1502 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 714

said Code, title "Prince Georges County", sub-title "Maryland
Washington Metropolitan District") and in force at the date
of the taking effect of this Act, including the maps which at
said date accompany and are a part of said regulations, shall
be deemed to have been made, enacted and in force under this
Act and shall be and continue in force and effect until and
as they may be amended by said District Councils respectively
as authorized by this Act.

SEC. 25. And be it further enacted, That no building or
other structure shall be erected or structurally altered in the
District without the issuance of a building permit, and no
such permit shall be given except in conformity with the pro-
visions of this Act and of the regulations enacted by the re-
spective District Councils. Construction or structural alter-
ation of a building or structure shall not begin until and
unless the building permit be approved by the Commission
as to zoning requirements and as to the requirements of Sec-
tion 15 of this Act; provided, however, that no building permit
shall be required for buildings and structures to be used ex-
clusively for purposes of agriculture upon land used ex-
clusively for agriculture. The beginning of any construction
whatsoever of a building or other structure within the Dis-
trict without securing the approval of a building permit by
this Commission as herein provided, is hereby declared a
misdemeanor and punishable as other misdemeanors are pun-
ishable under Section 27 of this Act. In any part of the Dis-
trict 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 appropriate District
Council shall designate such official.

A District Council may provide in its zoning regulations
for the issuance of use and occupancy permits and for cer-
tificates by means of which zoning questions may be raised
previous to the preparation of all such structural specifica-
tions of a building as may be requisite for a complete building
permit.

SEC. 26. And be it further enacted, That the construction,
reconstruction, erection, structural alteration or use of any
building or other structure or the use of land or premises in
violation of any of the provisions of this Act or of any of the
provisions of any regulation enacted under this Act or of any
decision made under this Act is hereby declared to be a mis-
demeanor. The wilful issuance of a building, use or occu-
pancy permit in violation of any such provision or decision
is hereby declared to be a misdemeanor. The Commission,
the Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery or Prince