[HISTORY: Adopted as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted as indicated in text (Ch. 95 of the 1990 Code of
Public Local Laws)]
[1961 Code, § 121; 1970 Code, Sec. 1-13; 1988,
ch. 277, § 2; 11-16-1999; 2000, Ch. 47, § 1; amended 6-16-2015 by Bill No. 2015-06; 11-17-2015 by Bill No. 2015-24; 6-7-2016 by Bill No.
2016-07]
A.
There shall be paid to Cecil County, Maryland, before recording any
deed or other instrument involving the transfer of an interest in
land, a transfer fee in the amount of 0.5% of the consideration identified
in the deed or other instrument recorded with the Clerk of the Court
for Cecil County, or $25 if the transfer is for zero consideration.
B.
An instrument of writing for residentially improved owner-occupied
real property is exempt from the transfer fee set forth above if the
instrument of writing is accompanied by a statement, under oath, signed
by each grantee or an agent of the grantee, that:
(1)
The grantee is an individual who has never owned in the state residential
real property that has been the individual's principal residence,
and the residence will be occupied by the grantee as the grantee's
principal residence; or
(2)
The grantee is a co-maker or guarantor of a purchase money mortgage
or purchase money deed of trust, as defined in MD Code Ann., § 12-108(i)
of the Tax Property Article, for the property, and the grantee will
not occupy the residence as the co-maker's or guarantor's
principal residence.
D.
Properties under contract as of June 1, 2015, shall be subject to
the existing transfer fee of $10, provided that settlement on the
transfer of land occurs on or before August 31, 2015; eligible properties
that fail to record the transfer on or before September 15, 2015,
at the Cecil County Department of Finance shall be assessed the new
transfer fee of 0.5% unless otherwise exempt.
