Authority For Local Planning - Article 66B

The State of Maryland entrusts local jurisdictions with land use planning authority. Article 66B of the Maryland Annotated Code delegates planning and land use regulatory authority to all noncharter counties and all incorporated municipalities outside of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, as well as specifically identified towns within these two jurisdictions (Barnesville, Brookeville, Gaithersburg, Laytonsville, Poolesville, Rockville, Washington Grove, and Laurel).

This statute enables local government to guide growth and development; outlines the responsibilities, roles, and functions of the planning commission; and sets the “ground rules” for operations. Many sections of Article 66B apply to all jurisdictions in the State that exercise planning and zoning powers. Article 25A delegates planning and land use powers to six charter counties (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Talbot, and Wicomico). Article 28 applies to Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties and to all incorporated towns within those two counties not covered by Article 66B.

For the full text of the law see Maryland Law on LexisNexis:

• Article 66B - Land Use
• Article 25A - Chartered Counties of Maryland
• Article 28 - Maryland-National Capital Park And Planning Commission

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