Maryland overrides municipal zoning on transit development

California, Colorado, Montana, and Florida have enacted measures requiring or preempting local zoning restrictions near transit to address housing shortages. Maryland’s housing package includes multiple zoning reform bills introduced by Moore, with the administration estimating a shortage of 96,000 units. A competing bill from the Maryland Association of Counties labeled BAMBY was challenged and overcome. The Starter and Silver Homes Act died in committee, limiting legalization of smaller single-family homes and statewide townhouses. The Housing Certainty Act would lock zoning rules as of the time a complete application is submitted and delay impact fee collection until a certificate of occupancy. The transit-oriented development bill takes effect October 1, 2026, bans minimum off-street parking requirements within a quarter-mile of qualifying rail stations, requires mixed-use zoning within a half-mile, and designates qualifying areas as enterprise zones for 10 years.

"Moore's transit-oriented development bill takes effect Oct. 1, 2026. It bans local governments from imposing minimum off-street parking requirements on residential or mixed-use projects within a quarter-mile of a qualifying rail transit station one that provides at least hourly service Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Within a half-mile, local zoning must permit mixed-use development on land designated for residential or appropriate commercial use. The bill auto-designates qualifying transit-oriented development areas as enterprise zones, unlocking a 10-year local property tax cr"

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