Terms Used In Maryland Code, LOCAL GOVERNMENT 12-621

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
(a) This section applies to all counties.

(b) (1) A corporation may build a bridge over a river, creek, or stream in the State or dig, build, or maintain a canal only if the governing bodies of all counties in the State in which the bridge or canal is to be built have authorized the corporation to build the bridge or canal.

(2) A resolution of the governing body of a county authorizing the building of a bridge or canal shall be recorded:

(i) in the record of proceedings of the governing body; and

(ii) in the records of the corporation.

(c) (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a corporation may enter into an agreement with an owner of any interest in property to obtain:

(i) land necessary for:

1. a bridge abutment;

2. digging, building, and maintaining a canal; or

3. a road or highway to approach a bridge or canal; or

(ii) earth or stone for building of:

1. a bridge or canal;

2. a road or highway that approaches a bridge or canal; or

3. a terminal, dock, or wharf.

(2) A person shall convey an interest in property to a corporation under paragraph (1) of this subsection by deed properly executed and recorded.

(3) A corporation may obtain property under paragraph (1) of this subsection by condemnation under the provisions of Title 12 of the Real Property Article if:

(i) the corporation and the property owner fail to agree on the conveyance of the property;

(ii) the property owner lacks capacity to contract to convey the property; or

(iii) the property owner is absent from the State.

(d) (1) On completion of the building of a bridge or canal, the corporation shall report the completion to the governing body of the county:

(i) in writing; and

(ii) under the oath or affirmation of the corporation’s president or vice president.

(2) (i) After notification by the corporation, the governing body shall appoint three persons to examine the bridge or canal.

(ii) The persons shall report to the governing body on whether the bridge has been built in a substantial and durable manner that will promote public convenience.

(iii) The governing body shall review the report and shall ratify or reject the report.

(iv) The governing body may also appoint other persons to report on whether the bridge has been built in a substantial and durable manner that will promote public convenience.