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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0431*
HOUSE BILL 431
N1 6lr1942
By: Delegate Behler
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 19, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Real Property – Recordation and Printing of Subdivision Plats – Alterations 2
FOR the purpose of updating certain provisions of law relating to the recordation of 3
subdivision plats; increasing a certain fee for printing of a set of subdivision plats; 4
and generally relating to the recordation of subdivision plats. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Real Property 7
Section 3–108(a) and (b) 3–108(a), (b), and (d) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Real Property 12
Section 3–108(c) and (d) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Real Property 18
3–108. 19
2 HOUSE BILL 431
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the provisions of 1
this section are in addition to any other provisions of the Code, pertaining to recordation of 2
subdivision plats. 3
(2) This section does not apply in Queen Anne’s County. 4
(b) (1) If the owner of land in the State subdivides the land for commercial, 5
industrial, or residential use to be comprised of streets, avenues, lanes, or alleys and lots, 6
and desires, for the purpose of description and identification, to record a plat of the 7
subdivision among the land records of the county where the land lies, the clerk of the court 8
shall accept and record the plat as prescribed in this section. 9
(2) The clerk may not accept the plat for record until the owner of land 10
complies with the requirements prescribed in this section. 11
(c) (1) In this subsection, “coordinate” means a number which determines the 12
position of any point in a north or south and an east or west direction in relation to any 13
other point in the same coordinate system. 14
(2) The plat shall be legible, drawn accurately and to scale and shall be 15
submitted for recordation [using black ink on transparent mylar or black –line photo 16
process comparable to original quality that will conform] IN A FORMAT THAT CONFORMS 17
to archival standards. 18
(3) The plat shall contain the courses and distances of all lines drawn on 19
the plat. 20
(4) With respect to all curved lines, the plat shall show the length of all 21
radii, arcs, and tangents and the courses and distances of all chords. 22
(5) The plat shall contain a north arrow which represents and designates 23
either true or magnetic meridian as of a date specified on the plat or shall be referenced to 24
a recognized coordinate system within the county. 25
(6) All courses shown on the plat shall be calculated from the plat meridian. 26
(7) No distance on the plat may be marked “more or less” except on lines 27
which begin, terminate, or bind on a [marsh] WETLAND, stream, or any body of water. 28
(8) (i) The plat shall show the position by coordinates of not less t han 29
four markers set in convenient places within the subdivision [in a manner so that the 30
position of one marker is visible from the position of one other marker]. 31
(ii) From these markers, [commonly called traverse points, ] every 32
corner and line can be readily calculated and marked on the ground. 33
HOUSE BILL 431 3
(iii) These markers shall comply with standards that the State Board 1
for Professional Land Surveyors sets by regulation under § 15 –208 of the Business 2
Occupations and Professions Article. 3
(9) A certificate stating that the requirement of this subsection, as far as it 4
concerns the making of the plat and setting of the markers, shall be put on the plat and 5
signed by the owner of the land shown on the plat to the best of the owner’s knowledge and 6
by the professional land surveyor or property line surveyor preparing it. 7
(d) (1) The owner shall mail or deliver three copies of the plat to the clerk. 8
(2) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the fee 9
is [$5] $25 PER PAGE for each set of plats. 10
(ii) A fee is not required for plats showing property or rights–of–way 11
to be acquired or granted by the State Highway Administration. 12
(iii) The clerk may assess additional fees if required by local law or 13
ordinance. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. 16
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.