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1. What does it mean to me if I received a letter on blue paper that said that my property is located within or directly adjacent to a land use designation called the “Chesapeake Bay Critical Area”?

The letter means that the location of t he Critical Area boundary line is being changed on your property and that it i s possible that a t least a portion of your property will b e subject t o the State-mandated Chesapeake and Atlantic Costal Bays Critical Area Law.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

2. What does it mean to me if I received a letter on white paper that said that my property is located within 1 mile of a land use designation called the “Chesapeake Bay Critical Area”?

The letter means that your property is within 1 mile of the Critical Area boundary line that is proposed to be changed. Your property may already be within the Critical Area boundary or may be outside of the Critical Area boundary; however, the change in the boundary line will not affect your property. The county is legally required to provide notice to all properties within 1 mile of the boundary line change.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

3. What is the County going to do on my property?

the county is not making any physical changes to your property. The Critical Area boundary is a line on a map, just like a zoning line. The critical Area is an overlay zone. It overlays the existing underlying zone such as residential or commercial. The underlying zones are not changing.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

4. Will the mapping change impact my flood insurance?

The mapping change will not affect flood insurance.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

5. Will the mapping change impact the value of my property?

The mapping change will not affect your property value.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

6. Will the mapping change increase my property taxes?

The mapping change will not affect your taxes.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

7. Are my existing structures grandfathered?

Yes. The existing structures and other items on your property making up the lot coverage (formerly "impervious surfaces") are grandfathered and do not have to be removed.

For more information, please call 301-952-3208.

8. Do I need to do anything now because of the mapping change?

The mapping change does not require that you do anything right now; however, if you apply for a building permit in the future, you will be subject to the State-mandated Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Law for the portion of your property that will be in the Critical Area. We encourage you to look at the maps online or at one of the public meetings so that you know where the Critical Area boundary will be on your property. The online mapping tool can be found at Critical Area Map.