Md. Code, Public Utilities § 12-120
This is the official text of Md. Code, Public Utilities § 12-120, part of Maryland’s Code, Public Utilities — regulates utility companies.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§12–120.
Official statutory text
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a person that obtains the information required under this subtitle is not excused from:
(1) performing an excavation or demolition in a careful and prudent manner; and
(2) liability for financial damages or injury that results from the excavation or demolition.
(b) If an underground facility is damaged by a person that fails to comply with this subtitle, the person is deemed negligent and is liable to the owner for the total cost of repair of the underground facility, unless the owner has failed to become an owner–member in accordance with § 12–123 of this subtitle.
(c) If an underground facility is damaged by a person that is in compliance with this subtitle and the owner has failed to become an owner–member in accordance with § 12–123 of this subtitle:
(1) the person is not liable to the owner for the cost of repair of the underground facility; and
(2) the owner is liable for any repairs or restoration of property damaged by the excavation or demolition.
(d) Subsection (c) of this section may not be construed to interfere with the right of:
(1) a third party to recover financial damages arising out of the excavation or demolition from the person or from the owner; or
(2) the person to seek contribution from an owner for financial damages sought by a third party under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(1) performing an excavation or demolition in a careful and prudent manner; and
(2) liability for financial damages or injury that results from the excavation or demolition.
(b) If an underground facility is damaged by a person that fails to comply with this subtitle, the person is deemed negligent and is liable to the owner for the total cost of repair of the underground facility, unless the owner has failed to become an owner–member in accordance with § 12–123 of this subtitle.
(c) If an underground facility is damaged by a person that is in compliance with this subtitle and the owner has failed to become an owner–member in accordance with § 12–123 of this subtitle:
(1) the person is not liable to the owner for the cost of repair of the underground facility; and
(2) the owner is liable for any repairs or restoration of property damaged by the excavation or demolition.
(d) Subsection (c) of this section may not be construed to interfere with the right of:
(1) a third party to recover financial damages arising out of the excavation or demolition from the person or from the owner; or
(2) the person to seek contribution from an owner for financial damages sought by a third party under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Maryland?
Find a Maryland lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.