<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="20-307" title_number="20" title_name="Miscellaneous Health Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Nuisance Control">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Secretary may investigate any suspected nuisance.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the Secretary finds that a nuisance exists, the Secretary 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">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Secretary 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 fails to comply with the requirements of the notice; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Although the person served 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 person served with the notice to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Comply with the requirements of the Secretary’s abatement notice;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Abate the nuisance within a time specified in the order;</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>
