Maryland Development Fees
Maryland counties use a layered framework of zoning and planning application fees, Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) requirements, school facilities surcharges, transportation impact taxes, and separately-administered water and sewer connection charges. There is no single statewide impact fee statute, so fee research happens county by county and program by program.
Coverage last updated: 2026-07-06. 10 Maryland jurisdictions live on ZoneFee.
Live Maryland Jurisdictions
How Development Fees Work in Maryland
Maryland is a Dillon Rule state in which counties exercise authority delegated by the General Assembly through state enabling acts and, for charter counties, through their own charters. The legislature has not enacted a statewide impact fee statute comparable to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395. Instead, several distinct programs operate in parallel, and each county adopts the mix that fits its growth and infrastructure pressures.
The most common Maryland tool is the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO): a subdivision and site plan condition that ties development approval to whether schools, roads, water, sewer, and public safety facilities have capacity to serve the new project. Where capacity is constrained, an APFO can require phasing, mitigation payments, or fee-in-lieu contributions, but the structure varies meaningfully by county.
Several Maryland counties also adopt a school facilities surcharge or school construction excise tax on residential building permits to fund new school capacity, and a transportation impact tax on new development to fund roadway capacity. These programs are typically authorized by county council legislation and adopted by ordinance, with rates published in the county code or in a county council resolution. Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County are among the larger counties that have used some combination of these tools.
Maryland counties also charge zoning, planning, and subdivision application fees from a county Department of Planning and Zoning fee schedule. These are typically adopted as part of the annual county budget effective July 1 and cover staff review of zoning map amendments, comprehensive and text zoning amendments, conditional use applications, variance applications, board of appeals appeals, sign variances, administrative adjustments, plats, and site development plans. They cover the cost of staff review rather than infrastructure capacity.
Finally, water and wastewater service for new development is provided by either the county Department of Public Works (Howard County DPW Bureau of Utilities, for example), an independent regional authority (such as WSSC Water for Montgomery and Prince George's), or a municipal utility department. These utilities charge connection or capacity charges for new service - structurally similar to one-time tap fees in other states - and ongoing volumetric and base service charges for occupied properties. The county planning department's review of subdivision-level water and sewer facilities is a separate administrative review fee that typically lives in the planning fee schedule.
Maryland Statutory Anchors
- Md. Code, Land Use Article - Planning, subdivision regulation, zoning, and development review authority for non-charter counties and the regional districts. (mgaleg.maryland.gov - Land Use Article)
- Md. Code, Local Government Article - General home rule and charter county authority. (mgaleg.maryland.gov - Local Government Article)
- Md. Code, Tax-Property Article Section 13-101 et seq. - Recordation, transfer, and county excise tax authority including school construction and transportation impact tax authority for several named counties. (mgaleg.maryland.gov - Tax-Property Article)
- Md. Code, Environment Article Title 9 - Water and sewer service, water and sewer plans, and connection charges. (mgaleg.maryland.gov - Environment Article)
- County charters and codes - Charter counties (including Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Baltimore, Anne Arundel) adopt fee schedules, APFO standards, school surcharges, and impact taxes through their own legislative process; non-charter counties act under code home rule or commission government. The county code or council legislation index is the binding source for current rates.
