Master Plan and Adopted Community Plans
MASTER PLANNING HISTORY
The Baltimore County Charter requires that a master plan be updated at least every 10 years. The master plan provides policies and guidelines for sustaining livable communities and achieving balanced development in Baltimore County.
Baltimore County began launching growth management policies in the 1960s. The master plans and their landmark programs are essential to maintaining the sustainable development for economic well-being, public health and safety, education, and resource preservation throughout County communities, and have made the County nationally and internationally renowned. Learn more about past master planning efforts.
MASTER PLAN 2030
Master Plan 2030 was adopted by County Council on January 16, 2024.
BEST PRACTICES
Baltimore County Master Plan 2030 is an aspirational planning document that charts a course for the County throughout the next decade and beyond. The plan represents the culmination of a lengthy master-planning process which began in spring 2021 and included community outreach and public input phases, recommendations from local experts, stakeholders and County agencies, as well as, deliberation and coordination among numerous County agencies and Department of Planning staff.
Using Sustaining Places—Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans published by the American Planning Association (APA), as a guide, the Department of Planning developed a framework that intends to create “livable, healthy communities in harmony with nature—communities that have resilient economies, social equity, and strong regional ties”. In addition to using the Sustaining Places report as a guide, the Department of Planning also wanted to ensure that Master Plan 2030 included four key building blocks:
- Focus on preparing for the future needs of the county.
- Incorporate best planning practices.
- Provide clear implementation guidelines and benchmarks.
- Create a “living” document that will evolve throughout the years. As new studies are completed, new sections, proposals and documents will be added and linked to the main page.
THEMES AND PRINCIPLES
Master Plan 2030 is based on a systems approach, with three interwoven themes and six guiding principles. Three interwoven themes in Master Plan 2030 are equity, sustainability and vibrant communities. These themes run throughout the plan elements, influencing the goals and actions that are found in the Master Plan 2030, Vision Framework:
- Equity—Being inclusive in our decision-making, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and creating opportunity for all.
- Sustainability—Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the County's public and internal government infrastructure and safeguarding the County's ecology and climate.
- Vibrant Communities—Ensuring that all residents have access to high-quality, accessible and affordable housing, cultural and recreational opportunities in safe communities while promoting responsible economic development.
Six guiding principles, identified in the "Sustaining Places—Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans" published by the American Planning Association (APA), reinforce Baltimore County’s Vision for 2030 and serve as this Plan’s overall goals—Livable Built Environment, Harmony with Nature, Resilient Economy, Responsible Regionalism, Inclusive Planning and Healthy Community. They express and reinforce the major concerns Master Plan 2030 seeks to address.
ADOPTED COMMUNITY PLANS
A community plan sets forth goals, objectives, policies, and programs to address specific issues related to a particular community. View a list of adopted community plans.