In the past regular session of the Maryland General Assembly, important revisions to the Community Bill of Rights were passed that will finally allow community associations to take effective action to enforce property code violations and reduce neighborhood nuisances. While the Community Bill of Rights has been on the books for fifteen years, only as of October 1st, 2012 does it include language that empowers more community organizations to take legal action “to address problem properties by filing a private legal action against the property owner” that could compel that owner to correct the element of their property that is a nuisance to neighbors.
The Community Law Center (CLC) is a resource to consider if you plan to use this law to enforce a code violation. Go to the CLC application page at www.communitylaw.org/apply-for-services or call Ingrid Hitchens at 410-366-0922 ext. 13 to apply for legal assistance.
