reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-202 - Declaration of Benefit

    The construction, acquisition, replacement, or enlargement of, or the installation of a service connection to, a water main or sewer benefits each property that abuts on, is connected to, or is served by the water main or sewer.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-203 - Classification of Property

    (a)    To impose a benefit charge for the construction of a water supply or sewer system, the Commission shall classify each property that abuts on a street, road, lane, alley, right–of–way, or easement in which a water main or sewer line is to be laid as:        (1)    agricultural;        (2)    industrial or business;        (3)    institutional;        (4)    multiunit business;        (5)    multiunit residential;        (6)    residential subdivision; or        (7)    small acreage.    (b)    The classification of a property by the Commission is final, subject only to revision:        (1)    at a hearing under § 25–204(a) of this subtitle; or        (2)    by the Commission if the use of the property changes.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-206 - Connection to Nonabutting Water Main or Sewer

    (a)    This section applies only to a property owner:        (1)    whose property does not abut a water main or sewer; and        (2)    who has not previously paid a benefit charge for the construction of the water main or sewer.    (b)    The Commission:        (1)    shall allow a property owner to connect to a nonabutting water main or sewer;        (2)    shall classify the property and impose a front foot benefit charge to be paid by the property owner at the rate and for the same number of years as though the property abutted on a water main or sewer constructed in the year in which the connection is made;        (3)    when the connection is made, shall place the property owner in the same position as to all charges, rates, and benefits as if the property abutted on a newly constructed water main or sewer;        (4)    if a water main or sewer abutting on the property is subsequently constructed, may require the property owner to connect to the abutting line and discontinue service from the nonabutting line; or        (5)    while the property is in the same classification as when the nonabutting connection was made, shall allow the prior imposition of a front foot benefit charge to stand and may not impose a front foot benefit charge for the new abutting water main or sewer.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-207 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-207 - Remote Area Connection

    (a)    In this section, “cost of construction” includes the cost of connecting a water main or sewer to the Commission system.    (b)    If a property owner applies for a water main or sewer in an area in which the Commission determines service is not economically feasible unless the applicant makes a substantial contribution to the cost of construction of the water main or sewer, the Commission may classify the applicant’s property together with adjacent or adjoining properties that could be readily served by the construction required by the applicant as a remote area.    (c)    The Commission may construct the water main or sewer after:        (1)    approving the application;        (2)    receiving payment from the applicant of the contribution necessary for the cost of construction; and        (3)    imposing the required front foot benefit charge.    (d)    (1)    The Commission may contract with the applicant at the time of the contribution to refund part or all of the contribution from any front foot benefit charges imposed on the property for the water main or sewer subsequently constructed by the Commission and served through the lines of the applicant in the remote area.        (2)    The Commission shall determine the proportion of the contribution to be refunded and the maximum time of repayment, not to exceed 10 years.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-208 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-208 - Acquisition of System

    When the Commission acquires an existing water or sewer system other than a municipal system, the Commission may impose a front foot benefit charge less than the uniform front foot benefit charge required in § 25–204 of this subtitle if:        (1)    the construction cost of the system has been added, wholly or partly, to the purchase price of the property that abuts on the system; and        (2)    the addition of the construction cost is a factor in the cost of the system to the Commission.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-209 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-209 - Connection Benefit Charge

    (a)    A water or sewer connection benefit charge imposed by the Commission under this section is in addition to a benefit charge imposed under any other section of this subtitle.    (b)    (1)    (i)    When a benefit charge or portion of a benefit charge for a water main or sewer connection is made payable on an installment basis as provided in § 25–304(b) of this title, the deferred amount and interest shall be paid by an annual benefit charge in an amount and for the period of years necessary to amortize the account.            (ii)    Property subject to a benefit charge imposed under this section is subject to the benefit charge until payments have amortized the charge, including accrued interest.        (2)    The Commission shall allow a property owner subject to a benefit charge for the deferred portion of a connection benefit charge to extinguish the account by paying the principal and interest due up to the time of payment.    (c)    If a federal, State, county, or other governmental unit or municipality acquires property for public use that is subject to a benefit charge under this section, the benefit charge shall be paid and extinguished as provided in § 25–212 of this subtitle.    (d)    A benefit charge imposed under this section shall be collected as provided in § 25–214 of this subtitle.    (e)    To implement this section, the Commission may:        (1)    include in the sale of bonds the cost of making service connections that are paid on an installment basis; and        (2)    use any funds obtained from the sale.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-210 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-210 - Replacement or Enlargement of Water Main or Sewer

    (a)    (1)    When the Commission replaces or enlarges a water main or sewer to provide increased water or sewer service capability for abutting or connected property because of a change in the use or zoning classification of the property, a benefit charge for the construction of the replacement or enlarged system shall be:            (i)    imposed as provided in § 25–204 of this subtitle;            (ii)    collected as provided in § 25–214 of this subtitle; and            (iii)    redeemed as provided in § 25–211 of this subtitle.        (2)    Any unpaid portion of the initial benefit charge imposed for the original construction of the water main or sewer shall be included in the new benefit charge as an incremental charge to the single resulting benefit charge for the enlarged system only for the remaining years of the initial benefit charge.    (b)    The Commission may not impose an additional benefit charge under subsection (a) of this section for a property in the residential subdivision class that abuts on an enlarged water main or sewer and that is subject to, or was subject to and paid, a benefit charge for water main or sewer construction until the classification of the property is changed because of a change in use or zoning classification requested by the property owner.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-211 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-211 - Extinguishment or Redemption

