep on record the resolution with the new boundaries; and        (2)    make the resolution available for public inspection during regular business hours.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-415 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 4 - Annexation|Section 4-415 - Annexation Plan

    (a)    In addition to, but not as part of, an annexation resolution, the legislative body of the municipality shall adopt an annexation plan for the area to be annexed.    (b)    Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, for an annexation that began before October 1, 2009, the annexation plan shall:        (1)    contain a description of the land use pattern proposed for the area to be annexed, which may include a county master plan already in effect for the area;        (2)    describe the schedule to extend each municipal service performed in the municipality at the time of the annexation to the area to be annexed;        (3)    describe the general methods by which the municipality anticipates financing the extension of municipal services to the area to be annexed; and        (4)    be presented so as to demonstrate the available land for public facilities that may be considered reasonably necessary for the proposed use, including facilities for schools, water or sewage treatment, libraries, recreation, or fire or police services.    (c)    Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, for annexation that begins on or after October 1, 2009, the annexation plan shall be consistent with the municipal growth element of the comprehensive plan of the municipality.    (d)    For purposes of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an annexation begins when a proposal for annexation is initiated by:        (1)    resolution under § 4–403 of this subtitle; or        (2)    petition under § 4–404 of this subtitle.    (e)    (1)    On or after October 1, 2009, a municipality may submit an annexation plan under subsection (b) of this section if the municipality is granted an extension for the inclusion of a municipal growth element under § 3–304 of the Land Use Article.        (2)    After the expiration of a final extension granted under § 3–304 of the Land Use Article for the inclusion of a municipal growth element, an annexation plan shall be submitted in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.    (f)    At least 30 days before the public hearing on an annexation resolution required under § 4–406 of this subtitle, a copy of the annexation plan shall be provided to:        (1)    the governing body of any county in which the municipality is located;        (2)    the Department of Planning; and        (3)    any regional or State planning agency with jurisdiction in the county.    (g)    (1)    The annexation plan shall be open to public review and discussion at the public hearing on the annexation resolution.        (2)    An amendment to the annexation plan does not:            (i)    amend the proposed annexation resolution; or            (ii)    cause a reinitiation of the annexation procedure then in process.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-416 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 4 - Annexation|Section 4-416 - Planning and Zoning Authority

    (a)    (1)    Notwithstanding § 4–104(f) of this title, if an area is annexed to a municipality that has planning and zoning authority at the time of annexation, the municipality shall have exclusive jurisdiction over planning, subdivision control, and zoning in the area annexed.        (2)    Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not grant any planning or zoning power or subdivision control to a municipality that is not authorized to exercise planning or zoning power or subdivision control at the time of annexation.    (b)    Without the express approval of the county commissioners or county council of the county in which the municipality is located, for 5 years after an annexation by a municipality, the municipality may not allow development of the annexed land for land uses substantially different than the authorized use, or at a substantially higher density, not exceeding 50%, than could be granted for the proposed development, in accordance with the zoning classification of the county applicable at the time of the annexation.    (c)    Notwithstanding § 4–204 of the Land Use Article and if the county expressly approves, the municipality may place the annexed land in a zoning classification that allows a land use or density different from the land use or density specified in the zoning classification of the county or agency with planning and zoning jurisdiction over the land prior to its annexation applicable at the time of the annexation.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-501 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-501 - Authorized Mergers

    (a)    Subject to subsection (b) of this section, two or more abutting municipalities located in the same county may merge to form one municipality.    (b)    The governing body of the county must approve any merger under this subtitle.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-502 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-502 - Proposal of Unification

    (a)    To initiate a merger, the legislative body of each municipality shall adopt a proposal of unification.    (b)    Each municipality shall adopt the proposal of unification:        (1)    in substantially identical form; and        (2)    in the manner that the municipality adopts ordinary legislation.    (c)    The proposal of unification shall include a detailed description of the boundaries of the proposed municipality that:        (1)    is comprised of a survey of courses and distances; and        (2)    may refer to general landmarks and place names.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-503 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-503 - Charter Commission

    (a)    After both municipalities adopt the proposal of unification, the municipalities shall prepare a unified charter.    (b)    (1)    Each municipality shall appoint three, four, or five representatives to serve on a charter commission.        (2)    Each municipality shall appoint the same number of representatives.    (c)    (1)    The representatives shall meet as a charter commission.        (2)    Within 6 months after the municipalities adopt the proposal of unification, the commission shall draft a proposed unified charter.    (d)    (1)    The charter commission shall elect officers from among the representatives.        (2)    As the representatives consider necessary, the charter commission may adopt rules to govern meetings and expedite the drafting of the unified charter.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-504 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-504 - Unified Charter

