Maryland Housing and Community Development Section 7-220

      (a)      (1)      After notice and public hearing, a political subdivision may find that, because of a protected action, a low-income and moderate-income rental housing emergency exists in all or part of its jurisdiction.

            (2)      The political subdivision shall make findings as to:

                  (i)      the nature and incidence of protected actions;

                  (ii)      the resulting hardship to and displacement of tenants; and

                  (iii)      the scarcity of low-income and moderate-income rental housing.

      (b)      (1)      Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on finding that there is an emergency under this section, a political subdivision may enact a law, ordinance, or regulation to:

                  (i)      grant to a designated household a right to an extended lease for a period in addition to that granted under § 7-214 of this subtitle; or

                  (ii)      extend any other provision of this subtitle concerning extended leases.

            (2)      A political subdivision may not require that:

                  (i)      more than 20% of assisted units in an assisted project be set aside for extended leases for designated households; or

                  (ii)      the term of an extended lease for any household made a designated household by the political subdivision exceed 3 years.

            (3)      The political subdivision may require that the notice required under § 7-216(a)(3) of this subtitle be modified to disclose the effects of any actions taken under this section.

      (c)      Within 10 days after enacting a law, ordinance, or regulation in accordance with this section, a political subdivision shall send a copy to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Housing and Community Development.