Building Setbacks & Zoning in Harford County, MD (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Harford County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Harford County is a charter home-rule county that zones its own land, so the Harford County Zoning Code sets real front, side, and rear yards. Section 267-55 fixes yards for R1, R2, and R3 through design Tables 55-1 through 55-4.3.
Harford County Property Setback Requirements
Some RestrictionsHarford County Code § 267-55B
Minimum lot area, area per dwelling or family unit, building setback from adjacent residential lot lines, lot width, front, side and rear yard and maximum building height, as displayed in Tables 55-1 through 55-4.3, shall apply, subject to other requirements of this Part 1.
Structure Height Limits
Harford County caps building height in its own zoning code. The R1, R2, and R3 districts limit maximum building height through Section 267-55 Tables 55-1 through 55-4.3, while the AG Agricultural District under Section 267-53 caps buildings by maximum stories instead.
Harford County Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsHarford County Code § 267-53B
Minimum lot area, maximum lot area, maximum average lot area per dwelling unit or family unit, building setback from adjacent residential lot lines, lot width, front, side and rear yard and maximum building stories, as displayed in Table 53-1, shall apply, subject to other requirements of this Part 1.
Lot Coverage Limits
Harford County controls how much of a lot may be built on through minimum lot area and yards in Section 267-55. Near tidal water, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area caps lot coverage at 15% in Limited Development Areas, the county's sharpest coverage limit.
Harford County Maximum Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsHarford County Code § 267-55B
Minimum lot area, area per dwelling or family unit, building setback from adjacent residential lot lines, lot width, front, side and rear yard and maximum building height, as displayed in Tables 55-1 through 55-4.3, shall apply, subject to other requirements of this Part 1.
All Harford County ordinances
See every category we cover for Harford County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Harford County Ordinance Hub →