Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally — Subtitle 8. Public Safety
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 12-801 (2026)
Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally
Subtitle 8. Public Safety
§ 12–801LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section applies to all counties except:
(1)
Anne Arundel County;
(2)
Baltimore City;
(3)
Baltimore County;
(4)
Cecil County;
(5)
Howard County;
(6)
Prince George’s County;
(7)
Queen Anne’s County; and
(8)
Worcester County.
(b)
The provisions of §§ 9–105 and 9–106 of this article apply to an act, an ordinance, or a resolution adopted by a commission county under this section.
(c)
The governing body of a county may determine the allowance provided to the county sheriff or other person for housing incarcerated individuals confined in the local correctional facility.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 12-802 (2026)
Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally
Subtitle 8. Public Safety
§ 12–802LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section applies to all counties except:
(1)
Anne Arundel County;
(2)
Baltimore City;
(3)
Baltimore County;
(4)
Cecil County;
(5)
Charles County;
(6)
Howard County;
(7)
Prince George’s County;
(8)
Queen Anne’s County;
(9)
Wicomico County; and
(10)
Worcester County.
(b)
The provisions of §§ 9–105 and 9–106 of this article apply to an act, an ordinance, or a resolution adopted by a commission county under this section.
(c)
The governing body of a county may:
(1)
provide for the appointment of the county police;
(2)
establish the duties of the county police;
(3)
set the compensation of the county police; and
(4)
appoint a special commission or commissioner to be in charge of the county police.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 12-803 (2026)
Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally
Subtitle 8. Public Safety
§ 12–803LinkCopy Citation
The County Commissioners of Caroline County may provide money to the State’s Attorney for Caroline County for special investigations or cases.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 12-804 (2026)
Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally
Subtitle 8. Public Safety
§ 12–804LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Notwithstanding Title 11, Subtitle 2 of the Land Use Article and any other provision of law, the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may provide that:
(1)
a violation of an ordinance is punishable as a misdemeanor and enforced in the same manner and to the same extent as a violation under § 6–101 of this article; and
(2)
a violation of an ordinance is a civil infraction and shall be prosecuted in the same manner and to the same extent as provided for a municipal infraction under Title 6 of this article.
(b)
Every day that a violation continues is a separate civil infraction.
(c)
In addition to other remedies provided by this section, the county may bring an action for an injunction against a person who violates an ordinance, a rule, or a regulation to require the correction or elimination of a violation.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 12-805 (2026)
Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally
Subtitle 8. Public Safety
§ 12–805LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not establish, maintain, or operate a labor camp for groups of 25 or more workers outside the limits of any municipality in Dorchester County unless the person obtains a permit under subsection (b) of this section.
(b)
(1)
The County Council of Dorchester County may issue a permit to a person as provided in the rules and regulations adopted by the county council.
(2)
After notice to the person who holds a permit and an opportunity for a hearing, the county council may revoke a permit for cause.
(c)
(1)
A person who violates this section or a rule or regulation of the County Council of Dorchester County adopted under this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense.
(2)
A labor camp established, operated, or maintained in violation of this section or a rule or regulation of the county adopted under this section may be abated as a nuisance.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 12-806 (2026)
Title 12. Other Powers of Counties -- Generally
Subtitle 8. Public Safety
§ 12–806LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Alarm system contractor” means a person who installs, maintains, monitors, alters, or services an alarm system.
(3)
(i)
“Alarm user” means a person in control of an alarm system in, on, or around any building, structure, facility, or site.
(ii)
“Alarm user” includes the owner or lessee of an alarm system.
(4)
(i)
“False alarm” means any request for immediate assistance by a law enforcement agency or fire department or, in Washington County, an emergency services agency, regardless of cause, that is not in response to an actual emergency situation or threatened or suggested criminal activity.
(ii)
“False alarm” includes:
(1)
a negligently or accidentally activated signal;
(2)
a signal that is the result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or maintained equipment;
(3)
a signal that is purposely activated to summon a law enforcement agency or fire department or, in Washington County, an emergency services agency, in a nonemergency situation;
(4)
the second and any later signal from an alarm system that is activated two or more times in a 12–hour period when the premises are unoccupied if access to the building is provided to an alarm system contractor and an alarm system contractor responds; and
(5)
the third or any later signal from an alarm system that is activated two or more times in a 12–hour period when the premises are unoccupied if access to the building is not provided to an alarm system contractor and an alarm system contractor does not respond.
(iii)
“False alarm” does not include:
(1)
a signal activated by unusually severe weather conditions or other causes beyond the control of the alarm user or alarm system contractor; or
(2)
a signal activated during the initial 60–day period following new installation.
(b)
This section applies only to Calvert County, Frederick County, and Washington County.
(c)
(1)
The governing body of a county may adopt regulations to:
(i)
register alarm system contractors operating in the county;
(ii)
register alarm users in the county;
(iii)
provide penalties for failure to register as an alarm system contractor or alarm user;
(iv)
provide civil citations and penalties for false alarms, notwithstanding Title 9, Subtitle 6, Part II of the Criminal Law Article;
(v)
provide exemptions from the issuance of civil citations and penalties for false alarms;
(vi)
authorize the designated county enforcement agency to maintain a record of the alarm system contractor, monitoring service, and manufacturer of each security system in operation in the county; and
(vii)
authorize the designated county enforcement agency, if it finds a pattern of false alarms attributed to a particular manufacturer’s model or to installation by a particular alarm system contractor, to inform:
(1)
the manufacturer of the model or the alarm system contractor that installed the alarm system; and
(2)
the appropriate State or national licensing agency or the certification standards entity.
(2)
The County Commissioners of Washington County may adopt regulations to establish fees for registering an alarm system contractor or alarm user.