PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. 3987

1927, ch. 448, sec. 25. 1929, ch. 286, sec. 25.

744. No building or other structure shall be erected in the District
without the issuance of a building permit and no such permit shall be
given except in conformity with the zoning ordinances enacted by the re-
spective District Councils. Before construction shall begin all building
permits shall be approved as to zoning requirements by this Commission.
The beginning of any construction whatsoever of a building or other struc-
ture within the District without securing the approval of the building per-
mit by this Commission as herein provided, is hereby declared a misde-
meanor and punishable as other misdemeanors are punishable under Sec-
tion 637 of this subtitle. In any part of the District in which there does
not now exist provision of law or ordinance designating an administrative
official by whom building permits are to be issued, the District Councils
shall designate such official.

1927, ch. 448, sec. 26.

745. The boards of zoning appeals shall within ten days after the filing
thereof determine appeals from any refusal of a building permit where
such refusal is for non-compliance with the provisions of the zoning regu-
lations enacted by the District Council.

1927, ch. 448, sec. 27.

746. In passing upon appeals, the boards of zoning appeals shall have
full powers (a) to permit a non-conforming use as an incidental accessory
to a conforming principal use on the same lot, subject to such conditions
as will safeguard the health morals safety or welfare; (b) where the
strict application of any provision of the zoning regulations as to height
and area of buildings and other structures would result in undue hard-
ship upon the owner of specific property, or where there is reasonable
doubt as to any provision of said regulations or the maps as applied to
such property, to modify such strict application or to interpret the mean-
ing of said regulations so as to relieve such hardship.

In exercising these powers the boards of zoning appeals may, in con-
formity with the provisions of this Act and the zoning regulations, reverse
or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the requirements or decision
appealed from, and to that end shall have all the powers of the officer
from which the appeal is taken. Before making their decision, the boards
of zoning appeals shall hold a hearing, notice of the time and place of
which shall be sent by mail to the appellant and to the owners of all prop-
erties contiguous to the property of the appellant, which notice shall be
mailed not less than seven days previous to the time fixed for the hearing.

1927, ch. 448, sec. 28. 1929, ch. 286, sec. 28.

747. The erection or use of any building or other structure or of prem-
ises in violation of this Act or of zoning regulations enacted in pursuance
hereof, except as modified or interpreted by the Boards of Zoning Appeals,
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, is hereby declared to be a