Capital Improvement Projects Acquisition Program

The Real Estate Services Division is responsible for the successful acquisition of various easements and fee simple land associated with the construction of capital improvement projects. The responsibilities include review of plats, descriptions, construction and road drawings, processing and review of title reports and appraisals, preparation, review and recordation of legal documentation, negotiations with property owners, attorneys, corporations, etc., and acquisition of right-of-entries. Work assignments are received from the Bureau of Engineering, the Department of Recreation & Parks and various other County agencies.

Developer Agreement Program

This program ensures compliance of the developer agreement in accordance with the legal and administrative requirements provided under the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations of Howard County, the Howard County Design Manuals and the Howard County Code.

Construction in the subdivisions including water and sewer, roads, private access places, storm drains, storm water management facilities and forest conservation installation are inspected by County personnel. The developer is required to pay for these services. This division collects these fees prior to the signature approval and/or recordation of the appropriate plans.

Upon completion of all required subdivision public improvements and private improvements in accordance with the approved plans and specifications provided under the developer agreement, the developer will petition the Director of Public Works for acceptance of the facilities into the County's system of publicly operated and maintained facilities.

Legislation Program

This program includes disposition of real property and road closures. The objective is to provide the legal and administrative requirements necessary for the surplus of land, conveyance of easements, and termination of easements. The Director of Public Works is responsible for the collection of information from various County agencies and the compilation of this information into a report to be presented to the County Council relative to road closures in accordance the Howard County Code. The majority of legislative documents are Resolutions.