(a) (1) In classifying property and levying the front foot benefit charge, the
WSSC:
(i) Shall assess any irregularly shaped lot that abuts on a road, street,
lane, alley, right-of-way, or easement in which there is or is being
constructed a water main or sewer for the frontage that the WSSC
determines to be reasonable and fair;
(ii) May give a continuous frontage to all the lots regardless of the
streets on which they face if a number of lots in the same block in one
ownership are appurtenant to a residence;
(iii) May not assess a corner lot in the subdivision residential class that
is less than 2 acres in size on more than one side unless a corner lot
abuts on 2 parallel streets. However, if the corner lot does abut on 2
parallel streets, the WSSC shall assess the frontage in a reasonable
and fair manner, and shall take into consideration the frontage towards
which the building on the lot would naturally face; and
(iv) May assess the lot on both front and rear if a lot runs through with
front and rear on separate streets.
(2) The WSSC may assess any lot in paragraph (1) of this subsection for its
full frontage even if a water main or sewer does not extend along the
full length of any boundary.
(b) (1) The WSSC may not impose or collect a front foot benefit charge on:
(i) State, county, or municipal buildings or property;
(ii) Property in the sanitary district that is connected to or authorized by
the WSSC to be connected to a public water or sewer system operated by
a municipality or by a water or sewer company under the jurisdiction of
the Department of the Environment;
(iii) Public parks or playgrounds owned by a municipality;
(iv) Property or buildings owned by a regularly organized volunteer fire
department that is used for public purposes; or
(v) Land classed as agricultural that is actually used for farming or
trucking purposes, unless a water or sewer connection to a line running
through or adjacent to the land is made.
(2) The land that is classified as agricultural is subject to a front foot
assessment for a reasonable frontage, as determined by the WSSC, not
exceeding 300 feet.
(c) The WSSC may suspend the imposition and collection of a front foot
benefit assessment:
(1) For any property that is otherwise assessable with respect to a
sanitary sewer line if, in the WSSC's judgment, the property cannot
obtain service from the sewer pipe upon which the benefit would be
based;
(2) For water main construction when the owner of the property that is
otherwise subject to the assessment is not permitted to connect to the
water main:
(i) By the WSSC because of a finding by the WSSC that there is an absence
of a sanitary sewer and the extension of an improved sewage system is
not reasonably feasible; and
(ii) Because of a finding by the county health department that a septic
system would not be approved for the disposal of the water for which
the connection is requested; or
(3) For any property that is otherwise assessable for a sanitary sewer line
or a water main if the property has a preexisting residential dwelling
already served by a well or septic system until the property owner
requests service from the sewer line or water main.
(d) If property is exempted from front foot benefit charges or if the WSSC
has suspended front foot benefit charges for the property, and the
property is no longer eligible for the exemption or suspension, the
WSSC shall:
(1) Classify the property according to § 5-101 of this title; and
(2) Impose and collect a front foot benefit charge at a rate and for a
period of time equal to that of property that was originally classified
or assessed in the year of suspension.
(e) The WSSC shall use receipts from front foot benefit charges for
properties for which the benefit charge was exempted or suspended to:
(1) Amortize any bonds issued to construct the water and sewer lines for
which benefit charges are levied under the provisions of this article;
or
(2) To construct other water and sanitary sewer lines for which benefit
charges are levied.
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