Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Maryland (2026)
13 rules on the books across Maryland, 9 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Density Bonus Law
California Density Bonus Law (Gov Code §65915) and local implementations granting up to 50% density bonuses for affordable-housing projects.
Annapolis
Some RestrictionsAnnapolis grants a 15% density bonus for for-sale MPDU projects and 10% for rental MPDU projects above the zone's…
Read full rule →Anne Arundel County
Some RestrictionsAnne Arundel County grants a density bonus of up to 150% of allowable residential density to developments that include…
Read full rule →Charles County
Some RestrictionsCharles County lets residential developments exceed base zoning density in exchange for Moderately Priced Dwelling…
Read full rule →Harford County
Some RestrictionsHarford County allows a 20% increase in the maximum dwelling units on a development if at least 10% of the units go to…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Some RestrictionsIn the county's Planned Development (PD) zone, Chapter 59 lets projects exceed the maximum base density to build…
Read full rule →Prince Georges County
Some RestrictionsDevelopers who sign a Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit agreement in Prince George's County can build 20% more for-sale…
Read full rule →Wicomico County
Some RestrictionsWicomico County lets a developer count land dedicated to the county for a park, greenway or bikeway as if it were still…
Read full rule →Downtown Design Guide
LA's Downtown Design Guide and Community Plan governing high-rise massing, ground-floor activation, and adaptive-reuse standards in DTLA.
Annapolis
Significant RestrictionsAny exterior change to a building in Annapolis's downtown Historic District requires a Certificate of Approval from the…
Read full rule →Montgomery County
Significant RestrictionsDevelopment in downtown Bethesda falls under a special zoning overlay that caps building height at the underlying zone…
Read full rule →Baltimore County
Some RestrictionsBaltimore County's Downtown Towson (D.T.) District carries design guidelines under BCZR § 259.16.A.6 covering eight…
Read full rule →Charles County
Some RestrictionsBuildings in Charles County's Waldorf Central and Acton Urban Center zones must conform to the architectural guidelines…
Read full rule →Harford County
Some RestrictionsHarford County has no incorporated downtown of its own; its closest zoning analog is the Village Business (VB)…
Read full rule →Howard County
Some RestrictionsAny sign placed in Downtown Columbia must comply with the applicable Downtown Neighborhood Design Guidelines under Code…
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