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<section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="20-509" title_number="20" title_name="Maryland-Washington Regional District" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Building Codes and Permits">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section, by local law, the legislative body of a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district may impose an additional or stricter building requirement than is required by a State, regional, or county unit that exercises zoning or planning authority over the municipal corporation or governed district if the authority is exercised in addition to the State, regional, or county zoning or planning authority.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a building requirement adopted under this section:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>shall be imposed for:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the preservation, improvement, or protection of lands, water, and improvements in the municipal corporation or governed special taxing district;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may regulate only the construction, repair, or remodeling of residential buildings with four or fewer dwelling units, including single–unit houses, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, cottage clusters, townhouses, and similar buildings, and their accessory structures, as it relates to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>fences, walls, hedges, and similar barriers;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>signs;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>residential parking;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>residential storage;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>the location of buildings and structures, including setback requirements;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>the dimensions of buildings and structures, including height, bulk, massing, and design; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>lot coverage, including impervious surface; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>shall apply without regard to housing type.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A building requirement adopted under this section for residential buildings with two to four dwelling units:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may not be more restrictive than a building requirement adopted under this section for a single–unit house; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may be less restrictive than a building requirement adopted under this section for a single–unit house.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Before adopting a local law under this section, a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>hold a public hearing; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>at least 30 days before the public hearing, transmit a copy of the proposed local law to the county council.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A local law that a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district adopts under this section shall provide a procedure for a waiver from the strict application of the building requirements.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>By local law, a municipal corporation or governed special taxing district may enact an additional or stricter commercial sign regulation than is imposed by the State, the Commission, or the county.</text>
  </level>
</section>
