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Maryland Law Resources

A guide to basic Maryland legal resources available online and in McKeldin and Hornbake Libraries.

Overview

The Code of Maryland Regulations, often referred to as COMAR, is the official compilation of all administrative regulations issued by agencies of the state of Maryland. While the Legislature of the State of Maryland enacts statutes, it is administrative agencies which adopt, amend, and repeal regulations under the authority granted to them by statutes. Unless the Legislature has created an exemption, agencies must follow the procedures in the Administrative Procedure Act when adopting, amending or repealing regulations.

Arrangement and Citation Format

Volumes within COMAR are arranged by a title number marked on each volume. Each title number represents a State department, e.g., Title 15 is the Department of Agriculture. A complete list of all title numbers and the departments they represent is found in the Preface of each volume. COMAR regulations are arranged in one numeric sequence by codification number throughout the entire set. Elements in each number represent the department and its agencies and subdivisions responsible for each regulation.

Example:

The elements in a COMAR regulation number COMAR 09.12.01.02 are:
09 - Title - Department of Licensing and Regulation
12 - Subtitle - Division of Labor and Industry
01 - Chapter - Board of Boiler Rules
02 - Regulation
These numbers are expanded when greater detail is required.

At the beginning of each title there is a Table of Contents which lists each subtitle, chapter, and regulation by codification number. The short title of each regulation is given. Reference is to the page number on which the regulation can be found. Pages are numbered at the bottom of the page consecutively throughout a title.

 

COMAR may be used to locate:

  • Administrative regulations of Maryland state agencies
  • Regulations on a specific subject
  • Administrative History of the regulations, including amendments and effective dates (included at the end of each chapter of COMAR)
  • The executive orders of the Governor that are considered generally permanent in nature (located in Title 01)
  • Citations to the Annotated Code of Maryland which authorizes a specific regulation

COMAR Online

 

Index - A keyword index to COMAR Online is available, though it only refers to broad subjects at the end of each title. Index entries refer to COMAR codification numbers, not page numbers (see Overview). These numbers are placed at the top right and left corners of the pages.

Researching Maryland Regulations

Electronic Databases

Access available at all UM Libraries' locations through the Database Finder (https://www.lib.umd.edu/dbfinder). Remote access is limited to University of Maryland staff and students.