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<section article="grp" article_name="Real Property" number="11B-111.9" title_number="11B" title_name="Maryland Homeowners Association Act" subtitle_number="1">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Composting” means the controlled aerobic biological decomposition of organic waste material.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Composting facility” has the meaning stated in § 9–1701 of the Environment Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Local jurisdiction” means the county or municipality where the homeowners association is located.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a homeowners association may not prohibit or unreasonably restrict a lot owner from:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Composting organic waste materials for the lot owner’s personal or household use, provided that the lot owner:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Owns or has the right to exclusive use of the area where the composting is conducted; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Observes all laws, ordinances, and regulations of the State and local jurisdiction that pertain to composting; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Contracting with a private entity to collect organic waste materials from the lot owner for composting at a composting facility.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a homeowners association that unreasonably impedes the ability of a private entity to access the common elements for the purpose of collecting organic waste materials from a lot owner shall be interpreted as a restriction on the lot owner’s right to contract for private composting services under subsection (b)(2) of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
