Zoning Regulations

Howard County Zoning Regulations

The Howard County Charter and Code empower the County Council to adopt maps dividing the County into various zoning districts, each of which has certain regulations that govern the development and use of land within the district. The most recent Zoning Regulations were adopted on October 6, 2013 and set forth the uses that are permitted, not permitted or conditioned in each zoning district. Together, the Zoning Maps and Zoning Regulations serve to guide the proper growth and development of the County in accordance with the goals and policies of the General Plan.

Amendments to Zoning Maps/Zoning Regulations

Petitions to amend the Zoning Regulations are filed with the County Council. Planning and Zoning provides a technical staff analysis, which is then forwarded with a recommendation to the Planning Board and County Council. Additional information regarding Zoning Text and Map Amendments, including a listing of approved and proposed amendments can be found on the County Council's zoning webpage.
Petitions to amend a Zoning Map are filed with the Department of Planning and Zoning in accordance with the Zoning Map Amendment Process.
A Presubmission Community Meeting is required prior to filing a Zoning Map Amendment Request.

2025 Zoning Regulation Amendments

File Number	File Name/Petitioner	Description	Status
ZRA-219	Activity Centers/DPZ	To add Activity Center and Activity Center Housing to the Zoning Regulations to align with the goals of the General Plan, HoCo By Design, and promote housing opportunities within Activity Centers in the TOD and TNC zoning districts.	Planning Board 10/16
ZRA-218	Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)/DPZ	Revise existing regulations for accessory dwelling units (ADU) to align with the goals of HoCo By Design	Planning Board 10/16
ZRA-217	Agriculture Land Use ZRA/DPZ	Increase opportunities of agritourism, implement goals and policies of HoCo By Design, reduce conflicts in the current code	Planning Board 10/9
ZRA-216	Southern Veterinary Partners	Add Animal Hospitals as a permitted use in the M-1 zoning district	Planning Board 11/20
ZRA-215	Councilmember Christiana Rigby	Create a conditional use to allow age-restricted adult housing apartments in R-ED, PGCC, R-20, R-12, R-SC, R-SA-8, R-H-ED when a property adjoins a B-1 zoned property and is within 1,000ft of an intersection of two arterial roads	Staff review
ZRA-214	Yale Presbyterian Church, Inc.	Create a conditional use to allow age-restricted adult housing apartments in R-ED, PGCC, R-20, R-12, R-SC, R-SA-8, R-H-ED when a property adjoins a B-1 zoned property and is within 1,000ft of an intersection of two arterial roads	Staff review
ZRA-213	Councilmember Chair, Liz Walsh	Add Age Restricted Adult Housing as a permitted use in PEC district; Amend the Moderate Income Housing Unit requirements in the R-SI, POR, CCT, CEF, and PSC zoning districts to require 10% Moderate Income Housing Units and 5% Low Income or Disability Income Housing Units	Enacted by Council with amendments (CB55-2025) Effective 9/30/25
ZRA-212	Blackrock Capital Investors, LLC.	Remove the required 50ft setback from residentially zoned properties and modify the limit of area not being used for buildings, parking areas, or driveways for Nursing Homes and Residential Care Facilities	Planning Board: Favorable recommendation with amendments

Interactive Zoning Map

The various zoning district boundaries adopted by the County Council are shown on the official Zoning Maps, a set of sectional maps maintained by the Department of Planning and Zoning. These official Zoning Maps can be viewed online through the Interactive Zoning Map, at the DPZ offices, and prints of these maps can be purchased.

Historic Zoning Map

You can view the Historic Zoning Map to access eight decades of past zoning with historic aerial images. This application offers a comprehensive look at the zoning history of Howard County, spanning from 1951 to the present day. The historic zoning regulations are also provided below to allow cross-comparing of the zoning map districts and their corresponding regulations with year of adoption.