The Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity is an entity of the Howard County Government that seeks to eradicate discrimination, increase equal opportunity and protect and promote Human Rights in the county. The Office serves as a catalyst in fostering attitudes and beliefs among Howard County residents which confirm that all individuals have an equal opportunity to enjoy a wholesome and productive quality of life and can pursue their lives free of discrimination.

The Office of Children and Families promotes the well-being of children birth to five years old by providing services and supports to their families and caregivers and supports the initiatives of the Early Childhood Advisory Council. The Office offers a wide array of services and resources to promote healthy development, school readiness and strengthen families.

This center is a 46,000-square-foot, silver LEED-certified community center that includes a swimming pool, splash pad, basketball and volleyball courts, classrooms, fitness and exercise rooms with cardio and PRECOR strength training equipment, a climbing wall and more . 

The Task Force will evaluate and provide recommendations on how to carry forward New Town's planned community framework.

The mission of the Board of elections is to ensure federal, state and local elections are conducted timely, responsibly, and with the highest level of professional election standards, accountability, security and integrity, intended to earn and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

The Finance Department ensures that the County’s financial resources are collected, protected, invested and distributed in a fiscally responsible manner, and provides optimal financial services to a wide range of constituents, including citizens, taxpayers, businesses, agencies and County employees.

On March 17, 2025, County Executive Ball signed Executive Order 2025-03 to establish the Economic Competitiveness and Opportunity Now, or “ECON,” Task Force. Comprised of government officials, business leaders, and education partners, the ECON Task Force will develop a comprehensive economic resiliency and competitiveness plan to guide Howard County’s winning economic strategy now and through the next decade.

YES! is a focused effort to align organizations and groups across the County who are doing youth-focused work—especially in mentorship, conflict resolution, economic mobility, and programming.

The County Executive is the head of the executive branch of government in Howard County and is elected to a four-year term.

The North Laurel Community Center is one of Howard County's community centers, built to serve the southeastern portion of the county. The facility is shared by the Departments of Recreation & Parks and Health, Howard County Police and the Office on Aging and Independence. Features include a fitness room, game room, dance and aerobics room, double gymnasium, pre-school classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, senior activity room, and more.

The Office of Procurement and Contract Administration maintains approximately 775 annual contracts for the goods, services and capital improvement projects that allow Departments to serve the residents of Howard County.

The Howard County Office of Agriculture is dedicated to preserving Agriculture in Howard County as a viable industry. The Office provides the agricultural industry with business support, technical assistance, promotion and acts as a liaison between farms and other county agencies.

This workgroup evaluates behavioral health service capacity and access and recommends strategies to improve coordination and outcomes for individuals with behavioral health conditions.

Under Director Robert J. Frances, P.E., the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits is the clearinghouse for processing licenses and permits, reviewing construction documents, and inspecting buildings and structures for code compliance.

The Department of Planning and Zoning ensures the orderly and sustainable growth of the County by implementing policies, plans, and regulations that guide land use and development. Research and community engagement are cornerstones to these efforts that shape our community.