Property Sellers Now Required to Disclose SPAs to Buyers
Recent Montgomery County Council legislation, sponsored by Councilmember Marilyn J. Praisner, requires certain disclosures to prospective buyers of real property located in Special Protection Areas (SPA). In response to that legislation, which took effect on April 1, 2001, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has established information useful to meeting these requirements on its web site, www.mc-mncppc.org. You can view maps and descriptions of SPAs at www.mc-mncppc.org/environment/SPA/.
Property sellers and buyers need to know if they are in an SPA. The M-NCPPC web site contains maps delineating the three current SPAs in Clarksburg/Little Seneca and Great Seneca Creeks, Potomac/Piney Branch and Eastern County/Upper Paint Branch. In addition, the web site outlines the purpose and requirements of the SPA, summarizes the significance of such designation for property owners and provides sources for more detailed information.
Also included is a file containing property addresses and other information. Working jointly with GCAAR, M-NCPPC has also created a database by state tax account number and SPA for use by REALTORS® through the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS).
