Baltimore County administers the Maryland Forest Conservation Act (Code Article 33, Title 6). Clearing forest during subdivision, grading, or sediment-control work on 40,000+ sq ft requires a forest conservation plan, and cleared forest must be replanted under state ratios.
For development, Baltimore County implements the Maryland Forest Conservation Act (Nat. Res. §§5-1601 et seq.) through Baltimore County Code Article 33, Title 6. The Act applies to any subdivision plan or grading/sediment-control application on areas of 40,000 square feet or greater. Applicants must submit a forest stand delineation and a forest conservation plan. Where existing forest is below the applicable conservation threshold, land must be afforested up to 20% (agriculture/medium-density residential) or 15% (higher-density, commercial, industrial) of the net tract area. Forest cleared below the threshold is reforested at 2 acres per acre removed; above the threshold, one-fourth acre per acre. Single private-lot tree removals fall outside the Act.
Development that clears forest without an approved conservation plan faces county enforcement, mandatory reforestation, and fee-in-lieu or mitigation payments under Article 33, Title 6.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
baltimore-county-md
Home backyard composting is allowed in Baltimore County and supported through the Bureau of Solid Waste Management. The county collects yard trim (leaves, gr...
baltimore-county-md
Baltimore County has no ordinance banning residential artificial turf. Installation is governed by general zoning, lot-coverage, and stormwater rules, since ...
baltimore-county-md
Native and pollinator plantings are permitted in Baltimore County and encouraged for Bay-friendly landscaping, but tall native beds must still respect the 8-...
baltimore-county-md
Rain barrels and rainwater harvesting are legal in Baltimore County and encouraged as stormwater best-management practices. Maryland has no statute banning r...
baltimore-county-md
Maryland has no year-round mandatory watering ban; restrictions follow drought conditions set by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). As of 2026...
baltimore-county-md
Baltimore County's weed ordinance (Code 13-7-401) bars grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation over 8 inches tall. Noxious weeds are separately regulated stat...
See how Baltimore County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.