Howard County, MD HOA Rules: Board Governance (2026)

Sec. 1100 states the subtitle's purpose is to protect public health, safety and welfare by enhancing the Department's ability to conduct fire-safety inspections through mandatory registration. Sec. 1101 limits 'common ownership community' to a multifamily building under a condominium regime created under Title 11 of the Real Property Article of Maryland law, or a cooperative housing corporation as defined in Sec. 5-6B-01 of the Corporations and Associations Article; 'common area' means the whole building except individual units plus the surrounding community property. Registration under Sec.

1102 is annual, on a Department form, with any fee set by County Council resolution, and the community must notify the Department within 30 days of a change in its name, ownership interest (including a resident agent or officer change), or management or maintenance company. Sec. 1103 gives the Director authority to inspect common areas for compliance with the Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing, the Fire Prevention Code at Sec. 104, and the Building Code, and to enter common areas at reasonable times; if entry is refused, the Director may seek a court order.

Notices of violation must be in writing describing the community and violation with a correction deadline (Sec. 1104), and are served on the resident agent, the Council of Unit Owners, or a corporate officer or board member, with newspaper publication or on-site posting as a fallback (Sec. 1105).