Maryland Code § RP-11-103

Section RP-11-103
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(a) The declaration shall express at least the following particulars:
(1) The name by which the condominium is to be identified, which
name shall include the word "condominium" or be followed by the phrase "a
condominium".
(2) A description of the condominium sufficient to identify it with
reasonable certainty together with a statement of the owner's intent to subject the
property to the condominium regime established under this title.
(3) A general description of each unit, including its perimeters,
location, and any other data sufficient to identify it with reasonable certainty. As to
condominiums created on or after July 1, 1981, except as provided by the declaration
or the plat and subject to paragraph (4)(ii) of this subsection:

(i) If walls, floors, or ceilings are designated as boundaries of
a unit, all lath, furring, wallboard, plasterboard, plaster, paneling, tiles, wallpaper,
paint, finished flooring, and any other materials constituting any part of the finished
surfaces thereof are a part of the unit, and all other portions of the walls, floors, or
ceilings are a part of the common elements.
(ii) If any chute, flue, duct, wire, conduit, or any other fixture
lies partially within and partially outside the designated boundaries of a unit, any
portion thereof serving only that unit is a part of that unit, and any portion thereof
serving more than one unit or any portion of the common elements is a part of the
common elements.
(iii) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of this
paragraph, all spaces, interior partitions, and other fixtures and improvements
within the boundaries of a unit are a part of the unit.
(iv) Any shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops,
porches, balconies, patios, and all exterior doors and windows or other fixtures
designed to serve a single unit, but located outside the unit's boundaries, are limited
common elements allocated exclusively to that unit.
(4) (i) A general description of the common elements together
with a designation of those portions of the common elements that are limited common
elements and the unit to which the use of each is restricted initially.
(ii) 1. A. This subparagraph applies to any
condominium for which a declaration, bylaws, and plat are recorded in the land
records of the county where the property is located on or after October 1, 2010.
B. This subparagraph does not apply to a condominium
that is occupied and used solely for nonresidential purposes.
2. The description of the common elements shall
include the following improvements to the extent that the improvements are shared
by or serve more than one unit or serve any portion of the common elements:
A. Roofs;
B. Foundations;
C. External and supporting walls;
D. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; and

E. Other structural elements.
3. With the exception of corrective amendments
necessary to comply with subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph, the description
and designation of the common elements required under subsubparagraph 2 of this
subparagraph may not be amended until after the date on which the unit owners,
other than the developer and its affiliates, first elect a controlling majority of the
members of the board of directors for the council of unit owners.
(5) The percentage interests appurtenant to each unit as provided in
§ 11-107 of this title.
(6) The number of votes at meetings of the council of unit owners
appurtenant to each unit.
(b) The information required by subsection (a)(2) through (4) of this section
may be incorporated in the declaration by reference to the condominium plat.
(c) (1) (i) 1. Except as provided in subsubparagraph 2 of this
subparagraph, the declaration may be amended only with the written consent of 66
2/3 percent of the unit owners listed on the current roster.
2. Subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph does not
apply:
A. To a corrective amendment under § 11-103.1 of this
title;
B. As provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph;
or
C. As provided in subsection (d) of this section.
(ii) 1. If any of the units of the condominium are owned by
the developer, the declaration may be amended only with the written consent of 80%
of the unit owners listed on the current roster.
2. Subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph does not
apply:
A. To a corrective amendment under § 11-103.1 of this
title;
B. As provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection; or