    (a)    (1)    For purposes of this section, the annual benefit charge for a property shall be calculated at a sum:            (i)    equal to the base rate applied to the classification for the property as it is used, disregarding any allowance for excess; but            (ii)    not less than the base rate applied to property in the residential subdivision classification.        (2)    At any time, a benefit charge may be extinguished or redeemed by payment to the Commission of a sum equal to:            (i)    the annual benefit charge multiplied by the number of years yet to run on the bonds that financed the construction of the water main or sewer on which the benefit charge was based; and            (ii)    less the interest calculated at the rate of interest on the bonds that financed the construction of the water main or sewer on which the benefit charge is based.    (b)    Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if a benefit charge is paid and redeemed because the property is acquired by the State, a county, or other governmental unit under any law that requires redemption, the payment to the Commission:        (1)    shall be the capitalized amount of the actual benefit charge; but        (2)    may not be less than an amount calculated as if the property were in the small acreage classification, with the redemption amount calculated as provided in this section.    (c)    (1)    On receiving a sum from the extinguishment or redemption of one or more front foot benefit charges, the Commission:            (i)    shall purchase and cancel one or more bonds from the series of bonds issued for the construction that was the basis of the front foot benefit charge; or            (ii)    may invest or use the sum to:                1.    construct other water mains and sewers for which benefit charges are imposed; or                2.    amortize bonds issued for the construction of water mains and sewers for which front foot benefit charges are imposed under this subtitle.        (2)    The Commission may make up a deficiency in the purchase of a bond or pay a premium from any available surplus funds.        (3)    The extinguishment or redemption of a benefit charge is conditional until the last year of maturity of the bonds from which proceeds the water mains or sewers were constructed.        (4)    If, after extinguishment or redemption, the use of the property changes to another classification that would yield a greater benefit charge than that used to calculate the sum to extinguish or redeem the benefit charge, the Commission may:            (i)    reclassify the property;            (ii)    calculate a benefit charge to give credit for the sum paid for the extinguishment or redemption; and            (iii)    reimpose the benefit charge for the remaining number of years until the bonds mature.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-212 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-212 - Property Acquired for Public Use

    (a)    Except as provided for the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County under § 25–204(d)(2) of this subtitle, when the State or a county or municipality, or a unit of the State or a county, acquires property for public use that is subject to a benefit charge imposed under this subtitle, the benefit charge shall be paid and extinguished by payment to the Commission of a sum calculated in accordance with § 25–211 of this subtitle.    (b)    When property is acquired without eminent domain, the Commission shall be paid the amount necessary to extinguish the benefit charge before the deed evidencing the transfer may be recorded in the land records of the county in which the property is located.    (c)    When property is acquired by eminent domain:        (1)    the Commission shall be named a party to the eminent domain proceedings and the jury shall make a separate award to the Commission of the amount necessary to extinguish the benefit charge; or        (2)    the condemning authority shall pay the Commission the amount necessary to extinguish the benefit charge at the same time the condemning authority pays the amount awarded to the property owner if:            (i)    by oversight or mistake, the Commission is not named a party to the proceedings; or            (ii)    the jury’s inquisition does not specify a separate award for the amount necessary to pay the benefit charge.    (d)    If the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County allows a benefit charge to become delinquent:        (1)    by the first month of the next fiscal year, the Montgomery County Council shall authorize and appropriate sufficient funds to pay the delinquent benefit charge and all penalties and interest on the charge; and        (2)    the Montgomery County Executive shall pay the appropriated funds to the Commission promptly.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-213 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 2 - Benefit Charges|Section 25-213 - Omissions and Mistakes

    (a)    This section applies to:        (1)    an omission or mistake previously made by the Commission; or        (2)    a judgment or decree previously rendered on a property if front foot benefit charge payments have not been made on the property.    (b)    (1)    When the Commission discovers an omission or mistake or within a reasonable time after a court renders a judgment or decree, the Commission may impose a front foot benefit charge at a rate and in a classification that it could have imposed originally or that a court orders, including any increases applied to the project of which the property is a part, if:            (i)    the Commission discovers that property subject to a front foot benefit charge:                1.    mistakenly has not had a front foot benefit charge imposed;                2.    has had the charge imposed but was listed in the wrong name; or                3.    has had the charge imposed under an incorrect description; or            (ii)    a property owner did not receive notice as required by § 25–204 of this subtitle; or            (iii)    the court set aside the service of notice by judgment or decree.        (2)    The front foot benefit charge imposed under this section shall run for the period of years the benefit charge would have run if it had been imposed at the proper time or in the proper manner.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 3 - Connection Charges|Section 25-301 - Connection Charges Generally

