Zoning Map Amendment (ZMA)

A Zoning Map Amendment is a rezoning of one or more properties upon the request of the property owner or other applicant. Before approving a change of zone, the District Council must determine that there has either been a substantial change in the character of the neighborhood or that a mistake was made in the original zoning or the most recent Sectional Map Amendment.

Pre-Application Conference: Required under new Zoning Ordinance, except for applications submitted by the District Council, the Planning Board, or the Planning Director.

Pre-Application Neighborhood Meeting: Required under new Zoning Ordinance, except for applications submitted by the District Council, the Planning Board, or the Planning Director.

Subdivision and Development Review Committee (SDRC): ZMA applications may be referred to the SDRC, at the discretion of the Zoning Section Supervisor or at the request of the applicant..

Decision Maker: Zoning Map Amendments are decided by District Council with recommendation from the Planning Board and Zoning Hearing Examiner.

Fees

Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zone:

Public Notice Requirement: 

For District Council Review: Public notices are satisfied by mailings 30 days prior to the District Council hearing to:

• The applicant(s)
• All persons of record

And 60 days prior to District Council hearing, to: 

• Any municipality lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application
• Any governed special taxing districts lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application.

For Planning Board Review: Public notices are satisfied by mailings 30 days prior to the hearing to:

• The Applicant(s)
• All owners of land abutting the land subject to the application
• All persons of record, and all other persons who requested (in writing) a copy of the Technical Staff Report
• Registered civic associations that identified the geographical area in which the site is located as part of their represented areas
• Any municipality lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application
• Any governed special taxing districts lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application

For Zoning Hearing Examiner Review: Public notices are satisfied by mailings 30 days prior to the hearing to:

• The Applicant(s)
• All persons of record
• Any municipality lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application
• Any governed special taxing districts lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application 

Estimated Review Time: 8-10 months

Zoning Map Amendment Types:

• Conventional Zone
• Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay
• Planned Development

Application Instructions

The new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations go into effect on April 1, 2022. For a period of two years (until March 31, 2024), Applicants have the option to submit under the requirements of either the new or prior Ordinance. [Note: Review under the prior Ordinance requires a Pre-Application Conference and Statement of Justification to explain why the applicant has not chosen to develop under the provisions of the new Ordinance.] 

Any application accepted prior to the effective date of the new Ordinance will be reviewed and decided in accordance to the provisions of the prior Ordinance. See the Transitional Provisions Quick Reference for more information. 

Find application materials below separated per the applicable Ordinance.