<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="20-306" title_number="20" title_name="Miscellaneous Health Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Nuisance Control">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The health officer for each county:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>May investigate any suspected nuisance; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Shall investigate and report on the sanitary conditions of schools, places of business, and places of employment in the county.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the health officer finds that a nuisance exists, the health officer shall serve a written notice to the person who is causing the nuisance, ordering the person to abate the nuisance within a time specified in the notice.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The notice shall be served:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>On the person who is causing the nuisance; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the person who is causing the nuisance cannot be found, on the owner or occupant of the property where the nuisance exists.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Failure to comply with the requirements of a notice served under this section is a violation of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If a question arises between health officers as to the jurisdiction or duties of a health officer in the abatement of a nuisance, the question shall be referred to the Secretary for resolution.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A health officer may file a complaint in the circuit court for the county where the nuisance exists if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The person served with the notice under this section fails to comply with the requirements of the notice; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Although the person served with a notice under this section complies with the requirements of the notice, the nuisance is likely to recur on the same property.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A complaint filed under this subsection may seek a court order requiring the individual served with a notice under subsection (b) of this section to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Comply with the requirements of the health officer’s abatement notice;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Abate the nuisance within a specified time;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Prevent the nuisance from recurring; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Pay a fine of not more than $1,000.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
