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<section article="grp" article_name="Real Property" number="14-204" title_number="14" title_name="Miscellaneous Rules" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Maryland Contract Lien Act">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a lien may be enforced and foreclosed by the party who obtained the lien in the same manner, and subject to the same requirements, as the foreclosure of mortgages or deeds of trust on property in this State containing a power of sale or an assent to a decree.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If the owner of property subject to a lien is personally liable for alleged damages, suit for any deficiency following foreclosure may be maintained in the same proceeding, and suit for a monetary judgment for unpaid damages may be maintained without waiving any lien securing the same.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Any action to foreclose a lien shall be brought within 12 years following recordation of the statement of lien.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Common ownership community” means:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>A condominium as defined in § 11–101 of this article; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A homeowners association as defined in § 11B–101 of this article.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>“Governing body” means a person who has authority to enforce the declaration, articles of incorporation, bylaws, rules, or regulations of a common ownership community.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notwithstanding the declaration, articles of incorporation, bylaws, rules, or regulations of a common ownership community, a governing body may foreclose on a lien against a unit owner or lot owner only if the damages secured by the lien:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Consist of:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Delinquent periodic assessments or special assessments and any interest; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Reasonable costs and attorney’s fees directly related to the filing of the lien that do not exceed the amount of the delinquent assessments, excluding any interest; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Do not include fines imposed by the governing body or attorney’s fees or costs related to recovering the fines.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>This subsection does not preclude a governing body from using any other means to enforce a lien against a unit owner or lot owner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
