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Planning and Zoning
The Planning and Zoning functions performed by the Department of Community Planning and Business Services include current and long-range planning, zoning compliance, subdivision and development review. Planning and Zoning staff is also responsible for the implementation of the City Master Plan.
The City of Laurel Unified Land Developmnet Code provides for twenty-three (23) individual zoning districts organized into five general zoning classifications. These districts are:
Residential - 10 zoning classes
P-I -- Public Institutional
R-5 -- Single-Family Detached
R-55 -- Single-Family Deatched
R-20 -- Single-Family Semi-detached, Two-Family Detached
R-T -- Townhouse
R-30 -- Mulitfamily, Low Density
R-18 -- Multifamily, Medium Density
R-10 -- Multifamily, High Density
R-H -- Multifamily, High Rise
R-MD -- Single-Family, Medium Density
Commercial - 6 zoning classes
C-N -- Commercial Neighborhood
C-C -- Commercial Community
C-G -- Commercial General
C-SH -- Commercial Shopping Center
C-V -- Commercial Village
C-VAC -- Commercial Village Activity Center
Office - 2 zoning classes
O-B -- Office Building
O-B-E -- Office Building
Industrial - 3 zoning classes
I-CS -- Industrial Commercial Services
I-G -- Industrial General
I-RTP -- Industrial Research and Technology Park
Planned Development - 2 zoning classes
PUD-E -- Planned Unit Development Existing
PDA-E -- Planned Development Area Existing
The land development code also provides for Revitalization, Neo-Traditional and Mixed-Use Transit Oriented overlay areas to supplement the by-right development options available under the zoning calssification listed above.
Unified Land Development Code (ULDC)
The City of Laurel Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) is established in conjunction with the City Master Plan to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the City with reasonable consideration of prevailing land uses, growth characteristics and character of the respective zoning districts and their suitability for particular uses.
The City amends the ULDC consistent with the requirements of Article 66B, Annotated code of Maryland, as amended from time to time, so that future growth and development will continue to be managed through the preparation, adoption, implementation and enforcement of land development regulations that are consistent with the Master Plan.
Click here for Unified Land Development Code
Click here for the City of Laurel Landscape Manual
Click here for City of Laurel Charter and Code
Click here for Arts and Entertainment Overlay Map
Zoning Verifications
To obtain a Letter of Zoning Verification, a request must be submitted in writing to the Department of Community Planning and Business Services at:
8103 Sandy Spring Road
Laurel, MD 20707
Attn: Zoning Verifications
Every request should include the subject property's address and tax assessment ID. The fee is $200.00 and payment should be remitted to: City of Laurel.
Development and Zoning Review
The Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) authorizes and requires the Department of Community Planning and Business Services review all development proposals in the City for land use and zoning compliance. This includes variances, site plans, use special exceptions, parking modifications, sign modifications, forest conservation plans, subdivision and record plats, map and text amendments. The reivew process entails a technical analysis and staff report conducted in the context of the ULDC and master plan as well as considering any potential impacts to neighboring properties, public infrastructure and services. Each development proposal is accompanied by a staff recommendation based on the findings of the attendant technical analysis and report. Each report and recommendation is presented to the Planning Commission and/or other municipal decision-making bodies for approval.
In order to have a development proposal reviewed and presented before the Planning Commission or other bodies, an appropriate application must be submitted to the Department of Community Planning and Business Services. A listing and fee schedule of development and zoning applications are located here.
Master Plan
The Department of Community Planning and Business Services is responsible for guiding the future growth and development of the City by estblishing long-range goals and objectives intended to manage this growth. These goals and objectives are articulated in the City of Laurel Comprehensive Master Plan.
To remain relevant, the Master Plan is amended on occasion to effectively serve the needs of the City. Most recently, the Comprehensive Master Pan was amended in 2007.
Annual Reports
Article 66B – Land Use, § 3.09. Annual reports, Annotated Code of Maryland, requires that every Planning Commission shall prepare, adopt, and file an annual report, on or before July 1 of each year for the previous calendar year, with the local legislative body. The annual report must indicate all changes in development patterns which occurred during the period covered by the report, including land use, transportation, community facilities patterns, zoning map amendments, and subdivision plats and whether these changes are consistent with the adopted Master Plan.