The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may adopt a building code to provide for constructing, maintaining, and repairing buildings and other structures. A building code adopted under this section may incorporate by reference all or part of a code proposed by any governmental unit or a trade or professional association for general distribution in printed form as a standard model on any subject relating to constructing, maintaining, or repairing buildings or structures. Any later amendment to a code or part of a code that is adopted by reference is not effective until the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County incorporate the specific amendment into the county’s building code. The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may appoint inspectors to enforce the building code. The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may provide penalties for a violation of the building code.