(a) Generally. This Chapter includes the rules and regulations adopted under Section 8-13 which have the force of law. It is known as the building code of Montgomery County. It controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location. This Chapter also concerns the creation or alteration of certain ownership units, the occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and structures, on-site access facilities to such buildings and structures and their service equipment. This Chapter applies to existing or proposed buildings and structures in the County. (b) Intent. The intent of this Chapter is to assure public safety, health and welfare as it is affected by building construction, structural strength, egress facilities, sanitary equipment, light, utilities and ventilation, occupancies, and fire safety. In general, the intent of this chapter is to secure safety to life and property from all hazards associated with the design, erection, repair, removal, demolition or use and occupancy of buildings, structures or premises. (c) Applicability generally. (1) This Chapter applies to the construction, raising, lowering, moving, demolition, or occupancy of all buildings and structures and their appurtenant construction, including vaults, area and street projections, on-site access facilities, accessory structures, and additions. It applies to public and private buildings, except where such buildings are otherwise specifically excluded by statute. It also applies to the creation or alteration of any ownership unit, and the closure of any private road. (2) A building permit may only be issued for a building located on: (A) a lot or parcel shown on a plat recorded in the County Land Records or on a parcel exempt from recording requirements under Section 50-3.3; and (B) an area outside of any building restriction line and outside the area restricted under Section 50-4.3.K. (d) Exemptions. All buildings or structures must be constructed, extended, repaired, removed, or altered under a permit that satisfies this Chapter, except for: (1) ordinary repairs as defined in Section 8-3; (2) a building or structure used exclusively for agricultural purposes on land used exclusively for agriculture; however, a permit under this Chapter is required for: (A) a building or structure in which customers or other members of the public consume food or beverage, unless exempted under Maryland Code § 12-508 of the Public Safety Article, as amended; and (B) an equestrian facility, building, or structure intended for use by participants or spectators at an equestrian event; (3) the following public utility equipment: (A) any structure and its attached cross arms carrying overhead electric power and energy transmission and distribution lines that carry 69,000 volts or less; (B) equipment installed and maintained by a public utility under regulation by the State Public Service Commission; or (C) poles or structures used for street lights, fire alarm boxes, traffic signals, or similar municipal equipment installed by the State or a local municipality. (e) Matters not provided for. Any requirement essential for structural, fire or sanitary safety of an existing or proposed building or structure or essential for the safety of the building’s occupants and which is not specifically covered by this Chapter, must be determined by the director under Section 8-13. (f) Zoning restrictions and referrals. (1) When the provisions specified in this Chapter for structural, fire, and sanitary safety are more restrictive than those in Chapter 59, this Chapter controls the erection or alteration of buildings in respect to location, use, permissible area and height; but the more rigid requirements of either the building code or the zoning ordinance applies whenever they are in conflict. (2) The Director must submit the application to the Planning Director for review for any building permit that requests: (A) construction of a new principal structure; and (B) construction that increases the gross floor area of an existing commercial structure. (3) The Planning Director must confirm in writing that the submitted application satisfied Chapter 59 and that the property has all necessary approvals and satisfied all necessary conditions required by the Planning Department and Planning Board and identify for each permit the amount of any school facility payment, transportation mobility area review payment or other development payment other than impact taxes that is required to be paid as a condition of building permit. (4) A building permit application for a child lot in the Agricultural Reserve Zone may only be approved if the child for whom the lot is created is the owner of the lot in the County Land Records. A building permit for a detached house on a child lot must be issued only to: (A) a child of the property owner; (B) the spouse of a child of the property owner; (C) a contractor for a child of the property owner; or (D) a contractor for the spouse of a child of the property owner.

In this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings: Agricultural Purpose. A use or function in performance of the work or storage of the instruments or products of agriculture, as defined in Section 1.4.2 of Chapter 59. Agricultural purpose includes the business, administration, or management of agriculture and the processing of an agricultural product to prepare the product for market. Controlled materials. Materials which are certified by an accredited or authoritative agency as meeting accepted engineering standards for quality in accordance with detailed criteria set forth in regulations promulgated pursuant to provisions of this Chapter. Department. The Department of Permitting Services. Director. The Director of the Department of Permitting Services. International Building Code. A comprehensive performance code governing materials and methods of construction used in buildings and structures or parts of either, and their service equipment and systems, published periodically by the International Code Council, Inc., (ICC) or any successor body. On-site access facilities. Ramps, walkways, driveways and related pedestrian facilities located on a building site which provide a means of access for the public or the general work force to buildings and structures regulated by this Chapter. Ownership unit. An area of land shown on a record plat created only for the convenience of the owner under Section 7.1.D of Chapter 50 that reflects a deed, mortgage, or lease line but does not subdivide the underlying lot. Parent lot. A lot that is further divided by one or more ownership units. Person. Any person, corporation, partnership, joint venture, agency, unincorporated association, municipal corporation, County or state agency within the state or any combination thereof. Private Road. Any street, highway, avenue, lane, alley, or viaduct, or any segment of any of them, including any abutting sidewalk that has not been deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use. Service equipment. The mechanical, electrical and elevator equipment, including piping, wiring, fixtures and other accessories, which provide sanitation, lighting, heating, ventilation, fire-fighting and transportation facilities essential for the habitable occupancy of the building or structure for its designated use and occupancy.

Ordinary repairs to buildings may be made without application or notice to the department; but such repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support or the removal or change of any required means of egress or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the exitway requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety.

When the installation, extension, alteration, or repair of an elevator, moving stairway, mechanical equipment, refrigeration, air conditioning or ventilating apparatus, plumbing, gas piping, electric wiring, heating system, fire sprinkler system, or any other equipment is subject to a requirement of this Chapter, it shall be unlawful to use the equipment until the Director issues a certificate approving the work.

