<section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-101" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Powers"> <level label="a"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the territorial jurisdiction of a planning commission over a subdivision is limited to land located in the local jurisdiction.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>In a local jurisdiction where a county has not adopted subdivision regulations, the territorial jurisdiction of a planning commission of a municipal corporation may include all land located up to 1 mile beyond the corporate limits of the municipal corporation that is not located in any other municipal corporation.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-102" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Powers"> <level label="a"> <text>Before exercising subdivision powers under §§ 5–202 and 5–203 of this title, the planning commission shall recommend subdivision regulations to the legislative body.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The subdivision regulations shall be for the health, safety, welfare, and common interest of the citizens of the local jurisdiction.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The subdivision regulations may include provisions for the purposes of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>adequately controlling shore erosion;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>controlling sediment and ensuring protection from flooding;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>arranging streets in relation to each other and to the comprehensive plan;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>adequately and conveniently placing public school sites and open spaces for traffic, utilities, access of fire–fighting apparatus, recreation, and access to light and air;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>properly managing growth and development;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>setting minimum lot widths and areas; and</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>determining the extent to which the following actions shall be taken before the approval of a plat:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the grading and improvement of streets and other ways;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the provision of soil erosion or sediment control; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the installation of water, sewer, other utility mains, piping, or other facilities.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Subdivision regulations shall require that an appropriate easement be provided for any burial site located on the land.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The easement shall be subject to the subdivision plat for entry to and exit from the burial site by an individual related by blood or marriage or a person in interest, as defined in § 14–121 of the Real Property Article.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The existing right–of–way need not be extended for any improvements on the burial site.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-103" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Powers"> <level label="a"> <text>Before adoption of a subdivision regulation, the legislative body shall hold a public hearing on the subdivision regulation.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The legislative body shall publish a notice of the public hearing at least once in a weekly or daily newspaper that circulates in the local jurisdiction.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The notice shall contain:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the text of the subdivision regulation or, at the discretion of the legislative body, a brief and accurate summary of the nature and contents of the subdivision regulation sufficient to inform an individual of ordinary intelligence of the nature and contents of the subdivision regulation; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the time and place of the public hearing.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>When the legislative body adopts a subdivision regulation, the legislative body shall file a certified copy of the subdivision regulation with the clerk of the circuit court in which the local jurisdiction is located for recording.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-104" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Powers"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Community sewerage system” means a publicly or privately owned sewerage system that serves at least two lots.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Major subdivision” has the meaning stated in § 9–206 of the Environment Article.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>“On–site sewage disposal system” has the meaning stated in § 9–206 of the Environment Article.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <level label="i"> <text>“Planning board” means a planning board established under this article.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>“Planning board” includes a planning commission or board established under Division II of this article or Title 10 of the Local Government Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="6"> <text>“Shared facility” has the meaning stated in § 9–206 of the Environment Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This section applies only to a residential major subdivision in a Tier III area served by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>on–site sewage disposal systems;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a shared facility; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a community sewerage system.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If a local jurisdiction establishes the growth tiers under Title 1, Subtitle 5 of this article, a residential major subdivision in a Tier III area may not be approved unless the planning board has reviewed and recommended the approval of the major subdivision in the Tier III area.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Before recommending the approval of a proposed major subdivision in a Tier III area, the planning board shall hold at least one public hearing.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The planning board shall conduct the public hearing in accordance with its rules and procedures.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The review of a residential major subdivision by the planning board shall include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the cost of providing local governmental services to the residential major subdivision unless a local jurisdiction’s adequate public facilities law already requires a review of government services; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the potential environmental issues or a natural resources inventory related to the proposed residential major subdivision.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The planning board shall recommend the proposed residential major subdivision by resolution of the planning board.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-105" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Powers"> <level label="a"> <text>After a planning commission begins to exercise control over subdivisions under this subtitle, the authority of the planning commission over plats shall be exclusive within the territory under its jurisdiction.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Unless otherwise provided in this division, all statutory control over plats or subdivisions granted by other statutes shall be considered transferred to the planning commission of the local jurisdiction.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-201" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Plat Approval"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, if an applicant has complied with all subdivision regulations, a planning commission shall approve or disapprove a final plat within 30 days after the applicant submits the final plat to the planning commission.