2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(III) IF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER, OCCUPANT,
OR TENANT IS REASONABLY BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVE CAUSED THE
STATE OF NUISANCE:

1.   SERVE AN ABATEMENT ORDER ON THE THAT PERSON
RESPONSIBLE; AND

2.   A. SERVE A COPY OF THE ABATEMENT ORDER ON THE
OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE STATE OF NUISANCE EXISTS OR, IF THE
OWNER CANNOT BE FOUND, ON THE OCCUPANT OR TENANT OF THE PROPERTY; OR

B. IF THE PROPERTY IS UNOCCUPIED AND THE OWNER
CANNOT BE FOUND, ATTACH A COPY OF THE ABATEMENT ORDER TO THE PROPERTY
WHERE THE STATE OF NUISANCE EXISTS.

(3) (I) AN ABATEMENT ORDER UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL
REQUIRE AND STATE:

1.   A TIME PERIOD WITHIN WHICH THE PROPERTY OWNER,
OCCUPANT, OR TENANT OR ANY OTHER RESPONSIBLE PERSON DETERMINED TO
HAVE CAUSED THE STATE OF NUISANCE SHALL ABATE THE STATE OF NUISANCE;
AND

2.   TO THE BEST KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE
WORK AND MATERIALS NECESSARY TO ABATE THE STATE OF NUISANCE.

(II) THE TIME PERIOD WITHIN WHICH TO ABATE THE STATE OF
NUISANCE OR TO COMMENCE ABATEMENT, AS WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE
SECRETARY, MAY NOT BE LESS THAN 24 HOURS FROM THE DATE AND HOUR THAT
THE ORDER IS SERVED.

(4)  IF THE PROPERTY OWNER, OCCUPANT, OR TENANT OR ANY OTHER
RESPONSIBLE PERSON SERVED WITH AN ABATEMENT ORDER UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION FAILS TO ABATE OR COMMENCE ABATEMENT OF THE STATE OF
NUISANCE WITHIN THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER, THE DEPARTMENT MAY:

(I)  ENTER ON THE PROPERTY; AND

(II)  AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, OCCUPANT, OR
TENANT OR ANY OTHER RESPONSIBLE PERSON DETERMINED TO HAVE WILLFULLY
OR NEGLIGENTLY CAUSED THE STATE OF NUISANCE, DO ANY WORK AND USE ANY
MATERIALS NECESSARY TO ABATE THE STATE OF NUISANCE.

(5)   (I) 1. AS SOON AS THE TOTAL COST OF ANY ABATEMENT
ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SUBSECTION HAS BEEN
DETERMINED, THE SECRETARY SHALL PROVIDE A FULL STATEMENT OF CHARGES TO
ANY PERSON DETERMINED TO HAVE WILLFULLY OR NEGLIGENTLY CAUSED THE
STATE OF NUISANCE.

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Ch. 373