Harford County, MD Charter

Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪

Harford County, MD

Login

By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The Charter
Ch C Charter
Ch C Art I Name and Rights of the County
§ C-101 Body corporate and politic.
§ C-102 Exercise of powers.
§ C-103 Name and boundaries.
Ch C Art II Legislative Branch
§ C-201 Composition.
§ C-202 Legislative powers.
§ C-203 Council to act as a body.
§ C-204 Election of Council members.
§ C-205 Redistricting procedure.
§ C-206 Term of Council members.
§ C-207 Qualifications of Council members.
§ C-208 Compensation of Council members.
§ C-209 Vacancies in the Council.
§ C-210 Removal from office or forfeiture of office of a Council member.
§ C-211 Officers of the Council.
§ C-212 Council Administrator.
§ C-213 County Auditor.
§ C-214 Special audits.
§ C-215 Investigations by the Council.
§ C-216 Non-interference with Executive Branch.
§ C-217 Sessions of the Council.
§ C-218 Enactment of legislation.
§ C-219 Effective date of laws.
§ C-220 Referendum.
§ C-221 Publication of laws.
§ C-222 Compilation of laws.
§ C-223 Confirmation of appointments.
§ C-224 Office of Council Attorney.
Ch C Art III Executive Branch
§ C-301 Composition.
§ C-302 Executive powers and duties.
§ C-303 Election of the County Executive.
§ C-304 Term of the County Executive.
§ C-305 Qualifications of the County Executive.
§ C-306 Compensation of the County Executive.
§ C-307 Vacancy in the office of County Executive.
§ C-308 Removal of the County Executive from office.
§ C-309 Forfeiture of office by the County Executive.
§ C-310 Temporary absence or disability of the County Executive.
§ C-311 Executive veto.
§ C-312 Director of Administration.
§ C-313 Administrative appointments.
§ C-314 Temporary administrative appointments.
Ch C Art IV Administrative Organization
§ C-401 Supervision and control.
§ C-402 Agencies of the Executive Branch.
§ C-403 Department of Law.
§ C-404 Department of the Treasury.
§ C-405 Department of Planning and Zoning.
§ C-406 Planning Advisory Board.
§ C-407 Department of Public Works.
§ C-408 Public Works Advisory Board.
§ C-409 Department of Parks and Recreation.
§ C-410 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
§ C-411 Human Relations Commission.
§ C-412 Citizen advisory boards.
§ C-413 Reorganization.
§ C-414 Department of Procurement.
§ C-415 Board of estimates.
Ch C Art V Budget and Finance
§ C-501 Fiscal year and tax year.
§ C-502 Definition of terms used in this article.
§ C-503 Comprehensive scope of budget.
§ C-504 Formulation of current expense budget.
§ C-505 Formulation of capital budget and capital program.
§ C-506 Contents of the current expense budget.
§ C-507 Contents of the capital budget and capital program.
§ C-508 Contents of the budget message.
§ C-509 Submission of the County budget.
§ C-510 Filing of proposed budget.
§ C-511 Public budget hearings.
§ C-512 Action on the budget by the Council.
§ C-513 Reproduction of the budget.
§ C-514 Effective date of the Budget.
§ C-515 Tax levy and balanced budget.
§ C-516 Transfer of appropriations.
§ C-517 Supplementary appropriations.
§ C-518 Emergency appropriations.
§ C-519 Unexpended appropriations.
§ C-520 Limitations on expenditures.
§ C-521 Restrictions on capital projects; amendment to capital budget after adoption of budget.
§ C-522 Enterprise accounting.
§ C-523 Composition and limitation upon county funds.
§ C-524 Indebtedness.
§ C-525 Competitive bidding.
§ C-526 Furthering legislation.
Ch C Art VI Personnel
§ C-601 Personnel system.
§ C-602 Classified and exempt services.
§ C-603 Salaries and wages.
§ C-604 Personnel law.
§ C-605 Personnel Officer.