Coverage Detail by Jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Type | Region | Fee Types Covered | Last Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | County (charter) | Baltimore-Washington Corridor (Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA) | DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fees (FY26 effective July 1, 2025), DPZ Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees (FY26 effective July 1, 2025) | 2026-05-06 |
| Baltimore County | County (charter) | Baltimore Metro (surrounds but excludes Baltimore City; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA) | Development impact fee under Bill 45-24 ($6.00/sq ft residential, effective August 25, 2024); PAI zoning, reclassification, variance, and building permit fees; Metropolitan District Systems Connection Charges ($875 sewer / $575 water). Proffers not applicable (Maryland APFO); special-district fees not administered | 2026-07-05 |
| Montgomery County | County (charter) | Suburban Maryland / Washington Metro (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA) | Transportation Impact Tax and School Impact Tax (DPS Impact Taxes Handout effective July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2025; County Code Section 52-42); DPS Zoning Fees PDF URL captured (verbatim per-fee dollars deferred). M-NCPPC Planning Department fees and WSSC Water connection charges administered separately | 2026-05-06 |
| Frederick County | County | I-270 Technology Corridor / Western Maryland (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA) | Development Impact Fee Ordinance FY26 (effective July 1, 2025; Public School + Library; SFD $19,408 total; Article 25 Section 9J of Annotated Code of Maryland; County Code Section 1-22). FY26 Fee Schedule PDF (zoning, subdivision, site development, building permit) is image / CID-font encoded; per-category extraction pending OCR install | 2026-05-08 |
| Carroll County | County | Baltimore Metro northwest / Piedmont Maryland (Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA) | Residential Impact Fee Schedule (effective September 1, 2023; SFD $3,533, Townhouse $3,944, Mobile Home $1,998, Multi-Family $1,600; County Code Title 33 Chapter 33.55 and 33.69); Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective April 6, 2021; full residential A-H + commercial I-S + misc T-V scopes); Plumbing / Electrical / Fire Plan and Inspection PDFs (effective July 1, 2020) captured as additional verified primary sources | 2026-05-14 |
| Charles County | County | Washington DC Metro South / Southern Maryland (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA) | FY26 PGM Adopted Fees and Charges effective July 1, 2025 (board-adopted 18-page schedule, sunset June 30, 2026): APFO Mitigation $2,002 + allocation deposits + traffic impact study charges (Zoning Ordinance Section 264(a)); zoning, subdivision, board of appeals, building permit, trade permit, plan review, inspections, forest conservation, stormwater management; consolidated water and sewer connection fees by EDU ratio (5/8 inch $7,038 water / $13,167 sewer up to 8 inch $563,040 / $1,053,360); service line installation per linear foot. White Plains EDA + Swan Point WWTP special-surcharge service areas folded into utility tap fees scope | 2026-05-14 |
| Harford County | County (seat: Bel Air) | Baltimore Metro northeast (Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA) | Development Impact Fee (Bill 24-033, County Code Ch. 123 Art. VI; SF/Townhouse $10,000 eff. Mar. 1, 2025; MF/Mobile Home $8,277 eff. Jan. 1, 2026); Planning & Zoning subdivision and site plan review (Concept Plan $1,000 + $20/acre; Residential Lots $100 + $50/lot; Final Plats $150 + $10/lot; forest conservation); Division of Water and Sewer connection charges + System Development Fees ($5,226 water / $10,803 sewer per EDU, FY25 basis, +4.5%/yr; Water/Sewer Connection $650/$450; front-foot benefit $1.00/$1.30 per ft). Proffers not applicable; special-district fees not administered by this county | 2026-05-24 |
| Calvert County | County (seat: Prince Frederick) | Southern Maryland / Chesapeake Bay peninsula (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA) | Building Excise Tax (impact fee) SFD $12,950/unit in 3 installments; FY2026 Planning and Zoning fee schedule (eff. July 1, 2025) zoning, subdivision, site plan, building permits; Public Works water/sewer Capital Connection Fees ($3,200 water / $21,000 sewer per EDU); Chesapeake Ranch Estates Special Taxing District ($275/recorded lot/yr, Ord. 04-24). Proffers not applicable; Landfill Impact Fee amount unpublished | 2026-06-25 |
| St. Mary's County | County (seat: Leonardtown) | Southern Maryland / Patuxent corridor (California-Lexington Park, MD MSA) | Building Excise Tax (Ch. 267 Art. XXXII, Ord. 2023-09; SF $6,697/unit, MF $3,218/unit, nonres $0.80-$4.11/sq ft); Chapter 223 zoning, subdivision, site plan, building permit fees; MetCom water/sewer Capital Contribution Charges ($10,955.87 water / $8,980.87 sewer per EDU residential). Proffers and special-district fees not located in official sources | 2026-06-25 |
