(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), the annual license fee per dwelling unit is:
(1) for a Class 1 multi-family rental facility license:
(A) $44.00 per dwelling unit in an apartment complex or an accessory dwelling unit approved by special exception; and
(B) $59.00 per dwelling unit for all others;
(2) for a Class 2 single-family rental facility license, $101.00 per dwelling unit;
(3) for a Class 3 accessory dwelling unit license $101.00 per unit.
(b) Fee exemption for an accessory dwelling unit occupied by an individual with disabilities.
(1) A license applicant is exempt from any fee associated with the licensure of an accessory dwelling unit occupied by an individual with disabilities.
(2) To establish that an individual with disabilities occupies an accessory dwelling unit, a license applicant annually must certify, on a form provided by the Director, that an occupant of the accessory dwelling unit:
(A) receives Social Security Disability benefits based on blindness or disability under Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended;
(B) receives Supplemental Security Income benefits based on blindness or disability under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended;
(C) receives disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
(D) is the beneficiary of an ABLE account under Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended; or
(E) has a written certification, signed by a physician licensed in the State of Maryland, that the individual:
(i) has a severe medically determinable impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations, which have lasted, or can be expected to last, for at least 12 months or to result in death; or
(ii) is blind, which means the individual has central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens.
(3) If the Director requests evidence sufficient to verify the information certified under this subsection, the license applicant or licensee must provide such evidence.
(4) The Director must protect the confidentiality of any individual health information received under this Section to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(c) Annual fee exemption for a rent-free accessory apartment.
(1) A license applicant is exempt from the annual license fee under subsection (a) for an accessory apartment if the applicant does not charge rent for the apartment.
(2) To qualify for an exemption under this subsection, a license applicant annually must certify, on a form provided by the Director, that the applicant does not charge rent for the apartment.
(3) If the Director requests evidence sufficient to verify the information certified under this subsection, the license applicant or licensee must provide such evidence.
(d) By method (3) regulation, the Executive may establish annual fees that are:
(1) higher than those specified in subparagraph (a); and
(2) in amounts sufficient to pay the costs of administering this Chapter. (1972 L.M.C., ch. 27, § 1; 1973 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 2; 1975 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 2; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 32; 1992 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1; 2000 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 1; 2017 L.M.C., ch. 17, §1; 2018 L.M.C., ch. 3, §1; 2019 L.M.C., ch. 17, §1; 2019 L.M.C., ch. 18, §1.)
Editor's note—Section 29-20, formerly § 29-19, was renumbered and amended pursuant to 2000 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 1.