A local jurisdiction may create a historic district commission or a historic preservation commission.

A commission shall consist of at least five members. A majority of the members of a commission shall be residents of the local jurisdiction that created the commission. Each member of a commission shall have a demonstrated special interest, specific knowledge, or professional or academic training in: history; architecture; architectural history; planning; archaeology; anthropology; curation; conservation; landscape architecture; historic preservation; urban design; or a related discipline. A local jurisdiction that creates a commission may establish and publicly adopt additional qualifications for a member of the commission. The term of a member of a commission is 3 years. The terms of the members shall be staggered. A member is eligible for reappointment. The appointing authority shall fill any vacancy on a commission for the unexpired term of the vacant position. A member of a commission may be removed by the appointing authority for: incompetence; misconduct; or in the same manner as for a member of a State board or commission: failure to attend meetings under § 8–501 of the State Government Article; or conviction of a crime in accordance with § 8–502 of the State Government Article. The appointing authority shall provide to the member: a written statement of charges stating the grounds for removal; and an opportunity for a public hearing to contest the charges. Each local jurisdiction may designate one alternate member for the commission who may sit on the commission when any other member of the commission is absent. When the alternate member is absent, the local jurisdiction may designate a temporary alternate.

A commission shall adopt rules and regulations necessary for the conduct of its business. An interested person or representative of an interested person may appear and be heard at a public hearing that a commission conducts.

Subject to any requirements of the local jurisdiction that relate to the acceptance and use of gifts by public officials, a commission may accept and use gifts as needed to perform its duties.

Subject to any requirements of the local jurisdiction that relate to the acquisition of easements, a commission may acquire easements in connection with individual sites or structures, or with sites or structures located in or adjacent to a locally designated historic district. An easement acquired by a commission may grant to the commission, the residents of the historic district, and the public the right to ensure that any site, structure, or surrounding property on which the easement is applied is protected in perpetuity from changes that would affect the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of the site, structure, or surrounding property. A commission may designate the Maryland Historical Trust to analyze and make recommendations on the preservation of sites, structures, or districts of historic, archaeological, architectural, or cultural significance within the area the commission serves. The recommendations of the Maryland Historical Trust may include: proposed boundaries for sites, structures, and districts; and the identification and designation of the sites, structures, and districts to be preserved.