Baltimore County provides access to Geographic Information System (GIS) data and maps through the GIS Open Data Portal.
Standard Map Library
View the following standard planning maps.
In the following maps, the districts in blue exceed the state-rated capacity for the school (34 by 44 inches).
The Department of Public Works and Transportation makes the adopted adequate public facilities maps for sewerage, water supply and transportation—known as basic services maps—available for download each year.
Commercial Revitalization Districts (24 by 36 inches)—Established to provide a range of services aimed at maintaining the health and vitality of the neighborhood commercial areas.
Detailed Area Maps
The following maps are 8.5 by 11 inches:
Community Planning sectors (36 by 42 inches)
- Affordable Housing Opportunity Areas (8.5 by 11 inches)—Established to show where the County would like to encourage affordable and accessible housing for low-income households.
- Design Review Panel (DRP) Areas (24 by 36 inches)—Established to help ensure high design standards. Development in the mapped areas is reviewed by the DRP.
- Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) (8.5 by 11 inches)—The URDL determines where water and sewer utilities are provided.
- Zoning (34 by 44 inches)—Determines the type of land use and density on a parcel of land.
Detailed Area Maps
The following maps are 8.5 by 11 inches:
Commercial Design Review Panel Areas
- Arbutus
- Catonsville
- Downtown Towson District
- Dundalk
- Essex
- Historic East Towson
- Honeygo Gateway
- Liberty Road
- Loch Raven Baynesville
- Loch Raven Hillendale
- Perry Hall
- Pikesville
- South Towson (SOTO)
Residential Design Review Panel Areas
- Adopted Community Plans and Boundaries (22 by 34 inches)—A public document which contains specific proposals for future land uses and public improvements in a given community.
- Community Enhancement Areas (34 by 44 inches)—Areas suitable for sustainable redevelopments that are compact, mixed-use and walkable.
- Growth Tiers (34 by 44 inches)
- Identifies where major and minor residential subdivisions may develop and the type of sewage disposal system that will serve them (34 by 44 inches).
- Land Management Areas (8.5 by 11 inches)—Includes growth areas, urban centers, community conservation areas, employment areas, and various rural land management areas
- Land Use (34 by 44 inches)
- Priority Funding Area (8.5 by 11 inches)—Existing communities and places where local governments want State investment to support future growth.
- Proposed Land Use (Available in 8.5 by 11 inches or 28 by 41 inch poster)—Provides general recommendations for land use.
- County and State Scenic Routes (8.5 by 11 inches)
- Scenic Views and Gateways (8.5 by 11 inches)
Sustainable Communities seek to:
- Conserve resources
- Consider the social and economic needs of all residents
- Offer many options for transportation
- Provide green spaces and parks for recreation and agriculture
- Use natural and cultural resources wisely for future generations
Detailed Maps
The following maps are 11 by 17 inches.
Interactive Online Maps
The My Neighborhood map depicts zoning, historic districts, bikeways, commercial revitalization areas and land development for Baltimore County. View more detailed maps below.
Use the land preservation map to learn more about the County's 64,000 acres of protected farmland, waterfront, stream valleys and natural lands.
- Historic Preservation Map—Locate historic structures, County historic districts and more.
- Historic Districts Virtual Tour—Learn about the cultural and historic resources of each district.
- Historic District of Relay—Learn about how the town developed along the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad beginning in the 1830s.
- Turner Station Community Exploration Trail— Discover historic sites and recreational amenities within the Turner Station community and learn about its rich history.
- CZMP 2020 Issue Review Map—View the location of, and updates regarding, issues filed for CZMP 2020. Each issue has an existing zone and a requested zone.
- 2020 CZMP Dashboard—Monitors, tracks and assesses the zoning issue request data for the 2020 CZMP. View zoning statistics of all areas in the County that are impacted by a zoning issue request.
Publications and Research
Learn more about the following topics.
- Citizen's Guide to Planning and Zoning—Develop a basic understanding of the various processes and documents related to zoning.
- CZMP Countywide Log of Issues ("Overview" dropdown) —A log of zoning requests and actions taken during the CZMP.
- Master Plan 2020—View policies and guidelines for sustaining livable communities and achieving balanced development in the County. (Updated every 10 years.)
- Adopted Community Plans—View specific proposals for future land uses and public improvements in a given community.
View the design guidelines for rehabilitating historic homes.
View the properties listed on the Preliminary or Final Landmarks list.
- Complete Streets Guidelines—These guidelines apply to development inside the URDL and promote accessibility by all users of the County's transportation system.
- Comprehensive Manual of Development Policies ("Comprehensive Manual of Development Policies" dropdown)—Provides guidelines to encourage developmental design excellence.
- Design Review Panel Commercial Review Handbook with Application—Describes the DRP review process and includes an application for requesting a DRP review
- Landscape Manual—Provides guidelines for landscape elements in development.
- Manual of Regulations, Section 260—Provides guidelines for buildings proposed in major development.
- Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, Schools 2022-2023 (APFO) ("Adequate Public School Facilities" dropdown)—The annual APFO report indicates overcrowded school districts per the County Code. The Department of Planning performs a school impact analysis for each proposed development project to determine whether there is a school construction or adjacent spare capacity to accommodate the overcrowded school.
To learn more, contact Jen Meacham, Chief of Research, Analysis and Design by calling 410-887-3521 or emailing jmeacham@baltimorecountymd.gov.
- 2021 Annual Growth Report—Tracks development-related changes having occurred in the County in 2021 and proves that these changes are consistent with the County’s growth policies and land use goals.
- Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, Schools 2022-2023 (APFO) ("Adequate Public School Facilities" dropdown)—The annual APFO report indicates overcrowded school districts per the County Code. The Department of Planning performs a school impact analysis for each proposed development project to determine whether there is a school construction or adjacent spare capacity to accommodate the overcrowded school.
- Subdivision Reports—Quarterly summaries of approved plans and building permits for residential and nonresidential development in the County.
To receive notification when each new edition of the report is available, subscribe to the quarterly subdivision report email list.