§ 13-904. Charles County building code

   (a) In general. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall adopt a building code that:

      (i) specifies standards for constructing, maintaining, or repairing buildings and structures; and

      (ii) substantially conforms to the basic building code adopted by the International Code Council.

   (2) After a hearing on the proposed changes, the county commissioners may amend the code.

(b) Exemption. -- In Charles County, the building code adopted under this section does not apply to any farm buildings or any other outbuilding with a cost of less than $ 2,500.

(c) Permit fee. -- The County Commissioners of Charles County may impose a fee for a permit issued under the building code.

(d) Building inspector. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall appoint a building inspector and assistant inspectors at salaries as provided in the county budget.

   (2) The inspectors shall enforce the building code and the related regulations.

(e) Powers. -- The County Commissioners of Charles County may:

   (1) provide penalties for a violation of the building code; and

   (2) abate a violation of the building code.

(f) Assessment for costs of abatement of violation of building code. --

   (1) If the County Commissioners of Charles County abate a violation of the building code, the county commissioners may assess against the property the reasonable costs of the abatement.

   (2) The assessment shall be:

      (i) added to the annual tax bill of the property to be collected in the same manner as ordinary taxes are collected; and

      (ii) subject to the same interest and penalty for nonpayment as provided by law for the nonpayment of county taxes.

   (3) The assessment is a lien against the property from the date of assessment until paid.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 25, § 10E; 2013, ch. 119, § 2; ch. 631.