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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="5-114" title_number="5" title_name="Limitations, Prohibited Actions, and Immunities" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Limitations">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Building permit” or “permit” includes a site plan and other documentation submitted in support of an application for a building permit and providing the basis for the issuance of the building permit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Governmental entity” includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A local government; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>An officer, office, department, agency, board, commission, or other unit of State or local government.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Highway” means any way or thoroughfare, whether or not the way or thoroughfare has been dedicated to the public or a dedication has been accepted.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Local government” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A charter county as defined in § 1–101 of the Local Government Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A code county as defined in § 1–101 of the Local Government Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A board of county commissioners;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Baltimore City;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>A municipality as defined in § 1–101 of the Local Government Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>A special taxing district; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Any other political subdivision.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Person” means an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, or representative of any kind and any partnership, firm, association, corporation, or other entity.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Person” does not include a governmental entity.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>“Property line” means the line marking the boundary between 2 separate lots or parcels of property.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>“Setback line” means the distance from a curb or shoulder of a highway, edge of a sidewalk, or property line beyond which any portion of a building or structure may not extend.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>“Setback line restriction” means a setback line established by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A law, ordinance, or regulation, including a building or zoning law, ordinance, or regulation; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An instrument, however denominated.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person may not initiate an action or proceeding arising out of a failure of a building or structure to comply with a setback line restriction more than 3 years after the date on which the violation first occurred.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A governmental entity may not initiate an action or proceeding arising out of a failure of a building or structure to comply with a setback line restriction more than 3 years after the date on which the violation first occurred if the building or structure was constructed or reconstructed:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>In compliance with an otherwise valid building permit, except that the building permit wrongfully permitted the building or structure to violate a setback line restriction; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Under a valid building permit, and the building or structure failed to comply with a setback line restriction accurately reflected in the permit.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>For purposes of paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection and notwithstanding any other provision of State or local law to the contrary, a building permit that was otherwise validly issued, except that the permit wrongfully permitted the building or structure to violate a setback line restriction, shall be considered a valid building permit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>For purposes of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the date on which the violation first occurred shall be deemed to be the date on which the final building inspection was approved.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in a deed or other written instrument, a failure to comply with a setback line restriction may not cause a forfeiture or reversion of title.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>This section may not be construed to abrogate or affect the defense of laches or any other defense that a person may have to an action or proceeding for a violation of a setback line restriction.</text>
  </level>
</section>
