Documents
This page contains all the previous iterations of the new zoning code.
Approved Zoning Code (with ZTA 14-09 Incorporated)
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones and Zoning Map
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Development Standards for Euclidean Zones
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. General Development Requirements
- 59-7. Administration and Procedures
- 59-8. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
Council Approved Zoning Code, Clean Version (March 5, 2014)
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones and Zoning Map
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Development Standards for Euclidean Zones
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. General Development Requirements
- 59-7. Administration and Procedures
- 59-8. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
Council Approved Zoning Code, Marked-up Version (March 5, 2014)
This draft shows all the changes made to ZTA 13-04 since its introduction on May 7, 2013. All deletions are indicated by [brackets], and text added to the draft is underlined. Changes are displayed in 3 different colors as noted below.
GREEN font indicates PHED committee changes.
BLUE font indicates plain language edits, corrections, and clarifications made by staff during PHED committee review.
PINK font indicates County Council changes and plain language edits, corrections, and clarifications made by staff during Council review.
- Cover Page
- Preface
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones and Zoning Map
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Development Standards for Euclidean Zones
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. General Development Requirements
- 59-6. Optional Method Requirements
- 59-7. Administration and Procedures
- 59-8. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
Council Draft: Chapter 59, Clean version (Feb 18, 2014)
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones and Zoning Map
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Development Standards for Euclidean Zones
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. General Development Requirements
- 59-7. Administration and Procedures
- 59-8. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
Council Draft: Chapter 59, Marked-up version (February 18, 2014)
This draft shows all the changes made to ZTA 13-04 since its introduction on May 7, 2013. All deletions are indicated by [brackets], and text added to the draft is underlined. Changes are displayed in 3 different colors as noted below.
GREEN font indicates PHED committee changes.
BLUE font indicates plain language edits, corrections, and clarifications made by staff during PHED committee review.
PINK font indicates County Council changes and plain language edits, corrections, and clarifications made by staff during Council review.
- Preface
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones and Zoning Map
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Development Standards for Euclidean Zones
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. General Development Requirements
- 59-6. Optional Method Requirements
- 59-7. Administration and Procedures
- 59-8. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
PHED Committee Draft: Chapter 59 (Dec.16, 2013)
This draft includes all the changes made by the PHED committee (in GREEN text), in addition to plain language edits, corrections, and clarifications (in BLUE text). Deletions are indicated by [brackets], and text added to the draft is underlined.
- Preface & Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Euclidean Zone Requirements
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. Optional Method Requirements
- 59-7. General Development Requirements
- 59-8. Administration and Procedures
- 59-9. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
Revised Preliminary PHED Committee Draft (Oct 11, 2013)
The draft includes the PHED Committee decisions through September (in GREEN text), in addition to plain language edits, corrections, and clarifications (in BLUE text). Deletions are indicated by [brackets], and text added to the draft is underlined.
- Preface
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Euclidean Zone Requirements
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. Optional Method Requirements
- 59-7. General Development Requirements
- 59-8. Administration and Procedures
- 59-9. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
Preliminary PHED Draft (Sept 4, 2013)
- Preface
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. General Zoning Ordinance Provisions
- 59-2. Zones
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Euclidean Zone Requirements
- 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements
- 59-6. Optional Method Requirements
- 59-7. General Development Requirements
- Zone Translation Table
Planning Board Draft (May 2, 2013)
On Thursday, May 2, 2013 the Planning Board approved, and transmitted to the County Council, the following draft of Chapter 59.
- Preface & Table of Contents
- 59-1. In General
- 59-2. Zoning District
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Euclidean Zone District Regulations
- 59-5. Floating Zone District Regulations
- 59-6. Optional Method Regulations
- 59-7. General Development Regulations
- 59-8. Administration and Procedures
- 59-9. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance
- Zone Translation Table (revised 6/21/13)
Companion Documents (May 2, 2013 draft)
The Planning Board Draft Companion document summarizes the significant changes to the current code. The other documents provide more detailed analysis of specific zones or sections of the code. Detailed use comparison charts for all zones are available here.
- Changes to the Agricultural zone
- Changes to the Rural Residential zones
- Changes to the Residential zones
- Changes to definitions
Revised Preliminary Planning Board Draft (March 13, 2013)
- Table of Contents
- 59-1. In General
- 59-2. Zoning Districts
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Euclidean Zone District Regulations
- 59-5. Floating Zone District Regulations
- 59-6. Optional Method Regulations
- 59-7. General Development Regulations
- 59-8. Administration and Procedures
Preliminary Planning Board Draft (Dec 21, 2012)
Please note that Article 59-1 (Purpose, Applicability, Use of the Code, and Definitions) is not included because it has not yet been reviewed by the Planning Board. The draft is still a work in progress, so section references have not been updated and elements of the documents below may change as Planning Board review continues.
