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<section article="grp" article_name="Real Property" number="14-123" title_number="14" title_name="Miscellaneous Rules" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Rules">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Community association” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A nonprofit association, corporation, or other organization that is:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Composed of residents of a community within which a nuisance is located;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare and general neighborhood improvement and enhancement; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A nonprofit association, corporation, or other organization that is:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Composed of residents of a contiguous community that is defined by specific geographic boundaries, within which a nuisance is located;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Operated for the promotion of the welfare, improvement, and enhancement of that community; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>In good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Local code violation” means a violation under the following provisions of the Baltimore City Code as amended from time to time or under any applicable code relating to the following provisions incorporated by Baltimore City by reference:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Nuisance control, waste control, and noise regulation titles of the Health Code of Baltimore City;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The public nuisance and neighborhood nuisance provisions under City Code Article 19, Police Ordinances;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>City Code Article 23, Sanitation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The Zoning Code of Baltimore City.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Nuisance” means, within the boundaries of the community represented by the community association, an act or condition knowingly created, performed, or maintained on private property that constitutes a local code violation and that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Significantly affects other residents of the neighborhood; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>Is injurious to public health, safety, or welfare of neighboring residents; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Obstructs the reasonable use of other property in the neighborhood.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section only applies to a nuisance located within the boundaries of Baltimore City.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A community association may seek injunctive and other equitable relief in the circuit court for abatement of a nuisance upon showing:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The notice requirements of this subsection have been satisfied; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The nuisance has not been abated.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>An action may not be brought under this section until 60 days after the community association sends notice of the violation and of the community association’s intent to bring an action under this section by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the appropriate code enforcement agency.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>If the appropriate code enforcement agency is the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, an action under this section may not be brought if the Department provides a written response to the community association within 60 days of receiving the notice that the property is part of an active code enforcement plan.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An action under this section may not be brought if the appropriate code enforcement agency has filed an action for equitable relief from the nuisance.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>An action may not be brought under this section until 60 days after the community association sends notice to the tenant, if any, and the owner of record that a nuisance exists and that legal action may be taken if the nuisance is not abated.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The notice shall specify:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The nature of the alleged nuisance;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The date and time of day the nuisance was first discovered;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The location on the property where the nuisance is allegedly occurring; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>The relief sought in the action.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>The notice shall be provided to the tenant, if any, and the owner of record in the same manner as service of process in a civil in personam action under the Maryland Rules.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Adequate and sufficient notice may be given to the tenant, if any, and the owner of record by sending a copy of the notice by regular mail and posting a copy of the notice on the property where the nuisance is allegedly occurring, if notice sent by certified mail is:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Returned unclaimed or refused;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Designated by the post office to be undeliverable for any other reason; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="C">
          <text>Signed for by a person other than the addressee.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>In filing a suit under this section, an officer of the community association shall certify to the court:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>What steps the community association has taken to satisfy the notice requirements under this subsection; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>That each condition precedent to the filing of an action under this section has been met.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>An action may not be brought against an owner of residential rental property unless, prior to the giving of notice under subsection (c)(3)(i) of this section, a notice of violation relating to the nuisance has first been issued by an appropriate code enforcement agency.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>In the case of a nuisance based on a housing or building code violation, other than a recurrent sanitation violation, relief may not be granted under this section unless a violation notice relating to the nuisance has been issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development and remains outstanding after a period of 75 days.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If a violation notice is an essential element of the action, a copy of the notice signed by an official of the appropriate code enforcement agency shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained in the notice.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A notice of abatement issued by the appropriate code enforcement agency in regard to the violation notice shall be prima facie evidence that the plaintiff is not entitled to the relief requested.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>A proceeding under this section shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Take precedence on the docket;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Be heard at the earliest practicable date; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Be expedited in every way.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A political subdivision of the State or any agency of a political subdivision may not be subject to any action brought under this section or an action resulting from an action brought under this section against a private property owner.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section may not be construed as to abrogate any equitable or legal right or remedy otherwise available under the law to abate a nuisance.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This section may not be construed as to grant standing for an action:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Challenging any zoning application or approval;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>In which the alleged nuisance consists of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A condition relating to lead paint; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>An interior physical defect of a property;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Involving any violation of alcoholic beverages laws under the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Involving any matter in which a certificate, license, permit, or registration is required or allowed under the Environment Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
