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***The Application period is now over.  Currently staff are reviewing the applications and completing assessments of all zoning requests***

The Department of Planning and Zoning has scheduled two community input meetings with the Planning Advisory Board (PAB) to allow citizens to provide feedback on the 66 Comprehensive Zoning applications received by the Department.  The meetings will be held from 7pm to 9pm at Aberdeen High School on Monday, November 4th and Bel Air High School on Monday, November 18th.  Citizens must sign up to speak prior to the start of the meeting.   Department of Planning and Zoning staff will be available starting at 6pm to answer questions about the Comprehensive Zoning process or assist citizens with locating Zoning Issues on a map of the County.  The meeting will start promptly at 7pm with an introduction from Shane Grimm, Director of Planning and Zoning.  Citizens will have 3 minutes to address the PAB.  Citizen representing groups will be given 5 minutes to speak.  The members of PAB are present to listen to citizen comment and will not be answering questions.  Citizens will also have the ability to leave written comments at each meeting.

Rezoning

The Department of Planning and Zoning has developed a Harford County Rezoning Tracker for tracking rezoning requests received from property owners during the 2024/2025 Comprehensive Zoning Review. The tracker displays an interactive map of each rezoning request submitted to the Department plus detailed information about the underlying property.  Throughout this year-long review process, the rezoning tracker will be updated in real time as applications are received and processed. 

To use the tracker, click on the image above and look for the underlying properties identified with green circles on the countywide map.  Clicking on a issue number on the list to the left side will access background information included with the application. Within this feature is a link to the “document archive” which displays a copy of the rezoning application. 

As the review process unfolds, a zoning log will be developed showing recommendations made for each parcel by the Planning Advisory Board, the Department of Planning & Zoning, and the final decision of the County Council. Keep checking back for this feature.

Click on the links  for detailed information about the 2024/2025 Comprehensive Zoning Review. 

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The Harford County Code requires that a Comprehensive Zoning review be initiated every 8 years.  A property owner may request a zoning change for the property during the Comprehensive Zoning review by applying to the Department of Planning and Zoning.   The Department cannot accept any additional requests after the deadline established by the Director of Planning and Zoning. Each application shall be considered by the Director during the Comprehensive Zoning review process.  If the Department recommends a change in the zoning for a property when the property owner has not requested a change, the Department shall give written notice of the recommendation to the owner and to each owner of property that abuts the property for which the change has been requested. The notice shall be mailed at least 30 calendar days before the public hearing conducted on the Planning Director’s final report by the Council.  It is important to note that applications for piecemeal rezoning are suspended for the duration of the Comprehensive Zoning review.  
Within 365 calendar days of the date the Department began accepting applications, the County Executive must submit to the Council the comprehensive revisions and amendments to the zoning maps and regulations contained in the final report of the Director of Planning and Zoning. The County Council will then conduct a public hearing on the Comprehensive Zoning review.   At least 21 calendar days before the public hearing conducted by the County Council, the Department will ensure that each property for which a zoning change has been requested is posted with a notice stating the date, time and location of the hearing and the telephone number of the Department.  Any changes to the report of the Director of Planning and Zoning shall be voted upon by the County Council as individual issues.
  1. FAQs - 2024/2025
For more information or questions concerning the 2024/2025 Comprehensive Zoning review, please contact:


Department of Planning and Zoning


220 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone:  410-638-3136