Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory — Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 13-701 (2026)
Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory
Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
§ 13–701LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section applies only to:
(1)
Frederick County;
(2)
Garrett County; and
(3)
Washington 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 county commissioners may adopt an ordinance or resolution to:
(1)
provide for the licensure of persons engaging in weather modification; and
(2)
require the reporting of any activity performed with the intention of producing artificial changes in the composition, behavior, or dynamics of the atmosphere as defined in the National Weather Modification Policy Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. § 330 et seq.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 13-702 (2026)
Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory
Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
§ 13–702LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
By resolution, the County Council of Prince George’s County may create an official advisory committee on natural resources and community appearance to guide and accomplish the work of the County Council sitting as district council.
(2)
The resolution shall specify the membership, duties, and functions of the committee.
(b)
(1)
It is the intent of the General Assembly that all units of State government cooperate with the County Council of Prince George’s County to the fullest possible extent to guide the orderly growth of the county through an advisory committee created under this section.
(2)
At the request of the County Council, an official designated by a unit of State government may serve as a member of the advisory committee.
(c)
The duties of the advisory committee may include making technical recommendations for:
(1)
the preservation, exploitation, and site rehabilitation of mineral deposits; and
(2)
the means and methods of encouraging development above minimum standards.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 13-703 (2026)
Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory
Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
§ 13–703LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may:
(1)
adopt an ordinance, a rule, or a regulation for erosion and siltation control requirements to facilitate sedimentation control in the county; and
(2)
provide for the enforcement of any ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted under this section.
(b)
(1)
A violation of an ordinance, a rule, or a regulation adopted under this section is a misdemeanor.
(2)
The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may establish a criminal penalty of a fine, imprisonment, or both for a violation of an ordinance, a rule, or a regulation adopted under this section.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 13-704 (2026)
Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory
Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
§ 13–704LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The County Commissioners of Calvert County may provide for:
(1)
the enforcement and correction of violations of an erosion and sediment control ordinance for Calvert County;
(2)
the collection of the costs of any enforcement and corrective actions authorized in item (1) of this subsection; and
(3)
the enforcement of this section and of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance by the imposition of civil penalties provided under subsection (d) of this section.
(b)
(1)
Calvert County shall send written notice, by certified mail or personal service, of noncompliance to a permittee and the surety if:
(i)
erosion and sediment control work does not comply with a permit or approved plans; and
(ii)
the county wants to enforce the security that was required for the work.
(2)
The notice shall include:
(i)
the nature of the corrections required; and
(ii)
the time within which the corrections shall be made.
(3)
The county shall post a stop–work notice on the site if:
(i)
the permittee does not act on the notice within the time specified in the notice; or
(ii)
the situation is of a critical environmental nature.
(4)
If a stop–work notice is posted on a site, no further work is authorized on the site, except as allowed by the county engineer or the county engineer’s designee.
(5)
If the permittee does not begin and diligently continue the corrections within 5 days after receiving written notice:
(i)
the permittee is in default of the obligations imposed under this section; and
(ii)
the county engineer may take immediate action to enforce the security.
(c)
(1)
If the county engineer or the county engineer’s designee determines that there is imminent and substantial environmental harm because of the instability of the site, Calvert County may perform work at the site sufficient to:
(i)
eliminate any public safety problem; and
(ii)
provide environmental stabilization and protection.
(2)
A grading permit authorizes employees of the county engineering department or the department’s approved designees to enter the site to undertake work in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3)
A charge for the cost of work performed by the county or its contractors under this section shall:
(i)
be imposed on the owner of the property in the same manner as county real property taxes are imposed;
(ii)
have the same priority rights as county real property taxes;
(iii)
bear the same interest and penalties as county real property taxes; and
(iv)
be treated as county real property taxes are treated.
(4)
The property owner shall be charged the maximum legal rate of interest.
(d)
(1)
A violation of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance of Calvert County is a civil violation.
(2)
Each separate day that a violation of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance remains uncorrected is a separate violation, subject to an additional citation and fine in the amount required under paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(3)
The fine for a civil violation of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance is:
(i)
for a first violation, $250;
(ii)
for a second violation, $500;
(iii)
for a third violation, $750; and
(iv)
for a fourth or subsequent violation, $1,000.
(e)
(1)
A person who performs erosion and sediment control work in Calvert County without first obtaining a permit is in violation of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance.
(2)
In addition to the civil penalties provided under subsection (d) of this section, if a person performs erosion and sediment control work without first obtaining a permit, the county may enforce this section and take the same actions as those provided in this section for permit violations, including:
(i)
the issuance of stop–work orders; and
(ii)
performing work on site to eliminate any public safety problem and to provide environmental stabilization and protection.
(3)
A charge for the cost of work performed in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be imposed as provided in subsection (c)(3) of this section.
(f)
(1)
On verification of a violation of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, an inspector from the engineering department may deliver or mail a citation to the person responsible for the violation.
(2)
The citation is notification to the responsible person that the person has been assessed a civil fine that is due and payable to Calvert County, subject to the person’s right to stand trial in District Court.
(g)
The citation shall be on a form adopted by the County Commissioners of Calvert County and shall include:
(1)
the date of issuance of the citation;
(2)
the name and address of the person charged;
(3)
the section number of the Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance that has been violated;
(4)
the nature of the violation;
(5)
the time and location of the violation;
(6)
the amount of the civil fine assessed;
(7)
the manner, location, and time period in which the fine is to be paid;
(8)
if applicable, a notice that each day of continued violation is a separate violation subject to additional citation;
(9)
the name, business address, and telephone number of the county official familiar with the case; and
(10)
a notice of the person’s right to elect to stand trial for the violation, and instructions, including relevant time frames, necessary to exercise this right to stand trial.
