§ 35-6-101. DEFINITIONS.

(a)

In general. In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)

Apartment complex. "Apartment complex" means a group of 2 or more related buildings that:

(1)

Have the same owner; and

(2)

Contain at least 4 dwelling units in each building that:

(i)

Share a common entrance from the outside with other dwelling units in the same building; or

(ii)

Are arranged above or below, or next to, another dwelling unit.

(c)

Applicant.

(1)

"Applicant" means the property owner of a dwelling unit.

(2)

"Applicant" includes a tenant of a dwelling when the tenant rents a dwelling unit or a portion of a dwelling unit to another tenant.

(d)

Boarding or rooming house. "Boarding or rooming house" has the meaning stated in § 101 of the Baltimore County Zoning Regulations.

(e)

Code Official. "Code Official" means the Director or the Director's designee.

(f)

Department. "Department" means the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections.

(g)

Director. "Director" means the Director of the Department.

(h)

Dwelling. "Dwelling" means a building or a portion of a building that contains one or more dwelling units used, intended, or designed to be built, used, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied, or that are occupied for living purposes.

(i)

Dwelling unit. "Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons that has permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation.

(j)

Group house.

(1)

"Group house" means a group of not less than 3 attached dwelling units which:

(i)

Have been constructed together in a lateral row surrounded by yard space;

(ii)

Are separated from another by a party wall; and

(iii)

Have the same owner.

(2)

"Group house" includes townhouse apartment complexes, group house apartment buildings, and back to back group houses.

(3)

"Group house" does not include a duplex or semidetached dwelling.

(k)

Hearing Officer. "Hearing Officer" has the meaning stated in § 3-6-101 of the Code.

(l)

Home inspection. "Home inspection" means a written evaluation of the compliance of one or more of the components of an existing residential building with the health and safety requirements established by the Director in accordance with § 35-6-107 of this title.

(m)

Home inspector. "Home inspector" has the meaning stated in § 16-101 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(n)

Occupant. "Occupant" means an individual who inhabits a space within a dwelling unit.

(o)

Owner. "Owner" means a person who:

(1)

Has more than a 25% legal or equitable interest in a property; or

(2)

Shares in more than 25% of the profits or losses from the rental property.

(p)

Person. "Person" has the meaning stated in § 1-2-107 of the Code.

(q)

Premises.

(1)

"Premises" means a lot, plot, or parcel of land on which there is a dwelling.

(2)

"Premises" includes all dwellings on the lot, plot, or parcel of land.

(r)

Property owner.

(1)

"Property owner" means an owner.

(2)

"Property owner" includes a:

(i)

Limited liability company; and

(ii)

The guardian of an estate or the personal representative of an estate, if ordered to take possession of the premises by a court.

(s)

Tenant. "Tenant" means an occupant of a rental property who is not an owner of the rental property.

(1988 Code, § 18-101) (Bill No. 49-02, § 1, 7-25-2002; Bill No. 76-03, § 14, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 43-05, § 1, 5-16-2005; Bill No. 117-05, § 1, 11-21-2005; Bill No. 36-06, § 1, 5-15-2006; Bill No. 103-06, § 1, 9-15-2006; Bill No. 87-07, § 1, 2-3-2008; Bill No. 122-10, §§ 15, 30, 1-16-2011)

Editor's note:
  Section 1 of Bill 40-06 repeals the sunset provision contained in Section 9 of Bill 49-02.
 Section 2 of Bill No. 36-06 provides that a property owner subject to the requirements of Title 6 shall obtain the license required by this Act on or before July 14, 2006.
 Section 2 of Bill No. 103-06 provides that a property owner subject to the requirements of Title 6 shall obtain the license required by this Act on or before November 16, 2006.
 Section 2 of Bill No. 87-07 provides that a person subject to the requirements of Article 35, Title 6 of the Baltimore County Code, 2003 shall obtain the license required by this Act on or before July 1, 2008. This section does not apply to a dwelling unit for which a license was received under Article 35, Title 6 of the Baltimore County Code, 2003 before the effective date of this Act.
 Section 2 of Bill No. 76-08 repeals and re-enacts Section 2 of Bill No. 87-07 to change the deadline for obtaining the required license from July 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009.
 Section 2 of Bill No. 26-18 provides that a property owner who is no longer exempted from the licensing requirements of Article 25, Title 6 of the County Code as a result of this Act shall obtain the license before September 1, 2018.