C. As provided in subsection (d) of this section.
(2) Amendments under this section are subject to the following
limitations:
(i) Except to the extent expressly permitted or expressly
required by other provisions of this title, an amendment to the declaration may not
change the boundaries of any unit, the undivided percentage interest in the common
elements of any unit, the liability for common expenses or rights to common profits
of any unit, or the number of votes in the council of unit owners of any unit without
the written consent of every unit owner and mortgagee.
(ii) An amendment to the declaration may not modify in any
way rights expressly reserved for the benefit of the developer or provisions required
by any governmental authority or for the benefit of any public utility.
(iii) Except to the extent expressly permitted by the
declaration, an amendment to the declaration may not change residential units to
nonresidential units or change nonresidential units to residential units without the
written consent of every unit owner and mortgagee.
(iv) Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this title and
by the declaration, an amendment to the declaration may not redesignate general
common elements as limited common elements without the written consent of every
unit owner and mortgagee.
(v) 1. Except as provided in subparagraph (vi) of this
paragraph, if the declaration contains a provision requiring any action on the part of
the holder of a mortgage or deed of trust on a unit in order to amend the declaration,
that provision shall be deemed satisfied if the procedures under this subparagraph
are satisfied.
2. If the declaration contains a provision described in
subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph, the council of unit owners shall cause to be
delivered to each holder of a mortgage or deed of trust entitled to notice a copy of the
proposed amendment to the declaration.
3. If a holder of the mortgage or deed of trust that
receives the proposed amendment fails to object, in writing, to the proposed
amendment within 60 days after the date of actual receipt of the proposed
amendment, the holder shall be deemed to have consented to the adoption of the
amendment.

(vi) Subparagraph (v) of this paragraph does not apply to
amendments that:
1. Alter the priority of the lien of the mortgage or deed
of trust;
2. Materially impair or affect the unit as collateral; or
3. Materially impair or affect the right of the holder of
the mortgage or deed of trust to exercise any rights under the mortgage, deed of trust,
or applicable law.
(3) (i) The council of unit owners may petition the circuit court in
equity for the county in which the condominium is located to correct:
1. An improper description of the units or common
elements; or
2. An improper assignment of the percentage interests
in the common elements, common expenses, and common profits.
(ii) The petition may be brought only if:
1. The unit owners, at a special meeting called for that
purpose, vote to petition the court to correct a specific error by a vote of at least 66
2/3 percent of the unit owners present and voting at a properly convened meeting;
2. The council of unit owners gives notice of the special
meeting to each mortgagee of record for the condominium; and
3. An opportunity is provided for the mortgagees to
speak at the special meeting upon written request to the council of unit owners.
(iii) The court may reform the declaration to correct the error
or omission as the court considers appropriate, if:
1. The council of unit owners gives notice of the filing
of the petition to each mortgagee and unit owner within 15 days of filing;
2. The council of unit owners files an affidavit with the
court stating that the conditions of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph have been
met;

3. The council of unit owners proves, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that there is an error or omission as provided in
subparagraph (i) of this paragraph;
4. Any mortgagee with an interest in the condominium
is permitted to intervene in the proceedings upon filing a motion to intervene as
provided in the Maryland Rules;
5. The reformation does not substantially impair the
property rights of any unit owner or mortgagee; and
6. The court issues an order of reformation.
(iv) A final order of reformation may be appealed by any party
within 30 days of its issuance. An order of reformation may not be recorded until the
appeal period has lapsed or all appeals have been completed.
(4) An amendment or order of reformation becomes effective on
recordation in the same manner as the declaration. If the condominium is registered
with the Secretary of State, the council of unit owners shall file a copy of the order of
reformation with the Secretary of State within 15 days of recordation.
(d) (1) (i) A declaration may provide for the suspension of the use of
parking or recreational facility common elements by a unit owner that is more than
60 days in arrears in the payment of any assessment due to the condominium.
(ii) If a declaration contains a suspension provision authorized
under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the declaration shall state that a
suspension of the use of common elements may not be implemented until the council
of unit owners:
1. Mails to the unit owner a demand letter specifying a
time period of at least 10 days within which the unit owner may pay the delinquent
assessment or request a hearing to contest the suspension; and
2. If a unit owner requests a hearing to contest a
suspension, provides notice and holds a hearing in accordance with § 11-113(b) of
this title.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the declaration or bylaws, the
council of unit owners may amend the declaration to add or repeal a suspension
provision authorized under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection by the affirmative vote
of at least 60% of the total eligible voters of the condominium under the voting
procedures contained in the declaration or the bylaws.

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