Maryland Environment Section 4-203
§ 4-203.
(a) The Department of the Environment shall implement the provisions of this subtitle and shall consult the Department of Natural Resources from time to time concerning the impact of stormwater on waters of the State.
(b) The Department shall adopt rules and regulations which establish criteria and procedures for stormwater management in Maryland. The rules and regulations shall:
(1) Indicate that the primary goal of the State and local programs will be to maintain after development, as nearly as possible, the predevelopment runoff characteristics;
(2) Make allowance for the difference in hydrologic characteristics and stormwater management needs of different parts of the State;
(3) Specify that watershed-wide analyses may be necessary to prevent undesirable downstream effects of increased stormwater runoff;
(4) Specify the exemptions a county or municipality may grant from the requirements of submitting a stormwater management plan;
(5) Specify the minimum content of the local ordinances or the rules and regulations of the affected county governing body to be adopted which may be done by inclusion of a model ordinance or model rules and regulations;
(6) Indicate that water quality practices may be required for any redevelopment, even when predevelopment runoff characteristics are maintained; and
(7) Specify the minimum requirements for inspection and maintenance of stormwater practices.
(c) Before the regulations required under this subsection are final, the Department shall hold at least one public hearing in the affected immediate geographic areas of the State and shall consult with the affected counties and municipalities.
(d) The Department shall provide technical assistance, training, research, and coordination in stormwater management technology to the local governments consistent with the purposes of this subtitle.