§ C-606 Personnel Advisory Board.
§ C-607 Powers and duties of the Personnel Advisory Board.
§ C-608 Political activities.
Ch C Art VII Planning and Zoning
§ C-701 Adoption of proposed master plans.
§ C-702 Elements of master plans.
§ C-703 Adoption of zoning ordinances and zoning maps.
§ C-704 Procedural requirements in zoning cases.
§ C-705 Decisions in zoning cases.
§ C-706 Restrictions in zoning cases.
§ C-707 Conflicts of interest.
§ C-708 Zoning Hearing Examiner.
§ C-709 Appeals to Circuit Court.
Ch C Art VIII General Provisions
§ C-801 Code of Ethics.
§ C-802 Public disclosure.
§ C-803 Conflict of interest.
§ C-804 Private use of public employees.
§ C-805 Additional compensation.
§ C-806 Right to information.
§ C-807 Rules and regulations.
§ C-808 Bonding of officers.
§ C-809 Subpoena power.
§ C-810 Separability.
§ C-811 Definitions and rules of construction.
§ C-812 Public notice.
Ch C Art IX Effect and Amendment of Charter
§ C-901 Effective date of Charter.
§ C-902 Existing laws.
§ C-903 Existing officers and employees.
§ C-904 Reference in State Constitution and laws to County Commissioners.
§ C-905 Charter amendment.
Administrative Legislation
Ch 1 General Provisions
Ch 4 Administration of Government
Ch 9 Boards, Commissions, Councils and Agencies
Ch 16 Departments
Ch 20 Elections
Ch 23 Ethics Code
Ch 28 Fire, Ambulance and Rescue Organizations
Ch 29 Harford County Sheriff's Office Pension
Ch 31 Fiscal Impact
Ch 38 Personnel
Ch 41 Procurement
Ch 50 Vehicles, County
General Legislation
Ch 58 Adult Entertainment
Ch 60 Agriculture
Ch 62 Alarm Systems
Ch 64 Animals
Ch 68 Assemblies, Mass Public
Ch 72 Auctions and Auctioneers
Ch 82 Building Construction
Ch 84 Buildings, General
Ch 95 Discriminatory Practices
Ch 100 Drug Paraphernalia
Ch 105 Electricity
Ch 109 Environmental Control
Ch 119 (Reserved)
Ch 123 Finance and Taxation
Ch 127 (Reserved)
Ch 131 Floodplain Management Program
Ch 142 Handicapped, Facilities for
Ch 146 Hazardous Materials
Ch 149 Health
Ch 157 Licenses and Permits
Ch 161 Littering
Ch 162 Livability Code
Ch 163 (Reserved)
Ch 166 Massage Establishments
Ch 169 Master Plan
Ch 173 Mobile Homes and Trailers
Ch 179 Nuisances, Public Health
Ch 185 Parks and Recreation
Ch 188 Pawnbrokers
Ch 193 Peace and Good Order
Ch 197 Peddling and Soliciting
Ch 199 (Reserved)
Ch 202 Plumbing
Ch 206 Real Estate
Ch 211 (Reserved)
Ch 214 Sediment Control and Stormwater Management
Ch 216 Sewage Disposal Systems, Private
Ch 218 Sheriff
Ch 219 (Reserved)
Ch 225 Streets, Sidewalks and Public Works
Ch 226 Swimming Pools
Ch 232 Taxicabs
Ch 235 Television
Ch 237 Towing Businesses
Ch 244 Vehicles and Traffic
Ch 247 Vehicles, Junk
Ch 256 Water and Sewers
Ch 260 Weapons
Ch 267 Zoning
Ch 268 Subdivision Regulations
Appendix
Ch A271 Comparative Table
Ch A272 (Reserved)
Ch A273 Executive Orders
Ch A274 Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure
Ch A275 Capital Improvements
Disposition List
Ch DL Disposition List

Chapter C Charter

[HISTORY: Adopted by the eligible voters of Harford County 11-7-1972, effective 12-7-1972.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

PREAMBLE

We, the People of Harford County, Maryland, in order to obtain the benefits of self-government and home rule, do, in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the State of Maryland, adopt as our instrument of government this

CHARTER OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND

Editor’s Note: The Charter was amended by Bill No. 82-51 to repeal and delete all gender-referenced language found in the various sections of the Charter and to substitute in lieu thereof appropriate gender-neutral language.