- 59-2. Zoning Districts
- 59-3. Uses and Use Standards
- 59-4. Euclidean Zone District Regulations
- 59-5. Floating Zone District Regulations
- 59-6. Optional Method Regulations
- 59-7. General Development Regulations
- 59-8. Administration and Procedures
Staff Drafts (Fall/ Winter 2012)
These drafts are included with the staff reports submitted to the Planning Board and reflect changes made to the Consolidated Draft. Documents comparing the current code to the draft code are available here.
- 59-1. General Zoning Code Provisions (Jan 29, 2013)
- Consolidated version of staff drafts released to date (Dec 11, 2012)
- 59-8. Administration and Procedures (Dec 10, 2012)
- 59-7. General Development Regulations (Dec 3, 2012)
- Overlay and Floating Zones (Nov 21, 2012)
- Agricultural, Rural, Residential and Industrial Zones(2MB) (Sept 20, 2012)
- Detailed redline edits of Agricultural, Rural, Residential and Industrial Zones (3.4MB) (Sept 20, 2012)
- C/R and Employment Zones (3.5MB) (Sept 7, 2012)
- Detailed redline edits of C/R and Employment Zones (3.8MB) (Sept 7, 2012)
- Standard Zone Conversion Table (Sept 2012)
Consolidated Draft (July 2012)
- Chapter 59 (Full Document) (9.3MB)
- Article 59-1. Purpose, Applicability, and Use of the Code(0.14MB)
Establishes the purpose of the Code; describes what properties and land use elements are controlled by the Code; and provides for how annexed properties are treated, how coordination with other regulations is governed, and how tables, illustrations, and examples are to be interpreted. - Article 59-2. Zoning Districts(0.14MB)
Establishes the various zoning districts used by the County to implement land use policy; the intent of each zoning district; and how zoning maps are completed and to be interpreted. - Article 59-3. Uses and Use Standards(0.47MB)
Provides an allowed Use Table for all zoning districts; defines the use; and provides any use-specific standards that must be complied with in addition to the zoning district and general regulations. - Article 59-4. Euclidean Zoning District Regulations(4.4MB)
Establishes the types of development methods; defines how standards are measured and what exceptions are allowed; and establishes the development regulations and standards for all buildings, structures, and lands for each allowed building type in each Euclidean zoning district. - Article 59-5. Floating Zoning District Regulations(.18MB)
Establishes the development regulations and standards for all buildings, structures, and lands for each allowed building type in each Floating zoning district. - Article 59-6. Optional Method Regulations(.61MB)
Establishes the development regulations and standards for all optional method development, including development with Moderately Priced Dwelling Units, Cluster Development, and development requiring public amenities and benefits in the Commercial/Residential, Employment, and Industrial Zones. - Article 59-7. General Development Regulations(3.4MB)
Establishes the applicability, standards, and regulations for site access; parking, queuing, and loading; open space; recreation facilities; landscaping and lighting; signs; and outdoor storage and display. - Article 59-8. Administration and Procedures(0.3MB)
Establishes the necessary applications and review and approval authorities to administer this Code; the specific rules and requirements required to submit and make a decision on the applications; how nonconforming sites, uses, and structures are treated; and how enforcement is provided. - Article 59-9. Definitions(.18MB)
Establishes the definitions used for specific meanings in this Code.
Companion Document (July 2012 draft)
This companion document to the consolidated draft (.375MB) is organized by Article and highlights changes between the current code and the proposed consolidated draft. In addition to the document there are two appendices – one detailing use changes (1.6MB) and one outlining parking recommendations (.246MB).
Zoning Advisory Panel Discussion Drafts
- 59-2 Zoning Districts (.25MB) Nov 2011
- 59-3 Uses and Use Standards (.34MB) Nov 2011
- 59-4 Zoning District Regulations (2MB) Nov 2011
- 59-6 Optional Method Regulations (.19MB) Nov 2011
- 59-7 General Development Regulations (3.86MB) Jan 2012
- 59-8 Administration and Procedures (0.9MB) March 2012
- 59-9 Definitions Nov 2011
- Proposed Zone Conversions (1MB) Apr 2012
Preliminary Zoning Advisory Panel Discussion Drafts
- September 21, 2011(4.5MB) Revised Uses and Use Standards and Zoning District Regulations for Agricultural and Residential Zones. Reflects changes made to the October 13, 2010 and December 8, 2010 drafts.
- June 15, 2011 (1.2MB) Annotated Outline of Administration and Procedures
- Summary of proposed changes(0.8MB)
- December 8, 2010(1.5MB) Uses and Use Standards for Agricultural and Residential Zones
- Use comparison table (1.2MB)
- October 13, 2010 (.8 MB) Zoning District Regulations for Agricultural and Residential Zones
Zoning Discovery and Project Approach & Annotated Outline
- Project Approach and Annotated Outline(1.5MB) April 12, 2010.
- View a presentation (1.1MB) explaining the report.
- Read public comments (0.5MB) about the report.
- Zoning Discovery January 2009. An evaluation of the current Zoning Ordinance.
- Winner of the Maryland chapter of the American Planning Association's Outstanding Project or Program award (November 2009).
- Zoning Discovery Appendix January 2009.
Current Zoning Ordinance
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