9 rules for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Howard County has no fixed lawn-height number for owner-occupied homes. Its Property Maintenance Code (adopting the International Property Maintenance Code) governs overgrown grass and weeds only on rental and non-owner-occupied housing; owner-occupied yards are left to your HOA.
Howard County Code Sec. 3.700, IPMC 101.2 Scope
The scope of this code is limited to existing structures in the following occupancies... Residential: Use groups R-1, R-2, R-4; and Use groups R-3 that are not owner-occupied, occupied by the owner's immediate family, or owner-occupied with 2 or more roomers or boarders.
In Howard County you may prune trees inside your yard freely, but a tree growing wholly or partly in the public road right-of-way is a 'roadside tree.' Under Maryland law you must get a Tree Care Permit from the DNR Forest Service before trimming, cutting or removing it.
MD Code, Natural Resources Sec. 5-406(c)
A person may not cut down, trim, mutilate, or in any manner injure any roadside tree, except as authorized by this section, without a permit from the Department.
A homeowner can usually remove a tree on their own lot without a county permit. But clearing that disturbs 40,000 square feet or more, or removes a 'forest,' falls under Howard County's Forest Conservation program and the Maryland Forest Conservation Act, which can require a plan, retention or replanting.
MD Code, Natural Resources Sec. 5-1601 (Forest Conservation Act)
"Forest" means a biological community dominated by trees and other woody plants covering a land area of 10,000 square feet or greater.
Howard County's adopted Property Maintenance Code requires exterior premises to be kept free of weeds and rank plant growth, but it applies only to rental and non-owner-occupied housing. Owner-occupied lots are not policed by the county; noxious-weed control is otherwise a state agriculture matter.
Howard County Code Sec. 3.700, IPMC 106.3 Enforcement and Penalties
A person who violates a provision of this code is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is subject to a fine, not exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment, not exceeding 30 days, or both.
Howard County has no year-round odd/even watering ban. Water use is limited only when the state declares a drought. Under Maryland's Level One Mandatory Restrictions, watering grass is prohibited and outdoor water use is sharply curtailed; between droughts the county asks residents to conserve voluntarily.
MDE Level One Mandatory Water Use Restrictions
Watering of grass is prohibited... Washing paved surfaces such as streets, roads, sidewalks, driveways, garages, parking areas, tennis courts, and patios is prohibited.
Howard County does not ban rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are legal and actively promoted through the county's Live Green Howard and stormwater programs, which offer credits and guidance for capturing roof runoff to reduce stormwater and Chesapeake Bay pollution.
Howard County places no restriction on planting native or pollinator gardens. Maryland's low-impact landscaping law (House Bill 322, 2021) bars homeowners associations from prohibiting native-plant gardens, rain gardens, pollinator gardens or xeriscaping, or from forcing residents to keep turf-grass lawns.
Howard County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or requiring artificial turf for residential yards. Synthetic lawns are generally allowed, but because they are an impervious-type surface, large installations can trigger the county's stormwater-management and lot-coverage rules, and HOA design guidelines may still control appearance.
Howard County allows residential backyard composting and actively promotes it. The county runs a Feed the Green Bin curbside food-scrap collection and sells discounted compost bins. Composting must be kept tidy so it does not become a nuisance, attract vermin, or violate property-maintenance standards.
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