Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB548: Land Use - Permitting - Development Rights (Maryland Housing Certainty Act)
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Requiring the approval of a housing development project application by a local regulatory authority or the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to be governed only by certain laws and regulations in effect at the time of submission of a complete application; granting the proponent of an approved housing development project certain vested rights related to use and development for the longer of 5 years or a period determined by the local regulatory authority of the Commission; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Land Use - Permitting - Development Rights (Maryland Housing Certainty Act) FOR the purpose of requiring the approval of a housing development project application by a local regulatory authority or the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to be governed only by certain laws and regulations in effect at the time of submission of a substantially complete application; granting the proponent of an approved housing development project certain vested rights related to use and development for a certain time period…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Land Use - Permitting - Development Rights (Maryland Housing Certainty Act) FOR the purpose of requiring the approval of a housing development project application by a local regulatory authority or the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to be governed only by certain laws and regulations in effect at the time of submission of a substantially complete application; granting the proponent of an approved housing development project certain vested rights related to use and development for a certain time period; prohibiting the collection of certain development excise taxes and development impact fees before a housing development project is completed, subject to certain exceptions; and generally relating to housing development and land use. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Land Use Section 1-401 and 10-103 Annotated Code of Maryland (2012 Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Land Use Section 12-101 through 12-301 to be under the new title "Title 12. Maryland Housing Certainty Act" Annotated Code of Maryland (2012 Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Local Government Section 20-128 Annotated Code of Maryland (2013 Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Land Use 1-401. (a) Except as provided in this section, this …