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>If the planning commission does not approve or disapprove the plat within 30 days, the plat shall be considered approved and the planning commission shall issue a certificate to that effect on demand.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the planning commission does not approve or disapprove the plat within 30 days, an applicant for approval of a final plat may waive this requirement and consent to an extension of the period for approval.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>If a final plat is disapproved, the planning commission shall state the grounds for the disapproval in the planning commission’s records.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Each plat approved by the planning commission shall, through the approval, be considered:</text> <level label="i"> <text>an amendment or a detail of the comprehensive plan; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>a part of the comprehensive plan.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Approval of a plat does not constitute or effect an acceptance by the public of any street or other open space shown on the plat.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A planning commission periodically may recommend to the legislative body amendments of the zoning law or map to conform to the planning commission’s recommendations for the zoning regulation of the territory within approved subdivisions.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>A planning commission may agree with an applicant on use, height, area, or bulk requirements or restrictions that are designed to promote the purposes of the zoning law of the local jurisdiction.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>The requirements or restrictions shall be stated on the plat before the plat is approved and recorded.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The requirements or restrictions shall have the same force of law, shall be enforceable in the same manner and with the same sanctions and penalties, and shall be subject to the same power of amendment or repeal as though part of the zoning law or map of the local jurisdiction.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-202" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Plat Approval"> <level label="a"> <text>This section applies only where a legislative body has:</text> <level label="1"> <text>adopted the transportation element of the comprehensive plan of all or part of the territory within its subdivision jurisdiction; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>filed a certified copy of the plan with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which all or part of the territory is located.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A plat of a subdivision within the territory or part may not be filed or recorded until:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the planning commission approves the plat; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the chair or secretary of the planning commission indicates an approval in writing on the plat.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-203" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Plat Approval"> <level label="a"> <text>A planning commission may authorize an administrative officer to approve subdivision plats and site plans under § 5–202 of this subtitle in accordance with nondiscretionary criteria adopted and specified by local law.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The administrative officer shall approve a plat by indicating an approval in writing on the plat.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-204" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Plat Approval"> <level label="a"> <text>A planning commission may provide in the subdivision regulations or practice for tentative approval of a plat before completion of improvements or installation of utilities.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Tentative approval of a plat shall be revocable and may not be indicated on the plat.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Instead of requiring the completion of improvements and installation of utilities before the final approval of a plat, a planning commission may accept security approved by the local jurisdiction to secure the construction of improvements and installation of utilities.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Forms of security accepted by a planning commission under paragraph (1) of this subsection:</text> <level label="i"> <text>shall specify the time for completion and specifications set by or in accordance with the subdivision regulations of the planning commission;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>may include a bond with surety, an irrevocable letter of credit, or any other form of security approved by the local jurisdiction; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>may be enforced by any appropriate legal or equitable remedy.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-301" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Unapproved Plats and Subdivisions"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as otherwise provided in §§ 9–603, 9–806, 9–1004, 9–1605, and 9–1606 of this article, an owner or agent of an owner of land located within a subdivision may not transfer, sell, or agree to sell land by reference to, exhibition of, or other use of a plat of a subdivision before the plat has been:</text> <level label="i"> <text>approved by the planning commission; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>recorded or filed in the office of the appropriate county clerk.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A person who violates this subsection is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $200 and not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Each lot or parcel transferred or sold or agreed to be sold in violation of this subsection is a separate violation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The description of a lot or parcel by metes and bounds in the instrument of transfer or other document used in the process of selling or transferring does not exempt the transaction from the penalties or remedies provided in this section.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A local jurisdiction may seek to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>enjoin the transfer, sale, or agreement in any circuit court; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>recover the penalty by civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-302" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Unapproved Plats and Subdivisions"> <level label="a"> <text>A clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the local jurisdiction is located may not record a subdivision plat unless the plat has been approved by the planning commission for the local jurisdiction in the manner required by law.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A subdivision plat that is recorded without the required approval is limited to the legal effect of an unrecorded plat.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="5-401" title_number="5" title_name="Subdivision" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Judicial Review"> <level label="a"> <text>A legislative body may authorize judicial review by the circuit court of any matter arising under this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The judicial review shall be in accordance with Title 7, Chapter 200 of the Maryland Rules.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A judgment of the circuit court under this section may be appealed to the Appellate Court of Maryland.</text> </level> </section>