    (a)    The unified charter is a legal document separate from any other legal instrument.    (b)    The unified charter shall provide that the unified municipality receive the assets and liabilities of the merging municipalities.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-505 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-505 - Action on Unified Charter by Legislative Bodies

    (a)    (1)    The charter commission shall submit a proposed unified charter to the legislative body of each municipality.        (2)    The legislative body shall include the proposed charter in a resolution that is considered in accordance with the procedural requirements provided for charter amendments in §§ 4–303(a) and 4–304 of this title.        (3)    For purposes of § 4–303(a) of this title, the resolution is considered to embrace only one subject.    (b)    Each legislative body may:        (1)    adopt or reject the resolution; or        (2)    amend the resolution, if the legislative bodies of the other municipalities concur.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-506 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-506 - Referendum Procedures

    (a)    If a referendum is required under § 4–304 of this title, the referendum shall occur on the same day in each municipality.    (b)    Each municipality shall administer and pay for the referendum in proportion to its respective population.    (c)    In a referendum, the unified charter is adopted if a majority of votes cast in each municipality is in favor of adoption.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-507 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-507 - Effect of Approval or Disapproval of Unified Charter

    (a)    If a majority of the voters casting votes in any municipality at a referendum do not vote to adopt the unified charter, the proposed merger is not approved.    (b)    If the unified charter is adopted, by referendum or by the legislative bodies when a referendum is not required, the adoption is final.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-508 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-508 - Postapproval Procedures

    (a)    (1)    A merging municipality shall transfer its assets and liabilities to the unified municipality.        (2)    The merging municipality shall transfer the assets and liabilities by legal instruments separate from the unified charter and resolution.        (3)    The invalidity of a legal instrument that transfers or disposes of any property of a merging municipality does not affect the validity of the unified charter.    (b)    Within 60 days after the unified charter is adopted, the legislative bodies of the merging municipalities jointly shall send the information concerning the charter to the Department of Legislative Services as provided in § 4–109 of this title.    (c)    The exact text of the unified charter adopted under this subtitle, including any amendments, shall be included in any edition or codification of the charter.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  4-509 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 4 - In General|Subtitle 5 - Merger of Municipalities|Section 4-509 - Planning and Zoning

    (a)    Unless the zoning classification is amended under the procedures required by the county, for 5 years after the effective date of the unified charter, the land of a merging municipality that does not have planning and zoning powers may not be placed in a zoning classification that allows a land use substantially different from the use allowed by the master plan or plan of the county or agency that has planning and zoning jurisdiction over the land before the merger.    (b)    This subtitle does not grant planning and zoning powers to a unified municipality if none of the merging municipalities has planning and zoning powers.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 1 - In General|Section 5-101 - Tax to Pay Judgment or Decree of Court

    A municipality may impose a property tax to pay a judgment or decree against it in the State.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 1 - In General|Section 5-102 - Collection of Development Impact Fees

    (a)    This section does not affect any agreement existing before October 1, 1997, between a county and a municipality concerning the imposition of development impact fees.    (b)    If a county imposes a development impact fee on new residential construction to finance the costs of school construction, a municipality shall assist the county by:        (1)    collecting and remitting the fee for new residential construction in the municipality to the county; or        (2)    requiring the fee to be paid to the county in accordance with the county development impact fee law or ordinance.    (c)    The application of any impact fee paid under subsection (b) of this section shall have a rational nexus to the project for which the fee is assessed.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 1 - In General|Section 5-103 - Junkyards

    (a)    In this section, “junkyard” means:        (1)    a public or private dump;        (2)    an automobile junkyard;        (3)    an automotive dismantler or recycler facility;        (4)    a scrap metal processing facility;        (5)    an outdoor place where old motor vehicles are stored in quantity or dismantled; or        (6)    a lot on which refuse, trash, or junk is deposited.    (b)    An ordinance adopted under this section does not apply to a business licensed on or before June 30, 2004, as an automotive dismantler and recycler or a scrap processor under § 15–502 of the Transportation Article.    (c)    By ordinance, the legislative body of a municipality may regulate the location and operation of junkyards in the municipality to:        (1)    protect the residents of the municipality from unpleasant and unwholesome conditions and deteriorating neighborhoods;        (2)    preserve the beauty and aesthetic value of rural or residential areas;        (3)    safeguard the public health and welfare;        (4)    promote good civic design; and        (5)    promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, and prosperity of the community.    (d)    The ordinance may:        (1)    require that each person who operates or maintains a junkyard obtain an annual license; and        (2)    provide for a reasonable fee for a license.    (e)    (1)    Before adopting an ordinance under subsection (c) of this section, the legislative body of the municipality shall hold a public hearing.        (2)    An ordinance adopted in violation of this subsection is void.    (f)    The legislative body of the municipality shall publish notice of the date, time, and place of the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality not less than four times, at weekly intervals, within a period of at least 30 days before the date of the hearing.    (g)    (1)    A person who violates an ordinance adopted under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not less than $25.        (2)    Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.    (h)    The legislative body of the municipality may declare a violation of an ordinance adopted under this section to be a municipal infraction under Title 6, Subtitle 1 of this article.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-104 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 1 - In General|Section 5-104 - Intergovernmental Agreements for Disposal of Garbage

