4316

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

the State of Maryland as provided by State law. All
owners or agents shall certify to the Commission the
name, address and telephone number of an agent who shall
reside in Maryland and be qualified to accept service of
process on behalf of the owner.

93A-17. Penalty for failure to license or to comply with
Commission orders or summons.

(a)    Any person who conducts or operates, attempts
to conduct or operate, or permits the conduct or
operation of a rental facility owned by him without first
having obtained or applied for the license herein
prescribed, or after a license has been revoked or
suspended or refused, or fails to comply with any
Commission order or summons issued pursuant to this
article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding One
Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and costs. Tines imposed
hereunder may be collected or enforced through civil
attachment proceedings. Bach day that a person conducts
or operates, attempts to conduct or permits the conduct
or operation of a rental facility owned by him in
violation of this Chapter, or fails to comply with any
Commission order or summons shall constitute a separate
offense hereunder, except that where said person makes a
bona fide effort to comply with this Chapter no penalty
shall lie for that period of time when the person is
making a bona fide effort to so comply. Provided
farther, that where any person chooses to cease the
conduction or operation of a rental facility, no penalty
will lie during the sixty (60) day period that tenants
have to vacate the facility as specified in Section
93A-24(b) of this Chapter.

(b)    In addition to any criminal or other penalty
herein provided, injunctive or other appropriate action
or proceeding to correct any violation of this Article
may be instituted by the County Attorney's Office
pursuant to the provisions of Section 93A—5 of this
Chapter, and any court of competent jurisdiction may
issue restraining orders, temporary or permanent
injunctions or other appropriate forms of relief.

93A—18. Licensing procedures.

(a) Within twenty (20) days after the effective
date of this Chapter, the landlord of every existing
rental facility in Montgomery County shall make
application to the Office of Landlord—Tenant Affairs for
a license on a form to be furnished by the Office. Upon
receipt of a complete and executed application from the
landlord of an existing rental facility, accompanied by
the required fee, the Executive Director shall issue a