reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-712 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part II - Regulation by Municipalities|Section 9-712 - Bonds Issued by Municipal Authorities -- Tax Levy to Pay Interest and Principal

    (a)    While any bonds issued under Part II of this subtitle are outstanding, the municipal authority annually shall levy a tax against all of the assessable property served within the municipality to pay the principal and interest on the bonds.    (b)    The tax shall be:        (1)    Sufficient to pay:            (i)    When due, the principal and interest on the bonds; or            (ii)    The part of the principal or interest on the bonds that is not paid for by the levy of the annual front-foot assessment under § 9-713 of this subtitle or by the service charges collected under § 9-714 of this subtitle; and        (2)    Treated the same as any other municipal tax in every respect, including as to:            (i)    Priority rights;            (ii)    Interest;            (iii)    Penalties; and            (iv)    Manner of determination, levy, and collection.    (c)    (1)    Each person involved in the levy or collection of the taxes shall perform the duties promptly and properly.        (2)    A person may not use any funds collected under this section for any purpose other than the payment of principal and interest on the bonds.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-713 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part II - Regulation by Municipalities|Section 9-713 - Bonds Issued by Municipal Authorities -- Front-Foot Assessment to Pay Principal and Interest

    (a)    To pay all or any part of the principal or interest on or to retire any outstanding bonds issued under Part II of this subtitle, the municipal authority may levy an annual front–foot assessment against any property that abuts on any street, road, alley, or right–of–way in which a water pipe, sewer, or drain is laid, or from which refuse is collected.    (b)    To set front–foot assessment rates, the municipal authority may:        (1)    Classify any property according to its use;        (2)    Determine a fair and reasonable frontage length for:            (i)    Any corner lot fronting on more than one street;            (ii)    Any irregular shaped lot fronting on more than one street;            (iii)    Any shallow lot fronting on more than one street;            (iv)    Any agricultural property; or            (v)    Any small acreage; and        (3)    Change the classifications or the front–foot assessment rates from year to year, but the rate for all property assessed in the municipality for any year shall be uniform within each classification.    (c)    (1)    The municipal authority shall notify each owner of assessed property in writing as to:            (i)    The classification of the property;            (ii)    The amount of the assessment; and            (iii)    The time and place for a hearing on the classification of the property and the benefit charges assessed against the property.        (2)    The classification of the property and the benefit charges assessed against the property shall be final, subject only to modification at the hearing.    (d)    (1)    The benefit charges are in default if not paid within 60 days after the date of levy.        (2)    The levy bears interest at the rate of 1 percent a month for each month after the time the benefit charges are in default.        (3)    The front–foot assessment charges are a first lien on the assessed property, subject only to prior State and county charges.        (4)    The municipal authority may enforce the lien by filing in an appropriate court a complaint for a judgment against the property owner and for execution on the judgment.    (e)    The municipal authority may provide terms for the extinguishment by property owners of annual front–foot benefit charges, if the extinguishment arrangement provides for the necessary payments on the outstanding bonds.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-714 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part II - Regulation by Municipalities|Section 9-714 - Service Charges to Pay Interest and Principal on Bonds and to Pay Other Costs

    (a)    A municipal authority may set, collect, and, if necessary, modify service rates to provide funds:        (1)    To pay all or part of the principal and interest on bonds issued under Part II of this subtitle; and        (2)    To pay for the cost of maintenance, repair, and operation, including overhead expenses and depreciation allowance, of systems constructed under Part II of this subtitle.    (b)    The service rates shall be:        (1)    Chargeable against all property served by any system under the ownership of the municipal authority; and        (2)    Collectible against the owner of the property served, in the same manner as other debts are collectible at law.    (c)    The municipal authority may set:        (1)    The time for payment; and        (2)    The penalties for nonpayment.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-715 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part II - Regulation by Municipalities|Section 9-715 - Right of Entry

    (a)    To carry out any official duty under Part II of this subtitle, a representative of a municipal authority, at any reasonable time, may enter on any private property or into any building that is within the jurisdiction of the municipality.    (b)    An owner, tenant, or agent of the owner or tenant may not:        (1)    Refuse to grant entry to any representative of the municipal authority who asks to enter on private property or into a building under this section; or        (2)    Interfere with the carrying out of any official duty of any representative of any municipal authority under this section.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-716 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part II - Regulation by Municipalities|Section 9-716 - Rules and Regulations of Municipalities

    A municipal authority may adopt rules and regulations:         (1)    To provide for the maintenance and operation of any system under its control; and        (2)    To govern the installation and alteration of all water supply, plumbing, and drainage arrangements on private property, including requirements for obtaining a permit and paying a reasonable charge before doing any work on any water supply, plumbing, or drainage system.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-717 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part II - Regulation by Municipalities|Section 9-717 - Penalties

