The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) promotes a vision for economic development, flexibility and local authority throughout Maryland. The agency helps Maryland's counties and municipalities in land use and resource planning and provides review and technical assistance on a variety of planning topics. In addition, Planning offers data, analysis and research assistance and policy development and implementation support to local governments as well as communities, businesses and other organizations.​​

MDP's Local Assistance and Training unit publishes Planning’s newsletter, Planning Practice Monthly​, to communicate statewide, regional, and local planning efforts of MDP, other state agencies, county and municipal planning departments, local governments, and others engaged in the field of Planning. ​​

New to Our Work

​Boards and Commissions​

​​MDP is involved in many boards, commissions, task forces, and associations. In many cases, the department is the staffing agency. ​

Go to the Boards and Commissions page for links to these boards.

During the 2023 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed SB 382 which establishes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Task Force (Task Force) to study the placement of accessory dwelling units (ADU) on land zoned for single-family residential use and to survey and document a representative sampling of the variety of ordinances, laws, codes, and policies regarding accessory dwelling units at the state and local level. ​

Go to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Task Force​ site for more information

Baltimore ​County East Side Assessment Grant​

Go to the Baltimore County East Side Revitalization Community-Wide Assessment Grant site​

The Maryland Zoni​ng CheckUp

​Go to the Zoning CheckUpsite​​

​Go to the Housing Element Models & Guidelines

Solar Facility Siting Guidance

Go to the Solar Facility Siting Guidance​

Maryland Military and Community Compatible Use

Go to the Maryland Military an​​d Community Compatible Use site​