Zoning Ordinance Update

Background:

Title 4 of the Land Use Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, as amended, empowers the Board of County Commissioners to enact a Zoning Ordinance to provide for its administration, enforcement and amendment.   The Zoning Ordinance is one tool necessary to implement the Comprehensive Plan.  The Zoning Ordinance is designed to regulate land uses, many aspects of land use can impact adjoining properties, neighborhoods, public facilities and overall County development. As mandated in the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance is adopted to regulate land uses as part of the effort to promote the health, safety and general welfare of Calvert County residents.  Ordinance 35-06 approved by the Board of County Commissioners adopted the current Calvert County Zoning Ordinance in May of 2006.  Many text amendments have been adopted amending the Zoning Ordinance since.

Purpose:

The County’s Comprehensive Plan was recently adopted in 2019 and amended in 2022.  The project started in 2016, since the beginning of that project, County staff and the Comprehensive Plan consultant conducted a zoning analysis of existing conditions.  Through the confirmation of the County’s vision through the Comprehensive Plan adoption – Calvert 2040, staff began working on developing zoning recommendations and a draft ordinance that would bring the Zoning Ordinance into compliance with the new Comprehensive Plan.  

Goals:

  • Ensure uniformity with the Calvert 2040 newly adopted Comprehensive Plan
  • Conduct a comprehensive review of zoning regulations regarding current land use practices
  • Condense the document and remove unnecessary language
  • Re-organize sections to make the document more intuitive for users
  • Revise vague language to limit need for Zoning Interpretations
  • Update outdated requirements to be in line with State standards and current best management practices
  • Provide an ordinance that is user friendly for staff, citizens and businesses

Zoning Ordinance Draft Map:

How to submit public comment:

***NOTE – Deadlines for public comments are to ensure comments can be provided to the Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission in time for upcoming work sessions. Staff will continue to accept comments on any draft articles through the end of the adoption process. ***

Email to: ZOupdate@calvertcountymd.gov
Mail to: Attn: ZO Update, 205 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

View received public comments

  1. Draft Zoning Ordinance
  2. FAQs
  3. Schedule
  4. Past Meetings

May 2023 Draft Zoning Ordinance

  1. A1 Title, Purpose, and Applicability
  2. A2 Definitions
  3. A3 Zoning Map
  4. A4 Agricultural Districts
  5. A5 Rural Residential Districts
  6. A6 Residential Districts
  7. A7 Commercial Districts
  8. A8 Industrial Districts
  9. A9 Historic Districts
  10. A17 Transferable Development Rights
  11. A18 Uses
  12. A18 Table 18-1 Outside Town Center Uses
  13. A18 Table 18-2 Town Center Uses
  14. A18 Table 18-3 Solomons Town Center Uses
  15. A19 Accessory Structures
  1. A20 Forest Conservation
  2. A21 Natural Resources
  3. A22 Critical Area
  4. A23 Marine and Water-Dependent Facilities
  5. A24 Floodplain
  6. A25 Site Development and Design Standards
  7. A26 Outdoor Lighting
  8. A27 Parking
  9. A28 Landscaping
  10. A29 Signs
  11. A30 Zoning Approvals, Variances, and Appeals
  12. A31 Subdivision
  13. A32 Nonconformities
  14. A33 Enforcement