(a) All buildings and structures and all parts thereof, both existing and new, shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. All service equipment, means of egress, devices and safeguards which are required by this chapter in a building or which were required by a previous statute in a building when erected, altered or repaired, shall be maintained in good working order. (b) It shall be unlawful for the owner of a building or his designated agent to fail to maintain the structure and its exitways in a safe and sanitary condition at all times.

(a) Continuation of existing use. The legal use and occupancy of any structure existing on the effective date of this chapter or for which it had been heretofore approved, may be continued without change, except as may be specifically required herein or as may be deemed necessary by the director for the general safety and welfare of the occupants and the public. (b) Change in use. It shall be unlawful to make any change in the use or occupancy of any structure which would subject it to any special provision of this chapter without approval of the director and his certification that such structure meets the intent of the provisions of law governing building construction for the proposed new use and occupancy and that such change does not result in any greater hazard to public safety or welfare.

Except as provided in this section, existing buildings when altered or repaired as herein specified shall be made to conform to the full requirements of this chapter for new buildings: (a) Alterations and damages over 25 percent. If the cost of alterations or repairs, as described herein, or damages by fire or other cause, is over twenty-five (25) percent of the physical value of the building, the director shall determine to what degree the portions so altered or repaired shall be made to conform to the requirements for new buildings. (b) Alterations under 25 percent. If the cost of alterations or repairs described herein is twenty-five (25) percent or less of the physical value of the building, the director shall permit the restoration of the building to its condition previous to damage or deterioration with the same kind of materials as those of which the building was constructed; provided, that such construction does not endanger the general safety and public welfare and complies with other provisions of this chapter in respect to existing roofs. (c) Increase in size. If the building is increased in floor area or number of stories, the entire building shall be made to conform with the requirements of this chapter with respect to means of egress, fire safety, light and ventilation. (d) Part change in use. If a portion of the building is changed in occupancy or to a new use group and that portion is separated from the remainder of the building with the required vertical and horizontal fire divisions complying with the fire grading in this chapter, then the construction involved in the change shall be made to conform to the requirements for the new use and occupancy and the existing portion shall be made to comply with the exitway requirements of this chapter. (e) Physical value. In applying the provisions of this section, the physical value of the building shall be determined by the director and be based on current replacement costs.

For a site with a conditional use: (a) The Department may allow minor adjustments during construction that the Planning Director has confirmed do not substantially alter the size, location, or external appearance of any approved building, structure, or use. (b) Any change proposed during construction that would substantially alter the location or external appearance of any approved building, structure, or use requires an amendment under Article 59-7 of this Code.

(a) Posted use and occupancy. Every building and structure and part thereof designed for and listed among high hazard, storage, mercantile, industrial or business use groups as determined in regulations promulgated pursuant to provisions of this chapter shall be posted on all floors by the owner with a suitably designed placard in a form designated by the director, which shall be securely fastened to the structure in a readily visible place, stating: the use group, the fire grading, the live load and the occupancy load. (b) Posted occupancy load. Every building and structure and part thereof designed for a use listed among the assembly building or institutional building use groups as determined in regulations promulgated pursuant to provisions of this chapter shall be posted with an approved placard designating the maximum occupancy load. (c) Replacement of posted signs. All posting signs shall be furnished by the owner and shall be of permanent design; they shall not be removed or defaced and, if lost, removed or defaced, shall be immediately replaced. (d) Periodic inspection. The director may periodically inspect all existing buildings and structures except one- and two-family dwellings, for compliance with the law in respect to posting, or he may accept the report of such inspection from an authorized licensed professional engineer or architect and such inspection and report shall specify any violation of the requirements of this chapter in respect to the posting of floor load, fire grading, occupancy load and use group of the building.

(a) Right of condemnation. All buildings or structures that are or hereafter shall become unsafe, unsanitary or deficient in adequate exitway facilities or which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare or which by reason of illegal or improper use, occupancy or maintenance shall be deemed unsafe buildings or structures. All unsafe buildings shall be taken down and removed or made safe and secure, as the director may deem necessary and as provided in this section. A vacant building, unguarded or open at door or window, shall be deemed a fire hazard and unsafe within the meaning of this chapter. (b) Examination and record of damaged building. The director shall examine every building or structure reported as dangerous, unsafe structurally or constituting a fire hazard and he shall cause the report to be filed in a docket of unsafe structures and premises, stating the use of the building, the nature and estimated amount of damages, if any, caused by collapse or failure. (c) Notice of unsafe building. If an unsafe condition is found in a building or structure, the director shall serve on the owner, agent or person in control of the building or structure a written notice describing the building or structure deemed unsafe and specifying the required repairs or improvements to be made to render the building or structure safe and secure or requiring the unsafe building or structure or portion thereof to be demolished within a stipulated time. Such notice shall require the person thus notified to immediately notify the director of his acceptance or rejection of the terms of the order. (d) Restoration of unsafe building. A building or structure condemned by the director may be restored to safe condition; provided, that no change of use or occupancy is contemplated or compelled by reason of such reconstruction or restoration; except, that if the damage or cost of reconstruction or restoration is in excess of fifty (50) percent of its replacement value, exclusive of foundations, such building shall be made to comply in all respects with the requirements for materials and methods of construction of buildings hereafter erected. (e) Posting "unsafe" notice. If the person addressed with an "unsafe" notice cannot be found within the county after diligent search, then such notice shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the last known address of such person and a copy of the ``unsafe'' notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises and such procedure shall be deemed the equivalent of personal notice. (f) Disregard of "unsafe" notice. Upon refusal or neglect of the person served with an "unsafe" notice to comply with the requirements of the order to abate the unsafe condition, the county attorney shall be advised of all the facts and he shall institute the appropriate action to compel compliance.