| Prince George's County | County (charter; seat: Upper Marlboro) | National Capital Region / DC Metro (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA) | School Facilities and Public Safety surcharges (combined standard $30,180/dwelling unit; County Code 10-192.01 / 10-192.11; CR-057/058-2024); M-NCPPC Development Review Division zoning, subdivision, site plan fees (Rev. Dec. 2024); DPIE building permit fees (+20% + 10% Technology Fee, eff. Mar. 2, 2025). Water/sewer via WSSC Water (separate bi-county authority); proffers not applicable | 2026-06-25 |
| Anne Arundel County | County (charter) | Baltimore-Washington Corridor (Annapolis; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA) | Development impact fees for Roads, Schools, and Public Safety by dwelling size and non-residential use (effective July 1, 2026); rezoning, variance, and building permit fees; Capital Facilities Connection Charges and water/wastewater tap fees per EDU. Proffers not applicable (Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance instead); special-district fees not administered as development fees | 2026-07-05 |
What This Coverage Includes
ZoneFee currently has 10 Maryland jurisdictions live: Howard County (Baltimore-Washington Corridor), Baltimore County (Baltimore Metro, surrounding but excluding Baltimore City; Bill 45-24 development impact fee at $6.00 per square foot residential effective August 25, 2024, plus PAI zoning and building permit fees and Metropolitan District Systems Connection Charges of $875 sewer and $575 water), Montgomery County (Suburban Maryland / Washington Metro), Frederick County (I-270 Technology Corridor / Western Maryland), Carroll County (Baltimore Metro northwest / Piedmont Maryland), Charles County (Washington DC Metro South / Southern Maryland), Harford County (Baltimore Metro northeast), Calvert County (Southern Maryland / Chesapeake Bay; Building Excise Tax up to $12,950/unit plus the Chesapeake Ranch Estates special taxing district), St. Mary's County (Southern Maryland / Patuxent corridor; Building Excise Tax $6,697/unit plus MetCom water and sewer capital contribution charges), and Prince George's County (National Capital Region; School Facilities and Public Safety surcharges up to $30,180/dwelling unit plus M-NCPPC and DPIE fees). Harford County covers the Bill 24-033 development impact fee (Single Family and Townhouse $10,000 effective March 1, 2025; Multi-Family and Mobile Home $8,277 effective January 1, 2026), the Planning and Zoning subdivision and site plan review schedule, and the Division of Water and Sewer connection charges and System Development Fees ($5,226 water / $10,803 sewer per Equivalent Dwelling Unit at the FY25 basis). Each record is published under ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, with at least one meaningful development-fee family confirmed verbatim from an official primary source. Howard County covers the DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fees Schedule (FY26 effective July 1, 2025) and the DPZ Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees Schedule (also FY26). Montgomery County covers the Transportation Impact Tax and School Impact Tax framework (DPS Impact Taxes Handout effective July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025) and the DPS zoning fee schedule. Frederick County covers the FY26 Development Impact Fee (Public School and Library; Single Family Detached $19,408 total under Article 25 Section 9J of the Annotated Code of Maryland and County Code Section 1-22). Charles County covers the FY26 PGM Adopted Fees and Charges effective July 1, 2025 (Adequate Public Facilities Mitigation Program $2,002 + allocation deposits + traffic impact study charges per Zoning Ordinance Section 264(a); full developer-side zoning, subdivision, building, trade, plan review, and inspection schedule; consolidated water and sewer connection fees by Equivalent Dwelling Unit ratio with service line per-linear-foot pricing). Fee families that were not located via official sources on the relevant source review are honestly disclosed on each jurisdiction page as unverified rather than estimated. Connection and capacity charges administered by separate utility authorities (Howard County DPW Bureau of Utilities, WSSC Water for Montgomery, and the Frederick County Division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management or the incorporated municipalities) are queued for separate authority records.
Researching Maryland Fees: What to Expect
Looking up Maryland development fees works differently than in single-statute impact-fee states. For each Maryland jurisdiction, expect to consult several separate document types: the county Department of Planning and Zoning fee schedule (for zoning, subdivision, and site plan application fees - usually adopted annually through the budget effective July 1); county council legislation establishing the school facilities surcharge, school construction excise tax, or transportation impact tax (where applicable); the county subdivision and zoning regulations for APFO standards; the FY budget appendix where adopted impact taxes and surcharge rates are commonly republished; and the water and sewer authority's connection charge schedule (county DPW, WSSC, or a regional authority depending on the county). ZoneFee jurisdiction pages bring these together into one record per covered jurisdiction, with verbatim source quotes, source URLs, and SHA-256 source content hashes recorded for primary sources retrieved at verification time.
