Article IV. Building and Fire Regulations.

No license shall be granted for the operation of any institution unless the building or structure in which the institution is housed meets the requirements of the building code in effect at the time that such building or structure is devoted or converted to such use, except as certain exceptions to such code are expressly provided for by this section or by rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. Prior to adoption of a building code applicable to the entire county, the building or structure in which such institution is housed, whether within or without the Maryland--Washington Regional District, shall, at the time it is devoted or converted to such use, meet the requirements of the Building Code for the Maryland-Washington Regional District. This section shall not apply to any institution in operation and duly licensed on the effective date of this article.

A license to operate in a class C structure may be granted to any institution which provides care to not more than five (5) patients as an exception to the building code; provided, that the institution is in compliance with all other applicable provisions of this chapter and standards, rules and regulations for the health, safety, welfare and physical requirements of the patients.

New institutions. No license shall be granted for the operation of any institution unless it is located within one thousand (1,000) feet of a fire hydrant or within one thousand (1,000) feet of water storage facilities provided and maintained for the purpose of fighting fire. Such water storage facilities shall be accessible to fire department pumpers, shall be kept filled with water at all times, and shall have a capacity of not less than one hundred thousand (100,000) gallons.

Existing institutions. No license shall be granted for the operation of any institution unless it is located within one thousand (1,000) feet of a fire hydrant or within one thousand (1,000) feet of water storage facilities provided and maintained for the purpose of fighting fire. Such water storage facilities shall be accessible to fire department pumpers, shall be kept filled with water at all times, and, in the case of an institution having a ground floor area of twelve hundred (1200) square feet or less, shall have a capacity of not less than one thousand (1,000) gallons, and, in the case of an institution having a ground floor area in excess of twelve hundred (1200) square feet, shall have a capacity of not less than two thousand (2,000) gallons.

Exceptions to section. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any institution heretofore or hereafter licensed which has a maximum capacity of ten (10) patients or less, nor shall the provisions of this section apply to any institution equipped with an approved type automatic sprinkler system.