Zoning Map Amendment (ZMA)

A Zoning Map Amendment is a rezoning of one or more properties upon the request of the property owner or other applicant. Before approving a change of zone, the District Council must determine that there has either been a substantial change in the character of the neighborhood or that a mistake was made in the original zoning or the most recent Sectional Map Amendment.

National HarbourPre-Application Conference: Required under new Zoning Ordinance, except for applications submitted by the District Council, the Planning Board, or the Planning Director.

Pre-Application Neighborhood Meeting: Required under new Zoning Ordinance, except for applications submitted by the District Council, the Planning Board, or the Planning Director.

Subdivision and Development Review Committee (SDRC): ZMA applications may be referred to the SDRC, at the discretion of the Zoning Section Supervisor or at the request of the applicant..

Decision Maker: Zoning Map Amendments are decided by District Council with recommendation from the Planning Board and Zoning Hearing Examiner.

Fees
Base Zones$5,000 plus $200 per acre up to and including 10 acres, plus $100 for each additional acre
Planned Development, Overlay, Mixed-Use, Planned Community and Comprehensive Design Zones$5,000 plus $200 per acre up to and including 50 acres, plus $100 for each additional acre
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zone
Overlay Zones Only
$5,000 plus $200 per acre up to and including 10 acres, plus $100 for each additional acre
Underlying Zones
$5,000 plus $200 per acre up to and including 50 acres, plus $100 for each additional acre
Fee limit$60,000
Amendments to approved Official Plans and Basic Plans1/2 of the original fee

Public Notice Requirement

For District Council Review: Public notices are satisfied by mailings 30 days prior to the District Council hearing to:

  • The applicant(s)
  • All persons of record

And 60 days prior to District Council hearing, to: 

  • Any municipality lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application
  • Any governed special taxing districts lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application.

For Planning Board Review: Public notices are satisfied by mailings 30 days prior to the hearing to:

  • The Applicant(s)
  • All owners of land abutting the land subject to the application
  • All persons of record, and all other persons who requested (in writing) a copy of the Technical Staff Report
  • Registered civic associations that identified the geographical area in which the site is located as part of their represented areas
  • Any municipality lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application
  • Any governed special taxing districts lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application

For Zoning Hearing Examiner Review: Public notices are satisfied by mailings 30 days prior to the hearing to:

  • The Applicant(s)
  • All persons of record
  • Any municipality lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application
  • Any governed special taxing districts lying, wholly or in part, within, or within 1 mile of, the boundaries of the land subject to the application 

Estimated Review Time: 8-10 months

Zoning Map Amendment Types:

  • Conventional Zone
  • Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay
  • Planned Development

Application Instructions

The new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations go into effect on April 1, 2022. For a period of two years (until March 31, 2024), Applicants have the option to submit under the requirements of either the new or prior Ordinance. [Note: Review under the prior Ordinance requires a Pre-Application Conference and Statement of Justification to explain why the applicant has not chosen to develop under the provisions of the new Ordinance.

Any application accepted prior to the effective date of the new Ordinance will be reviewed and decided in accordance to the provisions of the prior Ordinance. See the Transitional Provisions Quick Reference for more information.

Find application materials below separated per the applicable Ordinance.

  1. After April 1, 2022
  2. Prior to April 1, 2022

CURRENT ORDINANCE MATERIALS

Fill out this application form and email the PDF along with required submission materials to DRDApplications@ppd.mncppc.org.

Important Documents

Application Forms and Filing Instructions

Fee Information

Public Notice Requirements

Relevant Development Review Bulletins

Guides and References