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Harford County, MD
 
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted by Bill No. 76-91]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTOMOBILE TRAILER, TRAILER COACH or TRAILER
Any vehicle or structure so designed and constructed in such a manner as will permit occupancy thereof, as dwelling or sleeping quarters for one (1) or more persons, or the conduct of any business or profession, occupation or trade, or use as a selling or advertising device, and so designed that it is or may be mounted on wheels and used as a conveyance on highways or city streets, propelled or drawn by its own or other motive power, except a device used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
SHELTER CAMP
Any two (2) or more cabins, cottages, outbuildings, tents or dismounted trailers occupied primarily for shelter or dwelling purposes and in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the occupants remain as tenants for two (2) days or more.
TOURIST CAMP
Any park, tourist park, tourist court, camp, court, motel, site, lot, parcel or tract of land upon which two (2) or more camp cottages or cabins are located and maintained for the accommodation of transients, in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the occupants remain for six (6) days or less.
TRAILER CAMP
Any park, trailer park, trailer court, court, camp, site, lot, parcel or tract of land designed, maintained or intended for the purpose of supplying a location or accommodations for two (2) or more trailer coaches and upon which two (2) or more trailer coaches are parked, and shall include all buildings used or intended for use as part of the equipment thereof, whether a charge is made for the use of the trailer camp and its facilities or not. A "trailer camp" shall not include automobile or trailer sales lots on which unoccupied trailers are parked for purposes of sale and inspection.
A. 
For each group of ten (10) units or fewer in the camp, unless all of such facilities are provided in the trailers, the following sanitary services must be provided:
(1) 
One (1) double laundry tray.
(2) 
Shower baths, one (1) for men and one (1) for women, housed separately.
(3) 
Lavatories, one (1) for men and one (1) for women, housed separately.
(4) 
One (1) drinking fountain, unless all trailers in the camp are provided with running water.
B. 
All equipment listed above shall be situated within the camp area and within three hundred (300) feet of all used areas of the camp and shall be for use solely by camp occupants.
A. 
Generally. Flush toilets, serviced by public sewers where such are available or, when not available, by septic tank installations approved by the County Health Officer, shall be provided in separate compartments for each sex, unless within the trailers, within a distance of three hundred (300) feet from any part of the trailer camp, one (1) toilet for each ten (10) units or fewer, each sex to be accommodated. Hand-washing facilites shall be provided. Toilets shall be distinctly marked "Men" and "Women," and their location shall be plainly indicated by directional signs. No other system of sewage disposal will be permitted. The equipment described in this section is to be used solely by camp occupants.
B. 
Trailers with built-in toilets. When a trailer is equipped with a built-in toilet which is connected by permanent ground connections to public sewers or to a sewage disposal system, this unit may be deducted from the number required to be served by toilets in the service buildings.
C. 
Separation of facilities for men and women; vacuum-breaking devices required for individual units. Toilet facilities for men and women shall either be in separate buildings at least twenty (20) feet apart or shall be separated, if in the same building, by a soundproof wall. Water-driven toilets in individual trailers must be equipped with vacuum-breaking devices which are inserted between the valve and the toilet at an elevation six (6) inches above the top rim of the toilet.
In every trailer camp, there shall be provided one (1) or more utility flushing sinks for every five (5) units or less, properly trapped and connected with a sewer or septic tank if sewer is not available, such sinks to be enclosed by adequate housing, and all openings in such housing to be adequately screened. Sinks must be constructed of some impervious material, preferably cement, and must be kept scrupulously clean with frequent application of a disinfectant solution.
All sewerage outlets, including refrigerator drains, sink pipes, etc., shall be connected by permanent watertight ground connections to a public sewer or sewage disposal system, and all plumbing shall meet the County Plumbing Code standards.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 202, Plumbing.
One (1) or more metal garbage cans with tight-fitting covers shall be provided and conveniently placed for every two (2) trailers or fractional part of this number.
No trailer shall be set on a permanent foundation or added to by any structure or outhouse.
In each group of two (2) cabins, cottages or outbuildings occupied by not more than ten (10) persons, there shall be provided one (1) lavatory and one (1) shower bath. This equipment shall be connected either to municipal sewerage or to septic tank sewage disposal system and shall be used solely by the camp occupants.
In every group of two (2) tourist cabins, cottages or outbuildings, there shall be provided a flush toilet connected to a municipal sewer or a septic tank sewage disposal system.
No trailer or shelter camp shall be located on any site where there is less than twenty (20) feet of land provided between trailers or buildings located in the camp or contiguous thereto, when practical.
Access roads shall not be less than twenty (20) feet in width.
