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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1444*
HOUSE BILL 1444
M3, L2 6lr2477
CF 6lr2479
By: Washington County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Washington County – On–Site Sewage Disposal System Regulations – 2
Exemptions 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing the Washington County Health Department to exempt the 4
owner of certain residential property from compliance with all or part of a certain 5
on–site sewage disposal system regulation if compliance with the regulation would 6
be unduly burdensome; establishing requirements for the consideration and issuance 7
of exemptions under this Act ; and generally relating to on–site sewage disposal 8
systems in Washington County. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Environment 11
Section 9–1115 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2014 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Environment 17
9–1115. 18
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY THAT: 19
(1) IS LOCATED IN A WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL 20
(RURAL) OR RURAL VILLAGE ZONING DISTRICT; AND 21
(2) AS OF JUNE 1, 2026, IS SERVED BY A CONVENTIONAL ON–SITE 22
SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES A SEPTIC TANK. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1444
(B) (1) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION, THE WASHINGTON COUNTY 1
HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAY EXEMPT THE OWNER OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY 2
QUALIFYING UNDER SUB SECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION FROM COMPLIANCE WITH 3
ALL OR PART OF A REGULATION UNDER COMAR 26.04.02, IF COMPLIANCE WITH 4
THE REGULATION WOULD BE UNDULY BURDENSOME. 5
(2) TO ESTABLISH THA T COMPLIANCE WITH A REGULATION WOULD 6
BE UNDULY BURDENSOME, AN APPLICANT SHALL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE UNIQUE 7
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROPERTY, EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, OR LOCATION 8
OF THE ON–SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM AT ISSUE MAKES COMPLIANCE 9
FINANCIALLY OR PHYSICALLY IMPRACTICABLE. 10
(C) (1) AN APPLICATION FOR AN EXEMPTION UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF 11
THIS SECTION SHALL: 12
(I) BE SUBMITTED TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH 13
DEPARTMENT; AND 14
(II) INCLUDE A REPORT COMPLETED BY A N INDIVIDUAL 15
LICENSED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ON–SITE WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS 16
DESCRIBING THE BURDE NS UNIQUE TO THE PRO PERTY THAT MAKE COMPLIANCE 17
WITH SPECIFIC REGULATIONS UNDER COMAR 26.04.02 UNDULY BURDENSOME. 18
(2) THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHALL 19
REVIEW AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 20
AND DETERMINE WHETHER COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATION OR REGULATIONS 21
SPECIFIED IN THE APPLICATION WOULD BE UNDULY BURDENSOME. 22
(3) IF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 23
DETERMINES THAT COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATION OR REGULATIONS WOULD 24
BE UNDULY BURDENSOME , THE WASHINGTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 25
SHALL ISSUE A PERMIT SPECIFYING THE CRITE RIA FROM WHICH THE P ROPERTY 26
OWNER IS EXEMPT. 27
(D) AN EXEMPTION GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION: 28
(1) APPLIES ONLY TO THE PROPERTY OWNER NAMED IN THE 29
APPLICATION AND DOES NOT RUN WITH THE PROPERTY; 30
(2) EXPIRES 3 YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OR ON 31
REGISTERING A CHANGE IN TITLE TO T HE PROPERTY, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST; 32
AND 33
HOUSE BILL 1444 3
(3) MAY BE RENEWED AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF TIMES. 1
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 2
1, 2026. 3