Zoning Basics

Zoning Designations and Regulations

Baltimore County’s official zoning map depicts the zoning designation of land in the County. Currently, there are 37 different zoning classifications. There are general types of zones such as rural, density residential, office, business, industrial and mixed use. 

The Baltimore County Zoning Regulations provides detailed specifications for each of the zones, including the uses that are permitted (e.g., residential, manufacturing, retail), the maximum intensity of the use allowed (e.g., the number of dwellings per acre), and building height limits and building setbacks from roads and other property lines. The regulations may also detail other requirements, such as the number of parking spaces or amount of landscaping required.

Districts may be superimposed onto a zone to provide additional detailed regulation. Currently, there are seven zoning districts. Five districts are merely descriptive.  Only two districts, AS and IM grant additional uses. 

Revised October 21, 2009