902                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 547

CHAPTER 547
(House Bill 849)

AN ACT to add six FIVE new sections to Article 14 of the Code of
Public Local Laws of Maryland (1930 Edition), title "Howard
County", said new sections to be known as Sections 198-I to 198N
198M, to follow immediately after Section 198H thereof, as enacted
by Chapter 862 of the Acts of 1947 and to be under the new sub-title
"Housing Code", authorizing the Board of County Commissioners
of Howard County to adopt a comprehensive housing code or parts
thereof, prescribing minimum housing standards, fixing penalties
for the violation thereof and providing for the administration and
enforcement of this Act.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That six FIVE new sections be and they are hereby added to Article
14 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland (1930 Edition), title
"Howard County", said new sections to be known as Sections 198-1
to 198N 198M, to follow immediately after Section 198H thereof, as
enacted by Chapter 862 of the Acts of 1947, to be under the new sub-
title "Housing Code", and to read as follows:

198-1. for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals
or general welfare, to prevent property deterioration and the develop-
ment of slums, to maintain property values, to develop community and
county wide awareness of the dangers inherent in unsanitary con-
ditions in and about buildings used for human habitation and to
provide living facilities in conformity with contemporary criteria
of human dignity, the Court COUNTY Commissioners of Howard
County are hereby empowered to adopt a comprehensive housing code
or such parts thereof as said Commissioners deem necessary to safe-
guard the welfare of the people of Howard County.

198J. Such housing code, or parts thereof, may establish minimum
standards governing the condition and maintenance of buildings used
for human habitation; establish minimum standards governing sup-
plied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions
essential to make buildings safe, sanitary, and fit for human habita-
tion; establish minimum standards governing the condition of dwell-
ing units offered for rent; fix responsibilities and duties of owners
and occupants of buildings used for human habitation; authorize the
inspection of dwelling units and grounds adjacent thereto; provide
for vacating dwelling units found to be unfit for human habitation;
prescribe rules for proper maintenance of open spaces used in con-
junction with dwelling units such as storage areas, elimination of
weeds, grass, trash and. debris; provide for rodent control and pre-
vention of vermin infestation; provide for administration and en-
forcement and fix penalties for violation of the regulations.

198K. The Commissioners may provide that the requirements of
the Housing Code, or such parts as may be adopted by said Commis-

EXPLANATION: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.