Cal. Civ. Code § 20-710
Md. Code Ann., State Gov't Art. Title 20 — Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination
Operative Text
(a) The Commission shall: (1) cooperate with and provide technical assistance to federal, State, local, and other governmental units or private agencies, organizations, and institutions that are formulating or carrying on programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices; (2) conduct studies concerning the nature and extent of discriminatory housing practices in representative urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the State; and (3) publish and disseminate reports, recommendations, and information derived from studies conducted under item (2) of this subsection. (b) The Commission may: (1) cooperate with local units charged with the administration of local fair housing laws; (2) with the consent of the local units, utilize the services and employees of the local units; (3) enter into written agreements with local units to further cooperative efforts to carry out the purposes of this subtitle; and (4) notwithstanding any other law, reimburse local units and their employees for services provided to assist in carrying out this subtitle. (c) To further the purposes of this subtitle, the Commission may conduct educational and conciliatory activities, including: (1) conferences to acquaint interested persons with the provisions of this subtitle and the plans for implementation of this subtitle; (2) in consultation with interested persons, programs of voluntary compliance and of enforcement; and (3) consultations with interested persons and State and local officials to learn: (i) the extent, if any, to which housing discrimination exists in the State or local political subdivisions; and (ii) how State or local enforcement programs may be used to combat housing discrimination in connection with, or instead of, the Commission’s enforcement of this subtitle. (d) (1) In accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article, the Commission may adopt regulations to implement this subtitle and Subtitle 10, Part II of this title. (2) The Commission shall adopt regulations requiring local units that are certified as substantially equivalent by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under 42 U.S.C. § 3610 to file annual reports with the Commission containing the information specified by the Commission.
Section 20-710 of the Maryland Code establishes the powers and duties of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights with respect to fair housing. The Commission is required to cooperate with other governmental and private entities working to prevent housing discrimination, study the nature and extent of discriminatory housing practices across the state, and publish findings from those studies. The Commission is also authorized—but not required—to partner with local fair housing agencies, conduct educational outreach, pursue voluntary compliance programs, and adopt regulations to implement the fair housing subtitle, including requiring locally certified agencies to file annual reports.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-710, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights is empowered to conduct studies, publish reports, and engage in educational outreach about discriminatory housing practices throughout the state. Operators who participate in voluntary compliance programs or attend Commission-sponsored conferences can gain familiarity with fair housing requirements and implementation plans. Staying informed about Commission publications and any regulations adopted under this section is a common practice among property managers seeking to understand the state's evolving fair housing enforcement landscape.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-710 establishes that the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights actively studies and reports on housing discrimination across urban, suburban, and rural communities in the state. Tenants who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices may find the Commission's published reports and educational resources useful for understanding the scope of protections available under this subtitle. The Commission's authority to coordinate with local fair housing agencies and conduct conciliatory activities means that tenant-rights organizations and local units may also serve as points of contact for those seeking information about enforcement options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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