Howard County                                   2259

they are hereby added to Title 17 of the Howard County Code, "Public
Protection Services," subtitle, "Fire" to read as follows:

17.200—Rubbish, Debris, Noxious Weeds Declared to be a Nuisance

Any rubbish, trash, dry brush, noxious weeds or grass exceeding
twelve inches in height, or debris or other material of a flammable nature
which creates or tends to create a fire hazard endangering life or property
on any lot or parcel of ground, except that weeds, brush , and grass shall
be excluded from the provisions of this subtitle on land actively devoted
to agricultural or conservation uses are hereby declared to be a public
nuisance; and it shall be unlawful for anyone to permit any such rubbish,
trash, dry brush, weeds or grass exceeding twelve inches in height, or
debris or other material of a flammable nature to remain on any lot or
parcel of ground.

17.201—Removal—Notice

It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works to serve or cause
to be served a notice upon the owner of any premises upon which rubbish,
trash, dry brush, noxious weeds or grass, or debris or other material of a
flammable nature are permitted in violation of the provisions of this sub-
title and to demand the abatement of the nuisance within ten (10) days.
The notice shall be in writing and sent by registered or certified mail.

17.202—Abatement

If the person so served does not abate the nuisance within ten (10)
days the Director of Public Works may proceed to abate such nuisance,
keeping an account of the expense of the abatement, and such expense
shall be charged to and paid by such owners.

17.203—Lien ,

Charges for the abatement of such nuisance shall constitute a lien
upon the premises. Whenever a bill for such charges remains unpaid for
sixty (60) days after it has been rendered, the County Administrator may
file with the Director of Finance a statement of lien claim. This statement
shall contain a legal description of the premises, the expenses and costs
incurred and the date the nuisance was abated, and a notice that the
County claims a lien for this amount. These charges shall constitute a lien
on the real property in the same manner as unpaid taxes constitute a lien
on real property. Notice of such lien claim shall be mailed to the owner
of the premises by the Director of Finance by registered or certified mail
within ten (10) days of the filing by the County Administrator of such
statement of lien claim. Provided, however, that failure of the owner to
receive such notice shall not affect the right to foreclose the lien for such
charges as provided in the following section.

17.204—Sale of Property

The Director of Finance shall proceed to sell and shall sell the real
property upon which the said lien attaches in the same manner as now
provided by law for the sale of real estate upon which taxes are in arrears.

Section 2. And be it further enacted by the County Council of Howard
County, Maryland, That this Act shall take effect sixty (60) days after its
enactment.

This Bill, having been approved by the Executive and returned to the
Council, stands enacted on September 10, 1970.