    A municipality may contract with a county to dispose of garbage or other matter collected in the municipality at an incinerator or plant operated under § 13–403 of this article.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-105 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 1 - In General|Section 5-105 - Regulation of Nudity and Sexual Displays

    (a)    The legislative body of a municipality may adopt an ordinance regulating the licensing, location, and operation in the municipality of a business establishment that allows on its premises any activity involving nudity and sexual displays listed under § 4–605 of the Alcoholic Beverages Article.    (b)    (1)    A person who violates an ordinance adopted under subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine of not less than $500 or both.        (2)    Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-106 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 1 - In General|Section 5-106 - Conservation Areas

    (a)    In this section, “conservation area” means an area in a municipality that the legislative body of the municipality finds to be so affected by blight and community or property deterioration as to require comprehensive renovation and rehabilitation.    (b)    This section does not apply to or affect:        (1)    Anne Arundel County;        (2)    Calvert County;        (3)    Howard County;        (4)    Kent County;        (5)    Somerset County;        (6)    Wicomico County; or        (7)    Worcester County.    (c)    The legislative body of a municipality may:        (1)    establish and define the boundaries of a conservation area in the municipality; and        (2)    establish and vest in any unit of the municipality, for a period not exceeding 5 years, exclusive jurisdiction or authority to enforce in the conservation area the laws, ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations the legislative body of the municipality considers expedient.    (d)    This section does not authorize a unit of the municipality established under subsection (c) of this section to interfere with the powers of a law enforcement authority in a municipality.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 2 - Enumeration of Express Law Making Powers|Section 5-201 - Construction of Subtitle

    This subtitle does not authorize the legislative body of a municipality to adopt an ordinance that is inconsistent with or conflicts with any rule or regulation adopted by the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 2 - Enumeration of Express Law Making Powers|Section 5-202 - General Authority of Municipalities

    The legislative body of a municipality may adopt ordinances to:        (1)    assure the good government of the municipality;        (2)    protect and preserve the municipality’s rights, property, and privileges;        (3)    preserve peace and good order;        (4)    secure persons and property from danger and destruction; and        (5)    protect the health, comfort, and convenience of the residents of the municipality.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 2 - Enumeration of Express Law Making Powers|Section 5-203 - Grant of Express Powers

    (a)    In addition to, but not in substitution of, the powers that have been or may be granted to it, the legislative body of a municipality may exercise the express powers provided in this subtitle by adopting ordinances.    (b)    Except as provided in Article XI–E of the Maryland Constitution, an ordinance adopted by the legislative body of a municipality may not conflict with State law.
MD. Local Government Code Ann. §  5-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Local Government|Division II - Municipalities|Title 5 - Powers|Subtitle 2 - Enumeration of Express Law Making Powers|Section 5-204 - Legislative Authority -- General Powers of Municipalities

    (a)    (1)    A municipality may change its corporate name.        (2)    Before an ordinance under this subsection takes effect, a municipality shall submit the ordinance to the qualified voters of the municipality for their approval at a regular or special municipal election.        (3)    A change of name may not affect any right, duty, or obligation of the municipality.    (b)    A municipality may have a seal.    (c)    A municipality may:        (1)    acquire by conveyance, purchase, or condemnation any real or leasehold property needed for a public purpose;        (2)    construct buildings on municipal property for the benefit of the municipality; and        (3)    sell, at public or private sale after 20 days’ public notice, and convey to the purchaser any real or leasehold property belonging to the municipality if the legislative body of the municipality determines that the property is no longer needed for public use.    (d)    (1)    A municipality may grant franchises in accordance with public general law or public local law.        (2)    A municipality may grant a franchise for a cable television system as provided in § 1–708 of this article.        (3)    For any franchise granted under this subsection, a municipality may:            (i)    impose franchise fees; and            (ii)    adopt rates, rules, and regulations.    (e)    A municipality may exercise the licensing authority granted by law.    (f)    A municipality may:        (1)    establish and regulate markets in the municipality; and        (2)    license the sale of merchandise in the markets.