    A person who violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by Part II of this subtitle, or who violates any provision of or fails to perform any duty imposed by a rule, regulation, order, or permit adopted or issued under Part II of this subtitle, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days in the county jail, or both.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-720 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-720 - "Political Subdivision" Defined

    In Part III of this subtitle, “political subdivision”:         (1)    Means any public body of this State that owns or operates any water or sewerage system, including:            (i)    A county;            (ii)    A commission;            (iii)    A district; or            (iv)    A municipal corporation; and        (2)    Does not include the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-721 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-721 - Scope of Part

    (a)    The powers granted to political subdivisions by Part III of this subtitle are supplementary to any other powers of the political subdivisions.    (b)    This section does not:        (1)    Invalidate any procedures initiated or completed by any political subdivision before June 1, 1972; or        (2)    Limit or modify any provision of any general or local law effective before June 1, 1972.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-722 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-722 - Connection Charges; Annual Assessment; Controlling Provisions

    (a)    To provide funds for the payment of principal and interest on indebtedness that is incurred to finance any water or sewerage system, a political subdivision may:        (1)    Establish a reasonable charge that is not less than the actual cost, payable to the political subdivision, for connection with a water or sewerage system; and        (2)    Set an annual assessment, payable to the political subdivision, on all property, improved or unimproved, that abuts on any street, road, lane, alley, or right-of-way in which there is a water main or sewer.    (b)    Except for special provisions that apply only in certain political subdivisions, the provisions of §§ 9-655 through 9-658 of this title govern the imposition of assessments under this section.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-723 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-723 - Rates and Charges for Water Service, Sewer Upkeep, and Sewer Service

    (a)    Subject to any charter provisions of a chartered county or municipal corporation, any political subdivision may establish reasonable rates for water service, and reasonable charges for sewer upkeep and sewer service to provide funds for:        (1)    Maintenance, repair, and operation of any water or sewerage system; and        (2)    Payment of all or part of the principal and interest on any indebtedness that is incurred to finance any water or sewerage system.    (b)    The rates and charges are chargeable against all property that is connected to any water or sewer pipe that the political subdivision owns or supervises.    (c)    Subject to any necessary modification and to the provisions of this section, the rates and charges shall be uniform throughout each water or sewerage district.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-725 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-725 - Sewer Upkeep

    The charge for the upkeep on sewers shall be:         (1)    Collected annually; and        (2)    A first lien on any property connected to any sewer pipe the political subdivision owns or supervises.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-726 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-726 - Sewer Service

    (a)    The political subdivision shall:        (1)    Select a reasonable basis for imposing the sewer service charge; and        (2)    Collect the sewer service charge once, twice, or four times a year.    (b)    If any bill for sewer service remains unpaid after 60 days from the date the bill was sent:        (1)    The bill shall be collectible from the owner of the property served in the same manner and subject to the same interest as taxes are collectible in the county in which the water or sewerage system lies; and        (2)    The sewer service charges shall be a first lien on the property.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-726.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-726.1 - Disconnection for Unpaid Sewer Service

    (a)    If a bill for sewerage service is unpaid for 45 days after being sent, a political subdivision may disconnect water service to the property.    (b)    Before disconnecting water service under this section, the political subdivision shall provide notice:        (1)    By mail sent to the last known address of the owner of the property; or        (2)    By posting the notice on the premises of the property served.    (c)    (1)    This subsection applies if a political subdivision:            (i)    Provides sewerage service to a property; but            (ii)    Does not provide water service to the property and water service is provided to the property by another political subdivision or by a private water company.        (2)    If a political subdivision advises another political subdivision or a private water company that a bill for sewerage service is unpaid for 45 days after being sent, subject to the notice provisions under subsection (b) of this section, the political subdivision or private water company informed of the unpaid bill may disconnect water service to the property.    (d)    (1)    Before reconnecting water service, a political subdivision may require full payment of the sewerage bill plus a reconnection charge reasonably related to the cost of reconnection, as established by regulation of the political subdivision.        (2)    A private water company may apply a reasonable reconnection charge, in accordance with the ratemaking requirements of Title 4 of the Public Utilities Article, when it reconnects water service.    (e)    This subsection does not preclude the use of any other procedure available to a political subdivision to collect unpaid sewerage charges.    (f)    (1)    This subsection applies only to property subject to a condominium regime established under Title 11 of the Real Property Article.        (2)    Notwithstanding any other law, if the political subdivision directly bills the governing body of a condominium or a person designated by the governing body of a condominium for water or sewer usage charges for all or a portion of the units in a condominium property, and a charge is in default for at least 60 days, the political subdivision or private water company informed of the unpaid bill shall post notice conspicuously at or near the entry to the common area of the condominium.        (3)    The political subdivision may enter onto the common area of a condominium property at a reasonable time to post the notice required under this subsection.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-727 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-727 - Hearings