No camp shall be permitted to operate in the county without a permit from the County Health Department. Application for such permit shall be made, in writing, to the Department and shall state the exact description of the existing or proposed camp, the maximum number of trailers, cabins, etc., to be accommodated, the proposed or existing source of water supply and the proposed or existing method of sewage and garbage disposal, together with a plat of land and drawings and specifications of the proposed and existing buildings and locations of trailers, cabins, etc. Permits will be issued only on approval of the County Health Officer and after inspection is made by him or his agent. The permit must be renewed annually.
All camps must be supplied with a source of water approved by the County Health Department and which meets the minimum requirements of the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
All garbage, waste and rubbish of any kind shall be removed from the premises at least twice a week and disposed of in a manner acceptable to health authorities.
All foodstuffs offered for sale must be protected against flies and dust. The handling of food and drink, including milk, must be in conformity with state laws.
It shall be the duty of the owner of a camp or his agent or manager to immediately report to the County Health Officer all cases of communicable disease or any illness with fever or diarrhea as a symptom. The patient shall be isolated but not removed from the trailer camp until the permission of the Health Officer has been obtained.
The owner of a camp or his agent or manager shall be responsible for the enforcement of all regulations. He shall be responsible for maintaining all sanitary appliances in such camp in good order and in a clean condition. He shall not allow refuse to collect and must keep such camp clean and in good order.
The premises of every camp shall be free from fire hazards and in compliance with all fire laws and regulations applicable thereto and designed for fire prevention and control.
The location, construction and grading and all types of access and premises, roadways and drainage ditches shall conform to the requirements of the laws relating to road construction in the county.
All camp surroundings, trailers, cabins, buildings, etc., shall at all times be kept in a clean and sanitary condition; that is, no organic matter shall be allowed to accumulate.
No camp shall be located in any place except in accordance with the provisions of the Subdivision and Zoning Laws and Regulations of the county.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 267, Zoning.
A. 
In camps of every type, there shall be an office building in which shall be located the office of the person in charge of such camp. A copy of the camp license and of this Article shall be posted therein, and the camp register shall at all times be kept in such office.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the attendant or person in charge, together with the licensee, to:
(1) 
Keep at all times a register of all guests, which shall be open at all times to inspection by state, federal, county, town and city officers, showing for all guests:
(a) 
Names and addresses.
(b) 
Dates of entrance and departure.
(c) 
License numbers of all trailers and towing vehicles or other automobiles.
(d) 
States issuing such licenses.
(2) 
Ensure that the provisions of this Article are complied with and enforced and report promptly to the proper authorities any violations of this Article or any other violations of law which may come to his attention.
(3) 
Report to the County Health Officer all cases of persons or animals affected or suspected of being affected with any communicable disease.
(4) 
Maintain in convenient places hand fire extinguishers as required by state and county laws.
The Department of Health may revoke any license issued pursuant to the terms of this Article if, after due investigation, the Department determines that the holder thereof has violated any of the provisions of this Article or that any camp is being maintained in an unsanitary or unsafe manner or is a nuisance and may refuse to issue any license for any proposed camp location which does not comply with the provisions of this Article.
Any person aggrieved by an order of the Department of Health granting, denying, renewing or revoking a license for a camp under this Article may file a written request for a public hearing before the Department within ten (10) days after issuance of such order. The Department shall give notice of a public hearing upon this request to be held not less than ten (10) days after service of the notice on the person requesting the hearing. The Department may also give notice of the hearing to other persons directly interested in the order in question. At such hearing, the Department shall determine whether the granting, denial, renewal or revocation of the license was in accordance with the provisions of this Article and shall issue written findings of fact, conclusions of law and an order to carry out its findings and conclusions. These findings of fact, conclusions of law and order shall be filed with the Department, and copies shall be made available to all parties interested.
Any order granting, denying, renewing or revoking any license under the provisions of this Article may be appealed to the Circuit Court for the county by any person affected by such order and by any taxpayer. Appeals from such orders must be taken within ten (10) days after the order is issued, by petition setting forth the questions to be reviewed, and notice thereof shall be given by summons, duly served on all parties directly in interest, by the County Sheriff. Upon any such appeal, the findings of fact of the Department of Health, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.
Any person found guilty of violating any provision of this Article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than five dollars ($5.) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.) or imprisoned for a period not to exceed three (3) months, or both. Every day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense and be punishable as such hereunder.
This Article shall not affect farm owners who shall provide up to three (3) trailers solely for their farm employees, where the trailers are spaced at a reasonable distance apart and provided with proper sanitary facilities.
When the provisions of the BOCA Code are in conflict or more restrictive than the provisions of this Article, the provisions of the BOCA Code shall prevail.