Established under the authority of Maryland Law, the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance sets forth the minimum requirements for promoting and protecting the public health, safety, and welfare within the County. Its core purpose is to guide the orderly development and use of land and structures, aiming to protect the County’s natural and cultural resources, provide oversight and planning to sustain the vibrancy of Town Centers, create attractive development, and protect and preserve the appearance and character of the surrounding area. This is achieved through detailed regulations covering a wide range of topics, including land use by district, preservation efforts, Critical Area requirements, standards for site development, signs, outdoor lighting, off-street parking and loading, landscape requirements, subdivision of land, and procedures for zoning approvals, variances, appeals, and enforcement.
Chesapeake Beach and North Beach are both Incorporated towns within Calvert County, and have separate governments and zoning regulations from the county and town center regulations below. Some sections of the Town Center Ordinances refer back to the county Zoning Ordinance. For more information on the town centers, visit the town center pages.
Property owners or their authorized representatives can apply for an administrative variance to request small changes to select zoning regulations, such as sign height or building setbacks. The Zoning Officer has authority to approve these requests in limited cases, for example, topographical limitations, unusual shapes, or road access issues. Variances must meet specific limits (e.g., no more than a 50% setback reduction) and follow set procedures, including notifying nearby property owners, posting a sign on the property, and possibly informing state agencies where applicable. If neighbors object in writing, the request is denied and must go to the Board of Appeals. Applicants must show that the variance is necessary due to unique land conditions and won't harm the public or go against planning goals. Decisions are made after 20 days, may include conditions, and can be appealed by the applicant, affected neighbors, or state agencies within 30 days of the decision.
Zoning text and map amendments allow changes to zoning rules or district boundaries and can be initiated by the County Commissioners, citizens, agencies, or the Planning Commission. Map amendment applications may also be filed by property owners or their authorized representatives. All applications go to the Department of Planning & Zoning, which forwards them to the Planning Commission for review. The final decision is made by the Board of County Commissioners after public hearings. These hearings are publicly advertised and require notice to affected property owners. For map changes, signs must be posted on the property and notices mailed in advance. Amendments are evaluated based on factors like population changes, public facilities, transportation, and consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. A map amendment may be approved if there’s a proven change in the neighborhood or an error in the current zoning. The Board can also add conditions to any approval to protect the area's character, but cannot prohibit permitted uses in the new zoning district. Special rules apply for amendments in the Critical Area, MC District, RC District, or for comprehensive rezonings.
Citizens may also wish to access the zoning ordinance on mobile devices. Downloadable apps for both iOS and Android devices are available from General Code, which hosts the County's Zoning Ordinance online.