Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 14 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › Subtitle 03 - COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS › Chapter 14.03.04 - Fair Housing Regulations › Section 14.03.04.03 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. In this chapter,
				the following words have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
(1) "Accessible" means the public or common
				use areas of a building can be approached, entered, and used by individuals
				with physical disabilities and comply with the appropriate requirements of the
				American National Standard, "Specifications for Making Buildings and Facilities
				Accessible to and Usable by Physically Disabled People" (ANSI A117.1-1980), as
				incorporated by reference in COMAR
				05.02.02.05B, or
				another standard that affords disabled persons access equivalent to or greater
				than that required by ANSI A117.1.
(2) "Accessible route" means a continuous
				unobstructed path connecting accessible elements and spaces in a building or
				within a site that can be negotiated by an individual with a disability using a
				wheelchair, in addition to being safe for and usable by people with other
				disabilities.
(3) "Agent" or
				"broker" means a person authorized to perform an action on behalf of another
				person or acting with apparent authority regarding any matter related to the
				sale or rental of dwellings.
(4)
				"Aggrieved person" has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-1020(b),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(5)
				"ANSI A117.1-1980" means the American National Standard, "Specifications for
				Making Buildings and Facilities Accessible to and Usable by Physically
				Handicapped People", as incorporated by reference in COMAR
				05.02.02.05B.
(6) "Commission" means the
				Maryland Commission on Human Relations.
(7) "Complaint" has the meaning stated in
				COMAR 14.03.01.02A.
(8) "Complainant" has the meaning
				stated in State Government Article, §
										20-101(c),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(9)
				"Conciliation" has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-1020(c),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(10)
				"Conciliation agreement" has the meaning stated in State Government Article,
				§
										20-1020(d),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(11)
				"Charge" means a written statement prepared by the Commission's general counsel
				and issued under State Government Article, §
										20-1025(b)(2),
				Annotated Code of Maryland, which contains a factual allegation or allegations
				of an unlawful discriminatory housing practice or practices.
(12) "Covered multifamily dwelling" has the
				meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-706(a),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(13)
				Disability.
(a) "Disability" has the meaning
				stated in State Government Article, §
											20-701(b),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(b)
				"Disability" does not include current illegal use of, or addiction to, a
				controlled dangerous substance defined under Criminal Law Article, §
											5-101, Annotated Code of
				Maryland.
(14)
				"Discriminatory housing practice" has the meaning stated in State Government
				Article, §
										20-701(c),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(15)
				"Dwelling" has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-701(d),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(16)
				Dwelling Unit.
(a) "Dwelling unit" means a
				single unit of residence for one or more individuals.
(b) "Dwelling unit" includes:
(i) A single family home;
(ii) An apartment unit within an apartment
				building; and
(iii) Other types of
				dwellings in which sleeping accommodations are provided but toileting or
				cooking facilities are shared by occupants of more than one room, portion of
				the dwelling, or rooms within which people sleep, for example, dormitory rooms,
				sleeping accommodations in shelters intended for occupancy, and a residence for
				homeless persons.
(17) "Executive Director" has the meaning
				stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02B.
(18) "Familial status" has the
				meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-701(e),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(19)
				"Family" has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-701(f),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(20)
				"Housing for older persons" has the meaning stated in State Government Article,
				§
										20-704(c)(1),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(21)
				"Human Relations Commission" has the meaning stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02C.
(22) "In the business of selling
				or renting a dwelling" has the meaning stated in State Government Article,
				§
										20-701(g),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(23)
				"Investigator" has the meaning stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02D.
(24) Landlord.
(a) "Landlord" means anyone other than the
				occupant of real property, who attempts to control or controls the use of the
				property under claim or right arising out of an ownership interest in the real
				property by that person or another person for whom that person acts.
(b) "Landlord" includes owners of rental
				property, trustees, receivers, persons controlling the common areas used in
				connection with condominiums, homeowners associations, and agents or others
				acting in the interest of any of these persons.
(25) "Marital status" has the meaning stated
				in State Government Article, §
										20-701(h),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(26)
				"Notice" has the meaning stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02E.
(27) "Offices of the Commission"
				has the meaning stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02F.
(28) "Party" has the meaning
				stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02G.
(29) "Person" has the meaning
				stated in State Government Article, §
										1-101, Annotated
				Code of Maryland.
(30) "Prevailing
				party" has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-1020(f),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(31)
				"Proceeding" means a conference, meeting, hearing, investigation, inquiry, or
				other fact-finding or decision-making procedure, including the dismissal of a
				complaint.
(32) "Real property"
				includes dwellings, parking lots, interests in real estate corporeal or
				incorporeal, tenements, leaseholds, cooperatives, condominiums, and
				hereditaments.
(33) "Residential
				real estate related transaction" has the meaning stated in State Government
				Article, §
										20-707(a),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(34)
				"Respondent" has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §
										20-101(e),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.
(35)
				"Sexual orientation" means the identification of an individual as to male or
				female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
(36) "Time" has the meaning stated in COMAR
				14.03.01.02I.
(37) "To rent" has the meaning
				stated in State Government Article, §
										20-701(i),
				Annotated Code of Maryland.