    Before setting or modifying a rate, charge, or assessment under this section, for any water or sewerage system it constructs or acquires, the political subdivision shall:         (1)    Give prompt notice of the proposed rate, charge, or assessment in at least 1 newspaper of general circulation in the area of the water or sewerage system; and        (2)    Conduct a public hearing on the necessity or advisability of the proposed rates, charges, or assessments.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-728 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 7 - Regulation by Municipalities and Political Subdivisions|Part III - Assessments, Rates, and Charges by Political Subdivisions for Water and Sewerage Service|Section 9-728 - Disconnecting and Restoring Services by Political Subdivision

    (a)    A political subdivision may disconnect service to a property on a finding or notification from the governing body of the political subdivision in which the property is located that the property is:        (1)    A vacant lot; or        (2)    Cited as vacant and unfit for habitation on a housing or building violation notice.    (b)    Subject to subsection (c) of this section, on request by the owner of the property, the political subdivision shall restore service to a property where service was disconnected in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.    (c)    (1)    A political subdivision may require proof that all housing and building violation notices on a property have been resolved prior to restoring service under subsection (b) of this section.        (2)    Prior to restoring service under subsection (b) of this section, a political subdivision may require the owner of the property to pay:            (i)    All unpaid fees, charges, or assessments for service at the property; and            (ii)    Any reconnection fees for service at the property.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-902 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 9 - Water and Sewer Authorities|Part I - Definitions; Policy|Section 9-902 - Construction of Subtitle

    (a)    To accomplish the purposes of this subtitle, the provisions of this subtitle:        (1)    Are full and complete authority without regard to the provisions of any other law; and        (2)    Shall be liberally construed.    (b)    However, this subtitle does not restrict the control that the Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources may exercise over an authority.    (c)    This subtitle:        (1)    Provides an additional and alternative method to accomplish the purposes of this subtitle;        (2)    Is supplemental and additional to powers contained in other laws; and        (3)    Does not derogate any existing power.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-903 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 9 - Water and Sewer Authorities|Part I - Definitions; Policy|Section 9-903 - Scope of Subtitle

    This subtitle does not apply to:         (1)    Montgomery County; or        (2)    Prince George’s County.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-905 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 9 - Water and Sewer Authorities|Part II - Formation and Organization; Termination|Section 9-905 - Purposes of Authorities

    An authority:         (1)    Is an instrumentality that exercises public and essential government functions;        (2)    Provides for the public health and welfare; and        (3)    May acquire, hold, construct, extend, repair, improve, operate, or lease as a lessor or lessee 1 or more projects that are wholly or partly within 1 or more of the member political subdivisions.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-906 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 9 - Water and Sewer Authorities|Part II - Formation and Organization; Termination|Section 9-906 - Creation Generally

    By law, the governing bodies of 1 or more political subdivisions may create an authority as provided in this subtitle.
MD. Environment Code Ann. §  9-907 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Environment|Title 9 - Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities|Subtitle 9 - Water and Sewer Authorities|Part II - Formation and Organization; Termination|Section 9-907 - Articles of Incorporation -- Law; Contents; Execution; Approval

    (a)    Each incorporating political subdivision shall include in the law that creates an authority the articles of incorporation for the authority.    (b)    The articles of incorporation shall include:        (1)    An appropriate name for the authority, which includes the word “authority”;        (2)    A statement that the authority is formed under this subtitle;        (3)    The name of each incorporating political subdivision;        (4)    The name, address, and term of office for each member of the 1st board of directors of the authority;        (5)    If the governing body of any incorporating political subdivision determines that its members are the board of directors of the authority, a statement to this effect; and        (6)    The purpose of the authority.    (c)    The officers of each incorporating political subdivision shall sign, acknowledge, and file the articles of incorporation for record with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.    (d)    (1)    The State Department of Assessments and Taxation shall:            (i)    Receive the articles of incorporation;            (ii)    Mark the date and time of receipt to the articles; and            (iii)    Issue a certificate of approval for any articles that comply with this subtitle.        (2)    When the State Department of Assessments and Taxation issues a certificate of approval, the authority:            (i)    Begins to exist as a public body politic and corporate;            (ii)    Is conclusively considered to be lawfully and properly created;            (iii)    May exercise its powers under this subtitle; and            (iv)    Has the right to exist as a corporation for a term of 50 years.