Q. How can I determine if my neighbor is violating the zoning regulations?
A. To determine if someone is in violation of Baltimore County Zoning Regulations, call the Zoning Review Office at 410-887-3391, or Code Enforcement at 410-887-3352.
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Q. Can you tell me how my property is zoned?
A. By visiting My Neighborhood: Zoning you can determine the zoning in your neighborhood. My Neighborhood: Zoning, is an Internet map service (IMS) application that allows the user to display and query map data. This data is only for general information purposes.
Presently, this information cannot be provided over the telephone. In the meantime, you, or a representative, are welcome to visit the Zoning Review Office in the County Office Building, 111 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Room 111; Towson, MD 21204. A planner will provide personal assistance to you and no appointment is necessary. If you would like the zoning information certified in written form, you may write a letter to Timothy Kotroco, Director of the Department of Permits and Development Management, at the same address. There is a $10 processing fee for written certification of residential property by the property owner and $50 for all others. Although not required, an accurate site plan will ensure the accuracy of the zoning verification.
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Q. What are the setbacks for my property?
A. If you know the zoning of the particular piece of property, you can contact the Zoning Review Office at 410-887-3391, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Otherwise, you must visit the zoning office in Room 111 in the County Office Building, or write a letter to Timothy Kotroco, Director of the Department of Permits and Development Management; 111 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 105; Towson, MD 21204.
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Q. What zoning regulations must I comply with to construct an addition to my dwelling?
A. To ascertain this information, you must contact 410-887-3391 , Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., or come into the office with the location of the property, size of the addition, type of dwelling (single, group, or semi-detached), book and folio numbers from your deed (if in a recorded subdivision), and name of the recorded subdivision.
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Q. Is it legal for my neighbor to build a large shed close to my property line?
A. Accessory structures (storage sheds, garages, etc.) must be located in the rear yard behind the rear foundation wall line, must occupy no more than 40 percent of the yard, and must be located two and one-half feet from the side and rear property lines. If there is an alley, there must be a minimum setback of fifteen feet from the centerline. There is a height limitation of fifteen feet; and, if located on a corner lot (intersection of two streets), the structure must be situated in the one-half of the lot furthest from the side street. A building permit is required if the structure is over one hundred square feet. Information on how to obtain a building permit may be obtained by calling Building Permit Processing at 410-887-3900, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Q. What are the regulations for fences?
A. A permit is required for fences over forty-two inches high (measured vertical to ground, even if the fence is placed on top of a wall). If a fence is erected within an easement and is required to be removed, it would be at the owner's expense. An access easement can not be fenced.
On a corner lot, no fence or other obstruction to vision is permitted higher than three feet within twenty-five feet of the corner of the two streets, fifteen feet of a street and alley, and ten feet of two alleys. A residential fence in a side or rear yard which adjoins a residential front yard cannot exceed forty-two inches if it is setback zero to ten feet, forty-eight inches if setback ten to twenty feet, sixty inches if setback twenty to thirty feet, and if setback over thirty feet, there is no height limit. Required pool fences and houses more than two hundred feet apart are exceptions.
No residential fence may exceed a maximum height of forty-two inches in the front yard and six feet in the side and rear yards at the property line. If there is a setback of two feet for every vertical foot over six feet, the maximum height may not exceed ten feet in the side and rear yards.
Additional information can be accessed by visiting or calling the Office of Zoning Review at 410-887-3391.
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Q. How can I obtain an application for signs and fences?
A. Applications for signs and fences can be applied for in person in Room 111, County Office Building, 111 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. Further information may be acquired by calling the Office of Zoning Review at 410-887-3391.
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Q. How can I purchase the Baltimore County Zoning Regulations?
A. To purchase the regulations, contact General Code Publishers at 1-800-836-8834. The Baltimore County Zoning Regulations are available online as well as recently enacted legislation.
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Main FAQ
Revised December 9, 2008
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