(h)
(1)
A person who receives a citation may elect to stand trial for the offense by filing notice of intent to stand trial with Calvert County at least 5 days before the payment date specified in the citation.
(2)
After receiving the notice of intention to stand trial, the county shall forward a copy of the citation and notice to the District Court.
(3)
After receiving the citation, the District Court shall:
(i)
schedule the case for trial; and
(ii)
notify the defendant of the trial date.
(i)
(1)
Calvert County shall send a notice of the violation to the last known address of a person who:
(i)
receives a citation for a violation;
(ii)
fails to pay the fine by the date of payment specified in the citation; and
(iii)
fails to file a timely notice of intention to stand trial.
(2)
If, after 15 days from the date the notice is sent, the citation is not satisfied, the person is liable for an additional fine not exceeding twice the original fine.
(3)
If, after 35 days from the date the notice is sent, the citation is not satisfied, the county may request adjudication of the case through the District Court.
(4)
If the county requests adjudication under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the District Court shall schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.
(j)
The County Commissioners of Calvert County may designate the County Attorney or the State’s Attorney to represent the interests of the county and prosecute a civil violation under this section before the District Court.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 13-705 (2026)
Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory
Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
§ 13–705LinkCopy Citation
(a)
By ordinance or resolution, the County Commissioners of Cecil County may:
(1)
provide for the control of air pollution, water pollution, and industrial waste coming from land in the county;
(2)
provide for the appointment of inspectors to enforce an ordinance or a resolution adopted under item (1) of this subsection; and
(3)
establish penalties for violations of an ordinance or a resolution adopted under item (1) of this subsection.
(b)
Before adopting an ordinance or a resolution under this section, the County Commissioners of Cecil County shall:
(1)
publish a summary of the proposed ordinance or resolution in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the county for at least 3 weeks that specifies the date for a public hearing;
(2)
hold a public hearing; and
(3)
give notice that copies of the proposed ordinance or resolution may be obtained on application to the clerk of the County Commissioners.
Md. Code Ann., Local Gov't § 13-706 (2026)
Title 13. Other Powers of Counties -- Regulatory
Subtitle 7. Environmental Issues
§ 13–706LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
(i)
“Decommissioning” means the removal and legal disposal of an industrial wind energy conversion system and any other components related to the industrial wind energy conversion system.
(ii)
Unless the property owner specifies otherwise, “decommissioning” includes the removal and legal disposal of buildings, roads, concrete, fencing, gravel, stone, and foundations to a depth of 36 inches.
(3)
“Industrial wind energy conversion system” means an aggregation of parts, including the base, wind turbine, generator, supports, guy wires, and accessory equipment in a configuration necessary to convert the power of wind into mechanical or electrical energy that is intended for sale to energy providers through the electric transmission grid.
(4)
“Restoration of pad site” means, at the location of the industrial wind energy conversion system:
(i)
stabilizing, grading, and seeding disturbed areas to grow ground cover; and
(ii)
replacing the excavated foundation areas with topsoil that:
(1)
is free of noxious weeds, rocks, root mat, or foreign objects larger than 2 inches in size; and
(2)
has proper soil nutrients to provide and sustain the growth of ground cover.
(5)
“Setback distance” means the distance measured from the base of the tower of a wind turbine in an industrial wind energy conversion system to any neighboring residential or school building in all directions.
(6)
“Structure height” means the measurement from ground level at the base of an industrial wind energy conversion system to the highest point of the structure or the highest point of the blade at its greatest extension.
(7)
“Wind turbine” means the tower, hub, blades, and nacelle.
(b)
This section does not apply to any industrial wind energy conversion system that has submitted an interconnection application to the PJM Interconnection queue before March 1, 2013.
(c)
In Garrett County, each individual industrial wind energy conversion system shall comply with a minimum setback distance equal to no less than two and one–half times the structure height.
(d)
(1)
Before an occupancy permit is issued for an industrial wind energy conversion system in Garrett County, the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development shall:
(i)
at the applicant’s expense, retain an independent and certified professional engineer to prepare a net cost estimate for decommissioning and restoration of the pad site, less the salvage value of the industrial wind energy conversion system; and
(ii)
require the applicant to post a bond equal to 100% of the cost estimate determined under item (i) of this paragraph and adjusted by an estimated construction pricing index to ensure that cost increases during the following 5–year interval will not decrease the value of the bond.
(2)
A bond posted in accordance with paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection shall be held by the Garrett County Finance Department to be used as surety in the event of noncompliance with a requirement under this section by an owner of an industrial wind energy conversion system.
(3)
(i)
On completion of the construction of an industrial wind energy conversion system in Garrett County, and every 10 years thereafter, the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development, at the applicant’s expense, shall retain an independent certified professional engineer to prepare a net cost estimate for decommissioning and restoration of the pad site, less the salvage value of the industrial wind energy conversion system.
(ii)
The Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development may alter the amount of the bond determined under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection to provide adequate security for the costs of decommissioning and restoration of the pad site.
(4)
If an industrial wind energy conversion system in Garrett County is sold, the bond posted in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be released if the new owner posts a bond with the Garrett County Finance Department that:
(i)
is equal to the amount of the bond posted by the seller; or
(ii)
is a greater amount if the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development determines that additional security is necessary to provide for the cost of decommissioning and restoration of the pad site.
(5)
(i)
If an industrial wind energy conversion system in Garrett County has not generated electricity for a continuous period of 365 days or an owner has abandoned an industrial wind energy conversion system, the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development may require the owner to decommission and restore the pad site.
(ii)
If the owner fails to comply with the requirements under this paragraph, the bond shall be used by Garrett County to cover the costs of decommissioning and restoration of the pad site.