Maryland Development Fees - Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland use impact fees?
Maryland counties use a different mix of developer-side charges than the Texas-style statutory impact fee framework. The most common mechanisms are the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), school facilities surcharge, transportation impact tax, and excise taxes on new construction. Authority for each program is granted under specific state enabling acts and county charter provisions, and the program structure varies meaningfully across Maryland's 23 counties and the City of Baltimore. There is no single statewide impact fee statute comparable to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395.
What is the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO)?
An Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance is a Maryland county tool that conditions subdivision and site plan approval on whether public facilities (schools, roads, water, sewer, public safety) have capacity to serve the new development. Where capacity is constrained, the APFO can require developer-funded mitigation, phasing, or fee-in-lieu payments. APFO programs differ by county and are typically codified in the county's subdivision regulations or planning chapter.
What development fees do Maryland counties typically charge directly?
Maryland counties typically charge fees for zoning map amendments, comprehensive zoning amendments, zoning text amendments, conditional use applications, variance applications, board of appeals appeals, sign variances, administrative adjustments, subdivision plats, site development plan review, water and sewer facilities review, forest conservation, soil conservation, and stormwater management. These are administrative review fees set by each county's Department of Planning and Zoning fee schedule, usually adopted annually through the budget process. Building permit fees are typically administered by a separate Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
Are Maryland development fees published in a single statewide schedule?
No. Maryland does not publish a statewide development fee schedule. Each county maintains its own Department of Planning and Zoning fee schedule, typically adopted as part of the annual county budget effective July 1. School facilities surcharge and transportation impact tax rates are adopted by county council legislation. Water and sewer connection charges are administered by separate utility entities (county Department of Public Works, regional authorities such as WSSC Water, or municipal utility departments).
How do Maryland development fees differ from Virginia or Texas?
Texas authorizes broad statutory impact fees under TLGC Chapter 395 with a uniform procedural framework. Virginia largely does not authorize general impact fees and relies instead on case-by-case voluntary proffers under Va. Code 15.2-2303. Maryland sits between the two: it uses APFO conditions, school surcharges, and transportation impact taxes that are program-specific rather than a single statewide regime, but the rates are published rather than negotiated case-by-case. Cross-jurisdiction comparison in Maryland requires reading each county's planning fee schedule plus the county's APFO, school surcharge, and transportation impact tax legislation separately.
Where does ZoneFee source Maryland fee data?
ZoneFee sources Maryland fee data from official county websites (howardcountymd.gov, montgomerycountymd.gov, and equivalent), county Department of Planning and Zoning fee schedule PDFs, county council adopted legislation, county budget documents (annual fee schedules typically appear in budget appendices), water and sewer authority rate schedules (e.g., WSSC Water), and the Maryland Code via mgaleg.maryland.gov. We do not source fee data from third-party aggregators, news articles, or AI summaries. See the methodology page for the full source hierarchy.
What Maryland Coverage Is Not Yet on ZoneFee
Maryland coverage is expanding. Howard County, Montgomery County, and Frederick County are currently live; additional Baltimore-Washington Corridor, National Capital Region, and Western Maryland counties are queued in our expansion plan but have not yet reached ZoneFee's verification standard. We do not list pending jurisdiction names on this page; transparency on what is and is not yet covered lives on the ZoneFee coverage page. If your project is in a Maryland jurisdiction we have not yet covered, the county's own Department of Planning and Zoning, county council legislation index, and water and sewer authority remain the binding sources for current fees.
Maryland Sources Used on This Page
- Maryland Code Land Use Article - Planning, subdivision, and zoning authority. Accessed 2026-05-06.
- Maryland Code Local Government Article - Charter county and home rule authority. Accessed 2026-05-06.
- Maryland Code Tax-Property Article - County excise tax authority including school construction and transportation impact tax authority. Accessed 2026-05-06.
- Maryland Code Environment Article Title 9 - Water and sewer service authority. Accessed 2026-05-06.
State-level framework last reviewed: 2026-05-06. Live jurisdiction records last verified: Howard County 2026-05-06; Montgomery County 2026-05-06; Frederick County 2026-05-08; Carroll County 2026-05-14. For the full ZoneFee coverage list, see the ZoneFee coverage page.