1500 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 714

destroyed to the extent of not more than 75% of the re-
construction value of the building in which such lawful non-
conforming use was carried on or an extension of an existing
lawful non-conforming use on the same lot as such lot existed
as a single lot under single ownership at the time of the
enactment of the regulation which made the then existing use
on such lot non-conforming. Nothing in this section shall be
held to authorize the validation, ratification, or legalization
of any violation of law or regulation existing at the time of
the action by the District Council under this section.

SEC. 22. And be it further enacted, That a District Council
may in its zoning regulations, provide that the Zoning Board
of Appeals, may, in appropriate cases and subject to appro-
priate principles, standards, rules, conditions and safeguards
set forth in the regulations, make special exceptions to the
provisions of the zoning regulations in harmony with their
general purposes and intent. The District Council may also
authorize the Zoning Board of Appeals to interpret the zon-
ing maps or pass upon disputed questions of lot lines or dis-
trict boundary lines or similar questions as they arise in the
administration of the regulations.

SEC. 23. And be it further enacted, That appeals to the
Board of Zoning Appeals of Montgomery County or the Board
of Appeals of Prince Georges County may be taken by any
person, board, association, corporation or official aggrieved
by the grant or refusal of a building permit or the grant or
withholding of an occupancy or use permit or any other ad-
ministrative decision based or claimed to be based in whole
or part upon any zoning regulation or map enacted by the
District Council of such county.

Upon appeals, the Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the
following powers:

(1) To hear and decide appeals where it Is alleged by the
appellant that there is error in any refusal of a building, use
or occupancy permit or in any other order, requirement, de-
cision or determination made by a building official or by the
Commission when passing upon an application for a building
or other permit or by any other administrative officer or body
in the administration of any zoning regulation enacted pur-
suant to this Act. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall
be deemed to authorize a board of zoning appeals to reverse
or modify any refusal of a permit or any other order, require-
ment, decision or determination which conform to the pro-
visions of this Act and the regulations made under this Act
and which, therefore, was not erroneous.