2013 Maryland Code
ENVIRONMENT
§ 10-201 - Investigation and notice by health officers

§10-201.

(a) The health officer for each county:

(1) May investigate any condition in the county that is dangerous to human health; and

(2) Shall investigate and report on the sanitary conditions of schools, places of business, and places of employment in the county.

(b) Except in Baltimore County, on the written complaint of a physician or of at least 2 persons who claim to be affected by the condition, the health officer for the county where the condition allegedly exists immediately shall investigate any complaint that any of the following is in a condition dangerous to human health:

(1) Any watercourse, well, spring, open ditch, gutter, cesspool, drain, outhouse, pigpen, or other place.

(2) Any accumulation or deposit of any substance.

(c) If the health officer finds that the condition of the place or thing investigated may injure the life or health of any person, the place or thing is in a state of nuisance and the health officer shall serve a written notice to the person who is causing the nuisance, ordering the person to abate the nuisance within a time specified in the notice.

(d) A person may not refuse or neglect to comply with the requirements of a notice served under this section.

(e) If a question arises between health officers as to the jurisdiction or duties of a health officer in the abatement of any unhealthy nuisance, the question shall be referred to the Secretary, who shall settle the question.