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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="4-204" title_number="4" title_name="In General" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Incorporation of Municipalities">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A proposal to incorporate an area as a municipality is initiated when a valid petition is presented to the county commissioners or county council of a county by:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>at least 25% of the registered voters who are residents of the area proposed to be incorporated; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>at least 20% of the registered voters who are residents of the area proposed to be incorporated, together with the owners of at least 25% of the assessed valuation of the real property of the area proposed to be incorporated.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Office of the Attorney General shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>create a standard petition form for use by an organizing community; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>provide the board of elections of each county with the form for distribution to an organizing community.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A petition presented under subsection (a) of this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>express the interest of the subscribing individuals in the incorporation of the area;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>contain a detailed description of the boundaries of the area proposed to be incorporated, including a survey of courses and distances or general landmarks and place names;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>state the name of the new municipality, which may not be the same as a name used by a municipality or county in the State; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>state the names of the individuals who will initially represent the organizing community on the organizing committee.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The organizing community shall obtain the minimum number of valid signatures required under subsection (a) of this section within 18 months after the organizing community receives the standard petition form from the county board of elections.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Each person signing the petition shall indicate on the petition:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the person’s name and residence address; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>if the petition is intended to be presented under subsection (a)(2) of this section and the person signing the petition owns real property in the area proposed to be incorporated, the location and assessed valuation of the property.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Within 60 days after receiving a petition, the county commissioners or county council shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>verify that each person who signed the petition:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>resides in the area proposed to be incorporated;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>is registered to vote in the elections of that county; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>if applicable, owns real property within the area proposed to be incorporated;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>verify that the petition meets the requirements of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>appoint a county liaison if the petition meets the requirements of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>A petition, when received, becomes the property of the county commissioners or county council and may not be used to initiate another incorporation.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>A proposal to incorporate a municipality and to adopt a municipal charter may not be rescinded after the formal submission of the proposal in a manner other than that of a formal charter repeal as provided in §§ 4–313 and 4–314 of this title.</text>
  </level>
</section>
