MD HB1529

Establishes requirements for a local commission on common ownership communities (HOAs, condominiums, cooperatives) in Baltimore County, with voting members including community owners and industry professionals, plus nonvoting designees from the County Executive, County Council, and relevant county agencies

Requires all common ownership communities in Baltimore County to register annually with the local commission, identifying elected leadership and managing agents; failure to register makes a community ineligible to file disputes

Authorizes the commission to collect fees including per-unit annual registration charges, dispute resolution fees, and per-unit charges to developers for document recordation

Creates a dispute resolution process requiring parties to first exhaust internal remedies and wait 60 days before filing with the commission, with mandatory mediation offered within 30 days of request and binding hearings conducted by three-member panels if mediation fails

Takes effect October 1, 2026, and requires a designated county agency to maintain community records, provide technical assistance, conduct educational programs, and operate the dispute resolution system