HB1337 • 2026

Frederick County - Well and Septic Service - Plan Approval

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Delegate Fair
Last action: 2026-02-12
Official status: In the House - First Reading Environment and Transportation
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Frederick County - Well and Septic Service - Plan Approval

Requiring the local health department in Frederick County to approve, without change or comment, plans for well or septic service related to lots that were subdivided and recorded in the Frederick County land records during the period between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 2019, both inclusive, unless the local health department issues a formal written finding of imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare.

What This Bill Does

Requiring the local health department in Frederick County to approve, without change or comment, plans for well or septic service related to lots that were subdivided and recorded in the Frederick County land records during the period between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 2019, both inclusive, unless the local health department issues a formal written finding of imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-12 House
First Reading Environment and Transportation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Frederick County - Well and Septic Service - Plan Approval

Official Summary Text

Requiring the local health department in Frederick County to approve, without change or comment, plans for well or septic service related to lots that were subdivided and recorded in the Frederick County land records during the period between January 1, 1976, and December 31, 2019, both inclusive, unless the local health department issues a formal written finding of imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1337*

HOUSE BILL 1337
M3, J1 6lr2177

By: Delegate Fair
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Frederick County – Well and Septic Service – Plan Approval 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the local health department in Frederick County to approve, 3
in a certain manner, a plan for well or septic service for a certain lot, or for certain 4
structures or improvements on a certain lot, under certain conditions; and generally 5
relating to plans for well or septic service in Frederick County. 6

BY adding to 7
Article – Environment 8
Section 9–1115 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Environment 14

9–1115. 15

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17

(2) “LOT” MEANS A PARCEL OF LAND THAT WAS SUBDIVIDED AND 18
RECORDED IN THE COUN TY LAND RECORDS DURI NG THE PERIOD BETWEE N 19
JANUARY 1, 1976, AND DECEMBER 31, 2019, BOTH INCLUSIVE. 20

(3) “PLAN” MEANS A PLAN FOR WELL OR SEPTIC SERVICE FOR: 21

2 HOUSE BILL 1337

(I) A LOT; OR 1

(II) AN EXISTING OR PROPOSED STRUCTURE OR IMPROVEMENT 2
ON A LOT. 3

(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY IN FREDERICK COUNTY. 4

(C) UNLESS THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES A FORMAL WRITTEN 5
FINDING OF IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEA LTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE , THE 6
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTM ENT SHALL APPROVE OR OTHERWISE ACCEPT, WITHOUT 7
CHANGE OR COMMENT , A PLAN FOR WELL AND SEPTIC SERV ICE IF THE PLAN IS 8
PREPARED AND CERTIFIED BY: 9

(1) A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER THAT IS CERTIFIED BY THE 10
DEPARTMENT IN SAND MOUND CONSTRUCTION AND AT–GRADE CONSTRUCTION FOR 11
COMPLEX WELL AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS; OR 12

(2) A LICENSED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST FOR 13
TRADITIONAL BELOW–GRADE WELL AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS. 14

(D) A FINDING OF IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC HEA LTH, SAFETY, OR 15
WELFARE ISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE APPEALED TO THE LOCAL HEALTH 16
DEPARTMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE FINDING WAS ISSUED. 17

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2026. 19