Section 11B-111.10 - Dispute settlement mechanism(a) Unless the declaration or bylaws state otherwise, the dispute settlement mechanism provided by this section is applicable to complaints or demands formally arising on or after October 1, 2022.(b)(1) The board of directors or other governing body of the homeowners association may not impose a fine, suspend voting, or infringe on any other right of a lot owner or any other occupant for violations of rules until the procedures in this subsection are followed.(2) A written demand to cease and desist from an alleged violation shall be provided to the alleged violator specifying: (i) The nature of the alleged violation;(ii) The action required to abate the violation; and(iii) A period of time, not less than 15 days, during which the violation may be abated without further sanction, if the violation is a continuing violation, or a statement that any further violation of the same rule may result in the imposition of sanction after notice and opportunity for hearing if the violation is not continuing.(3) Within 12 months of the demand, if the violation continues past the period of time allowed in the demand for abatement without penalty or if the same rule is violated subsequently, the board shall provide the alleged violator, at the alleged violator's address of record, with a written notice of the alleged violator's right to request a hearing to be held by the board in executive session containing: (i) The nature of the alleged violation;(ii) The procedures for requesting a hearing at which the alleged violator may produce any statement, evidence, or witnesses on behalf of the alleged violator;(iii) The period of time for requesting a hearing, which may not be less than 10 days from the giving of the notice; and(iv) The proposed sanction to be imposed.(4)(i) If the alleged violator requests a hearing within the period of time specified in the notice provided under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the board shall provide the alleged violator with a written notice of the time and place of the hearing, which time may not be less than 10 days after the date the request for a hearing was provided.(ii)1. At the hearing, the alleged violator has the right to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses.2. The hearing shall be held in executive session in accordance with this notice and shall afford the alleged violator a reasonable opportunity to be heard.3.A. Prior to the taking effect of any sanction under this section, proof of notice shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting.B. The proof of notice shall be deemed adequate if a copy of the notice, together with a statement of the date and manner of providing the notice, is entered in the minutes by the officer or director who provided the notice.C. The notice requirement shall be deemed satisfied if the alleged violator appears at the meeting.4. The minutes of the meeting shall contain a written statement of the results of the hearing and the sanction, if any, imposed.(5) If the alleged violator does not request a hearing within the period of time specified in the notice provided under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the board, at the next meeting, shall deliberate as to whether the violation occurred and decide whether a sanction is appropriate for the violation.(6) A decision made in accordance with these procedures shall be appealable to the courts of Maryland.(c)(1) If any lot owner fails to comply with this title, the declaration, or bylaws, or a decision rendered in accordance with this section, the lot owner may be sued for damages caused by the failure or for injunctive relief, or both, by the homeowners association or by any other lot owner.(2) The prevailing party in any proceeding under this subsection is entitled to an award for counsel fees as determined by the court.(d) The failure of the board of directors or other governing body of the homeowners association to enforce a provision of this title, the declaration, or bylaws on any occasion is not a waiver of the right to enforce the provision on any other occasion.(e) This section does not apply to the Columbia Association or the village community associations for the villages of Columbia in Howard County.Md. Code, RP § 11B-111.10
Added by 2022 Md. Laws, Ch. 282, Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2022.