Welcome to the Department of Planning and Zoning

Our website is designed to be your online resource for information on development, zoning, agricultural and environmental preservation, and community planning in Howard County. Please take time to visit the many pages bringing you the latest information from DPZ.

We would like to know what you think about our site and how it can better serve you. If you have recommendations, comments or questions, please contact us at planning@howardcountymd.gov. Thank you for visiting.

To create collaborative, innovative plans and implement strategies that effectively address growth and redevelopment challenges. DPZ seeks to enhance Howard County’s high quality of life, prosperity, and stewardship of our natural and cultural resources.

Downtown Columbia Design Guidelines - Downtown-Wide Draft: The Guidelines show how buildings and landscapes support and reinforce the physical, three-dimensional intentions of the Downtown Columbia Plan and create places containing pleasing proportions, scale and character. The Guidelines also lay out the framework for developing the community’s sense of place and its identity and connection to the region. Appendix

Green Central Station: Explore the dif­fer­ent “tracks” of infor­ma­tion avail­able and help us make Howard County greener, health­ier, and a true sus­tain­able com­mu­nity.

Landscape Manual Update 2010: Recent review of the County's Landscape Manual prompted changes which are reflected in this update.

Visualize the Baltimore region in 2060… How will you get around? Will you walk, bike, drive, or take a bus, a train, or even a ferry? Will our communities still be inviting? This visioning process will facilitate an important dialogue about how to plan for the Baltimore region we want to create for future generations.

QUICK LINKS
3 Digit Signs	Customer Service Center & Large Format Imaging Services
Community Registration Pre-Submission Community Meeting Notification Map NEW Presubmission Community Meeting Notification Requirements and Checklist	Forms, Fees, & Applications
Howard Transit	Hearings & Boards
Subscribe | What's RSS?	Historic & Current Aerial Photos
Search Plans & Public Meetings	Rt 1 Manual
	Zoning & Subdivision Regulations

Temporary office relocated to 8930 Stanford Boulevard, Columbia, MD 21045
Department of Planning and Zoning | 3430 Court House Drive | Ellicott City, MD 21043
Monday-Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Phone: 410-313-2350 | Fax: 410-313-3467