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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="5-208" title_number="5" title_name="Powers" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Enumeration of Express Law Making Powers">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A municipality may provide for the creation, appointment, duties, and powers of a board of port wardens to exercise jurisdiction in the municipality.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A board of port wardens may regulate the placement or construction of structures or other barriers in or on the waters of the municipality.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The board may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>issue licenses to build wharves or piers; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>issue permits for mooring piles, floating wharves, buoys, and anchors.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>When issuing licenses or permits under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the board shall consider:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the present and proposed uses of the waters;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the effect of the present and proposed uses of the waters on marine life, wildlife, conservation, water pollution, erosion, and navigational hazards;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the effect of the proposed use of the waters on congestion in the waters;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the effect of the proposed use of the waters on other riparian property owners; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the present and projected needs for any proposed commercial or industrial use in or on the waters of the municipality.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The board shall ensure that the improvements do not render navigation too close and confined.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The board may regulate the materials for and construction of the improvements.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>This subsection does not affect the zoning power of the municipality.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless a person has been granted a license or permit from the board of port wardens, a person may not:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>build a wharf or pier;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>move any earth or other material for the purpose of building a wharf or pier; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>place or construct mooring piles, floating wharves, buoys, or anchors.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person may not build a wharf or pier:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a greater distance into the water than approved by the board; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>in a different form or of different materials than approved by the board.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A person who violates this subsection is subject to a fine set by the legislative body of the municipality.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A person aggrieved by a decision of a board of port wardens may appeal the decision:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>to the legislative body of the municipality; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>if authorized by ordinance, to the circuit court of the appropriate county.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
