Zoning is a system of land use regulation that controls the physical development of land. It is a legal mechanism by which local government is able to regulate an owner’s right to use privately owned land for the sake of protecting the public health, safety, and/or general welfare.
Land is mapped into different zones with the primary purpose of promoting compatible land uses and to separate incompatible uses.
Decisions regarding how land is zoned are determined, in part, by the County’s master plan, which lays out broad policies to implement a shared vision for the future, and adopted community plans. Zoning Basics provides an introduction to Baltimore County’s zoning processes. Changing the Zoning Map describes the procedures for making modifications to County zoning. A Citizen’s Guide to Planning and Zoning is a PDF document that provides greater detail about county zoning.
The Baltimore County Council adopted Bill 72-04 on July 6, 2004 shifting the authority of the official zoning maps from hand-drafted maps to an electronic version, called the zoning geodatabase. All references in the County Code were updated. The County zoning geodatabase is available for purchase by the public. For more information please contact the GIS Services Unit at 410-887-2233. My Neighborhood: Zoning is an interactive map that allows users to view the zoning of any area in the County. You can select areas to view by typing in an address, or by zooming and panning to see your area of interest. If you zoom in close enough, an aerial photograph of the area will be displayed. By clicking on the map using the "Identify" tool, a description of the zone will be displayed. Please contact the Office of Planning at 410-887-3480 if you have any questions regarding how to use the map.
Revised May 8, 2007
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