Maryland House Bills Land Use Legislation
On October 1, 2026, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act (HB 548/SB 325) goes into effect in the state of Maryland. This new act changes existing Maryland case law by establishing an earlier grandfather date and securing vesting timeframe for residential real estate projects of 25-units or more (segments of under 25-units do not qualify including phases of projects), including mixed-use projects and changes the timing for payment of certain development excise taxes, impact fees, MIHU and school facilities surcharges.
On January 1, 2025, the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB538) went into effect in the state of Maryland. Created to make housing more affordable and accessible for Marylanders, the state law made considerable changes to the Land Use Article. This state code serves as the governing framework for how Maryland counties exercise their local planning and zoning authority.
Learn what the Maryland Housing Certainty Act (HB 548/ SB 325) means for Howard County.
- To understand the key provision implementations and the projects that qualify, please review the DPZ Policy Memo.
- For further information regarding the Impact Fee Process, please contact our Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
Learn what the state's Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB538) means for Howard County's implementation.
- To understand the key provision implementations and the projects that qualify, please review the DPZ Policy Memo.
Review the full text of the Maryland Housing Certainty Act (HB 548/SB 325) on our website.
Learn more about the key legislation enacted by Governor Moore to drive housing affordability for Marylanders. Visit the Department of Housing and Community Development's website for Turning the Key: Unlocking Maryland's Potential
Determine if your project is eligible for Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB538) by accessing DPZ's checklist.
*This checklist is required to be submitted with the first plan application.
Explore the area in more detail with the maps shown below for Housing Expansion and Affordability Act (HB538)
Dive into our interactive map to navigate to points of interest to learn more.