Howard County, MD Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Howard County Code § 3.402(a)
- Issuing agency
- Dept. of Inspections, Licenses and Permits
- Plan reviewer
- Howard Soil Conservation District
- Small-lot exemption
- Under 0.5 acre disturbance on 2+ acre lot
- Criminal penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Permit term
- 2 years from issuance
Summary
Howard County requires a grading permit from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits before anyone clears or grades land, and the county won't issue that permit until an erosion and sediment control plan for the site has been reviewed and approved. Small residential lots and minor disturbances under specific size thresholds are exempt.
(a)Permit Required. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not clear or grade land in Howard County without a grading permit from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. Before a grading permit for any site is issued, the County shall review and approve a final erosion and sediment control plan for the site.(b)Exemptions. The following activities are exempt from the provisions of this subtitle:(1)Agricultural land management practices and agricultural BMPs;(2)Construction of a single-family residence or accessory buildings thereto that disturbs an area of less than 0.5 acres and occurs on a lot of two acres or more;(3)Clearing or grading activities that disturb less than 5,000 square feet of land area and disturb less than 100 cubic yards of earth;(4)The laying of gas, electrical, telephone, or cable television lines which disturbs less than 100 linear feet; or(5)Clearing or grading activities that are subject exclusively to State approval and enforcement under State law and regulations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
402(a) states that a person may not clear or grade land in Howard County without a grading permit from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, and adds that before any grading permit is issued, the County shall review and approve a final erosion and sediment control plan for the site. 01. 5 acres on a lot of two acres or more; clearing or grading that disturbs less than 5,000 square feet and less than 100 cubic yards of earth; laying gas, electrical, telephone, or cable lines that disturbs less than 100 linear feet; and grading activity that falls exclusively under State approval and enforcement.
405 to cover soil stabilization and control removal costs, and pay the grading permit fee before the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits will issue the permit. The permit itself expires two years after issuance unless the Department extends or renews it.
Violations & Fines
Clearing or grading land without the required permit triggers an automatic stop-work order under Section 3.406(d), banning all construction activity on the site except temporary sediment controls the County specifies. A violation is also a misdemeanor under Section 3.407(a), punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or imprisonment up to six months, plus a separate Class A civil penalty of up to $1,000.00 per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to clear trees or grade my Howard County lot?
Who reviews my erosion and sediment control plan?
What happens if I grade land without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
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