Worcester County, MD Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Worcester County only
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Development Review and Permitting
- Exempt
- Developments not cumulatively disturbing over five thousand square feet
- Performance bond
- One hundred twenty-five percent of estimated cost of completion
- Inspection schedule
- First year of operation, then at least every two years
- Maximum fine
- Five thousand dollars per violation
- Appeal
- Board of Zoning Appeals within thirty days
Summary
In unincorporated Worcester County, Maryland, no one can develop land for residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional use without stormwater management measures that control runoff. Agricultural practices and developments that do not cumulatively disturb over five thousand square feet are exempt. The Department of Development Review and Permitting enforces the ordinance for the County Commissioners.
(a) Scope. ... (3) No person shall develop any land for residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional uses without providing stormwater management measures that control or manage runoff from such developments, except as provided within this Subtitle. Stormwater management measures must be designed consistent with the Design Manual and constructed in accordance with the approved final stormwater management plans for new development and in the case of redevelopment as stated in § NR 1-105. (b) Exemptions. The following development activities are exempt from the provisions of this Subtitle and the requirements of providing stormwater management: (1) Agricultural land management practices as defined in § NR 1-103(b); (2) Additions or modifications to existing single-family detached residential structures if they comply with Subsection (b)(3) hereof; (3) Developments that do not cumulatively disturb over five thousand square feet of land area as measured from the date of adoption of this Subtitle; and (4) Land development activities that the Administration determines will be regulated under specific state laws, which provide for managing stormwater runoff.
Full Breakdown
The Worcester County Stormwater Management Ordinance is Subtitle NR 1:I of the Code of Public Local Laws. Under § NR 1-101(b) it applies to development in the unincorporated area of the County, and § NR 1-104(a)(2) excludes incorporated cities and towns unless a town adopts it and the County Commissioners approve enforcing it there. Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke City keep their own codes.
The core duty is in § NR 1-104(a)(3): stormwater measures must follow the Design Manual, which § NR 1-101(c)(1) identifies as the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, and be built in accordance with the approved final stormwater management plans. Under § NR 1-106, environmental site design planning techniques and treatment practices must be exhausted before any structural best management practice is used, and control of the two-year and ten-year frequency storm events is required. The Department can demand more than the minimum where historical flooding has occurred, stream channel erosion exists, or water quality problems exist downstream.
Beyond the exemptions in § NR 1-104(b), the Department can grant a written waiver for an individual development, but only where environmental site design has been implemented to the maximum extent practicable, and each waiver is decided case by case.
Permits are tied to approval. Under § NR 1-108, a zoning or building permit is not issued for a parcel until the stormwater management plan is approved or waived. Where appropriate the applicant also needs recorded easements, a recorded maintenance agreement and a performance bond of one hundred twenty-five percent of the estimated cost of completion. A permit expires if work has not begun within one year of issuance, or if the work is not substantially completed within two years unless good cause is shown, and the Department can grant a single one-year extension if justified. After construction, § NR 1-111 requires inspections at least once during the first year of operation and at least once every two years thereafter.
Violations & Fines
A person convicted under § NR 1-113 is guilty of a misdemeanor, with a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, for each violation, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. In minor cases the Department can treat a violation as a civil infraction with a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars. The owner, contractor, agent or other person who commits, participates in, assists in or maintains the violation can each be found guilty of a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small project in unincorporated Worcester County need stormwater management?
Can the County waive the stormwater requirements?
Who maintains a private stormwater facility?
How do I appeal a stormwater decision?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Worcester County
Compare Worcester County to another location·View the Maryland environmental rules overview
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