§ 13-904

(a) (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall adopt a building code that:

(i) specifies standards for constructing, maintaining, or repairing buildings and structures; and

(ii) substantially conforms to the basic building code adopted by the International Code Council.

(2) After a hearing on the proposed changes, the county commissioners may amend the code.

(b) In Charles County, the building code adopted under this section does not apply to any farm buildings or any other outbuilding with a cost of less than $2,500.

(c) The County Commissioners of Charles County may impose a fee for a permit issued under the building code.

(d) (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall appoint a building inspector and assistant inspectors at salaries as provided in the county budget.

(2) The inspectors shall enforce the building code and the related regulations.

(e) The County Commissioners of Charles County may:

(1) provide penalties for a violation of the building code; and

(2) abate a violation of the building code.

(f) (1) If the County Commissioners of Charles County abate a violation of the building code, the county commissioners may assess against the property the reasonable costs of the abatement.

(2) The assessment shall be:

(i) added to the annual tax bill of the property to be collected in the same manner as ordinary taxes are collected; and

(ii) subject to the same interest and penalty for nonpayment as provided by law for the nonpayment of county taxes.

(3) The assessment is a lien against the property from the date of assessment until paid.