Maryland Land Use Section 8.12

      (a)      A historic district commission or historic preservation commission shall:

            (1)      File with the building inspector of the local jurisdiction a certificate of the commission's approval, modification, or rejection of any application or plan submitted to the commission for review; or

            (2)      If there is no building inspector in the county or municipal corporation, issue to the owner, lessee, or tenant of the property and premises that is the subject of the application or plan a certificate of the commission's approval, modification, or rejection.

      (b)      An applicant may not begin work on any project submitted for review by a historic district commission or historic preservation commission, until the commission has filed the certificate of approval with the building inspector.

      (c)      The building inspector may not issue a building permit for a change or construction submitted for review by a historic district commission or historic preservation commission until the building inspector has received the certificate of approval.

      (d)      If there is no building inspector in the local jurisdiction, the owner, lessee, or tenant of the property and premises may not commence the proposed work or change until the historic district commission or historic preservation commission has issued to the owner, lessee, or tenant a certificate of approval.

      (e)      If a historic district commission or historic preservation commission fails to act on a completed application within 45 days after the date that the completed application was filed, the application shall be considered approved unless:

            (1)      The applicant and the commission agree to an extension of the 45-day period; or

            (2)      The application is withdrawn.