1332 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 599

and use gifts for the exercise of its functions. All public
officials shall, upon request, furnish to the Commission
within a reasonable time such available information as it
may require for its work. The Commission, its members,
officers and employees, in the performance of their func-
tions, may enter upon any land and make examinations and
surveys and place and maintain necessary monuments and
marks thereon. In general, the Commission shall have
such powers as may be necessary to enable it to fulfill its
functions, promote municipal planning, or carry out the
purposes of this Act.

TITLE II. ZONING.

SEC. 12. GRANT OF POWER, (a) For the purpose of
promoting health, safety, morals or the general welfare of
the community the legislative body of counties, cities and
other incorporated areas are hereby empowered to regu-
late and restrict the height, number of stories and size of
buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that
may be occupied, the size of yards, courts and other open
spaces, the density of population and the location and use
of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, resi-
dence or other purposes.

(b) Districts. For any or all of said purposes the local
legislative body may divide the municipality into districts
of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best
suited to carry out the purposes of this Act, and within
such districts it may regulate and restrict the erection,
construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of
buildings, structures or land. All such regulations shall be
uniform for each class or kind of building throughout each
district, but the regulations in one district may differ from
those in other districts.

(c) Purposes in View. Such regulations shall be made
in accordance with a comprehensive plan and designed to
lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire,
panic and other dangers; to promote health and the general
welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the
overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of
population; to facilitate the adequate provision of trans-
portation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public
requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reason-
able consideration, among other things, to the character of
the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses,
and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and