Harford County, MD Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)

9F lists colonial water bird nesting sites among the plant and wildlife habitat protection areas recognized within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. 9F(6) directs that buffer areas for nesting sites of colonial nesting water birds be established so the sites are shielded from the adverse impacts of development activity and from disturbance during the breeding season. The code defines a colonial nesting water bird at § 267-4 as a species that congregates or colonizes for nesting purposes in relatively few areas, and it names egrets, glossy ibises, herons and terns as covered species.

09, incorporated into the County's Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program Manual. 9E, a habitat protection plan for the site must include a designated protection area around the colony unless the applicant demonstrates to the Department of Natural Resources that development impacts have already been minimized. 9, which govern habitat protection areas generally, and apply on top of any separate state or federal permitting for disturbing a protected species' nesting habitat. The rule reaches new construction, redevelopment and land-use conversions reviewed by the Department of Planning and Zoning within the Critical Area, not incorporated Bel Air, Aberdeen or Havre de Grace.