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Our Work

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.​​


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Planning Practice Monthly Latest Edition​​​

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. ​See past newlsetters​.


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.


​ ​Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Task Force

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


​Models & Guidelines: The Housing Element

​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

Human Trafficking GET HELP

National Human Trafficking Hotline - 24/7 Confidential

1-888-373-7888 233733 More Information on human trafficking in Maryland

Customer Service Promise

The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services.

Take Our Survey

Help Stop Fraud in State Government

The Maryland General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. Information reported to the hotline in the past has helped to eliminate certain fraudulent activities and protect State resources.

More Information