228                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 160

CHAPTER 160
(House Bill 869)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 3(a) and (s) of Article
25 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume, 1971
Supplement and 1972 Interim Supplement), title "County Commissioners,"
subtitle "General Provisions," to add Worcester County to those counties given
certain enumerated powers for building and housing codes, to generally relate to
the inclusion of Worcester County where certain building and housing codes are
adopted or amended and to clarify the [[substance and]] language therein.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Sections 3(a) and (s) of Article 25 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1966 Replacement Volume, 1971 Supplement and 1972 Interim
Supplement), title "County Commissioners," subtitle "General Provisions," be and
they are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

3.

(a) The county commissioners of each county in this State, except Worcester,
(except as provided in [subsection] SUBSECTIONS (1) , (S)(2), (X) AND (X-l)
hereof), Prince George's, Washington (except as hereinbelow provided), Baltimore,
Anne Arundel, Cecil, Howard and Queen Anne's (except as specifically provided in
subsection (f)) counties, in addition to, but not in substitution of, the powers which
have been or may hereafter be granted them, shall have the following express
powers:

(s)

(1)   In Harford, Frederick and Kent counties, the county commissioners may
provide and prescribe regulations for the issuance of plumbing permits [,] to be
required before any sanitary systems, plumbing and fixtures may be installed
within [said] THE county [,] and provide any fee or charges for any such permits
[,] and [the] FOR THEIR enforcement [thereof]. The county commissioners are
authorized to charge reasonable fees for the issuance of zoning certificates or
permits for construction of improvements to real property. The county
commissioners of Harford and Frederick counties shall also have the power to
adopt a plumbing code to regulate the construction of water, sewer, drainage, and
sanitary facilities with power to designate and employ the necessary personnel to
enforce [said] THE plumbing code and to provide criminal penalties for violation
thereof. In the event the authority to adopt a plumbing code is exercised, the
county commissioners shall appoint an advisory plumbing board, with four-year
terms of office, consisting of a medical doctor, a plumber, and one other person to
assist in the drafting and promulgation of [said] THE plumbing code and its
enforcement.

(2)   The county commissioners of Harford, Frederick, Caroline, Calvert ,
WORCESTER and Kent counties may adopt, and from time to time may amend,
supplement or abrogate, a building code and a housing code, or either of such
codes. The building code, if adopted, shall provide and prescribe regulations for the
issuance of building permits to be required prior to the construction or
improvement of any buildings; and any such code shall prescribe standards of
construction, maintenance, and repair, covering structural safety, fire prevention
requirements, lights and ventilation, and proper means of ingress and egress. The
housing code, if adopted, shall provide and prescribe regulations and standards for
human habitation, covering sanitation, density of occupancy, open-space
requirements, rodent infestation, and human standards of occupancy.