    (a)    For each service connection under § 23–202 of this article, the Commission shall set a connection charge that the Commission determines to be reasonable.    (b)    Subject to a yearly revision by the Commission:        (1)    for connections of the sizes and classes for which the average cost reasonably may be ascertained, the connection charge shall be uniform throughout the sanitary district; and        (2)    for all other connections, the connection charge shall be the actual cost.    (c)    All property owners shall pay the connection charge to the Commission before the actual connection of any line on private property is made.    (d)    Of the total revenue over actual cost that is derived from the connection charges, the Commission shall:        (1)    retain one–half of the revenue in a contingency fund for repair, replacement, or any extraordinary expense in the maintenance and operation of water supply or sewer systems under the control of the Commission; and        (2)    apply one–half of the revenue to pay the Commission’s debt service for outstanding debts.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 3 - Connection Charges|Section 25-302 - Separate Classes -- Unimproved Area

    (a)    If the Commission determines that it is feasible, reasonable, and economical, the Commission may place in a separate class a water or sanitary sewer connection that is made to a water or sewer line installed in a street, road, alley, or right–of–way that has not been paved or otherwise improved to avoid the necessity of replacing pavement or street improvements on installation of the connection.    (b)    (1)    The Commission may:            (i)    impose a connection charge based on the actual cost of the connections, including the Commission inspection charge; or            (ii)    provide for the installation of the connections, including taps into a main or line, by the applicant or at the applicant’s cost, under supervision and inspection of the Commission.        (2)    The Commission may authorize any class of connection from its water line or sanitary sewer line to be constructed beyond the property line of the property to be served if the connecting line is constructed at the same time from the main to the structure on the property to be served.    (c)    The property owner shall pay the entire expense of the construction and maintenance of the part of the connecting line from the property line into the property.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-303 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 3 - Connection Charges|Section 25-303 - Separate Classes -- Other Areas

    (a)    If the Commission provides for a class of connections for unimproved areas as provided in § 25–302 of this subtitle:        (1)    the charges for water and sanitary sewer connections to similar properties in developed areas may be based on the Commission’s calculation, based on its experience, of an average cost for connections in both unimproved and developed areas; and        (2)    the Commission may specify this connection charge as the uniform connection charge provided in § 25–301 of this subtitle for connections installed by the Commission in developed areas.    (b)    Any difference between the actual cost of the connections and the uniform connection charge shall be paid from the water service charge or a sewer usage charge, as applicable.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-304 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 3 - Connection Charges|Section 25-304 - Connection as Part of a Lateral Line

    (a)    (1)    The Commission may provide for the installation of the water or sewer connection as part of the construction of a water or sewer lateral line where the property to which the connection is made has not been assessed a front foot benefit charge under § 25–203 of this title.        (2)    If an installation is made under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission shall collect the deferred part of the connection charge by the benefit charge assessment procedure under §§ 25–204(e) and 25–209 of this title.    (b)    (1)    If the water or sewer lateral line has been constructed or where the property for which an application for connection is made has been assessed a benefit charge under § 25–204 of this title and the property is in an agricultural, small acreage, or residential class, the Commission may provide for an installment payment method for all or a part of the water and sewer connection charges for single family residential units with individual water or sewer connections.        (2)    If an installment payment method is established and chosen by an applicant for connection:            (i)    the installation of the connection is an additional benefit to the property; and            (ii)    the applicant is liable for payment for the additional benefit until the deferred charge has been amortized under the schedule that the Commission requires.        (3)    The connection charge benefit assessment is payable as provided in §§ 25–204(e) and 25–209 of this title.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-305 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 3 - Connection Charges|Section 25-305 - Compliance With Requirements for Regulations

    In adopting or amending any regulation under this subtitle, and in establishing or modifying water or sewer connection charges under §§ 25–302 and 25–303 of this subtitle, the Commission shall comply with the requirements of § 17–403 of this article.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  25-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission|Title 25 - Rates and Charges|Subtitle 4 - System Development Charge|Section 25-401 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Apartment unit” means a single family housing unit that:        (1)    is one of multiple units within a building;        (2)    contains at least one full bath and one full kitchen; and        (3)    does not contain more than two toilets.    (c)    “Fixture unit” means the assigned value for a plumbing fixture or group of plumbing fixtures, as set forth in the Commission’s plumbing and gas fitting regulations, that is standardized with a common lavatory having an assigned value of one based on its probable discharge into the drainage system or hydraulic demand on the water supply.    (d)    “New service” means:        (1)    a first time connection of a property to the Commission water or sewer system, including:            (i)    a direct connection of an improvement or building; or            (ii)    a connection of the improvement or building through an existing on–site system; or        (2)    a new connection or increased water meter size for a property previously or currently served by the Commission if the new connection or increased meter size is needed because of a change in the use of the property or an increase in demand for service at the property.    (e)    “Property” means an improvement or a building on a lot or parcel of land that contains plumbing fixtures.    (f)    “Toilet” means a water closet, as set forth in the Commission’s plumbing and gas fitting regulations.