Harford County, MD Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

Code of Harford County § 267-32 lets a developer increase the maximum number of dwelling units permitted on a site by 20% in exchange for producing starter homes for lower-income buyers or renters. To qualify, at least 10% of the total dwelling units in the project must be rented or sold to low- and moderate-income households, and of that affordable share, at least 50% must go to households of more than 3 people. For larger projects of more than 20 dwelling units, the code caps the other direction too: no more than 20% of the units in the project may be developed as low- and moderate-income housing.

The applicant must guarantee, through income, rental and sales price guidelines certified by the County Housing Agency, that the minimum number of qualifying units will actually reach eligible households, and must cooperate with the Housing Agency Director to identify those households. A project already subsidized by other federal or state low- and moderate-income financing programs cannot also claim this local density bonus. Design-wise, § 267-32B requires the affordable units to be integrated throughout the development with the same exterior materials and appointments as market-rate units, so they are not visually segregated.

Management-wise, § 267-32C requires the units to be managed under County Housing Agency regulations and to stay available to low- or moderate-income occupants for whatever minimum period the applicable program or the County requires, secured through acquisition rights, resale restrictions, management agreements or other County-approved assurances.