Zoning › State preemptions › Maryland

Maryland Forest Conservation Act (FCA) (MD)

Tracked preemption from the Maryland overlay bundle.

Overview

← All state preemptionsMaryland overlay roll-upMaryland zoning wikiMaryland building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Not flagged
Effective
1991-07-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:MD
Other Maryland preemptions
Maryland Land Use Article — Zoning & Planning Enabling AuthorityMaryland Historic District Enabling Authority (LU §8-201)Maryland Military Installation Joint Land Use Studies (LU §22-301)Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area — Worcester County OverlayMaryland Priority Funding Areas (PFA) — Smart Growth ActMaryland Rural Legacy Program — Designated Rural Legacy AreasMaryland Wetlands of Special State Concern (WSSC) & Nontidal WetlandsChesapeake Bay Critical Area Program — IDA / LDA / RCA Overlay

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

OR
  • project.land_disturbance_sf ≥ 40000
  • AND
    • parcel.in_priority_forest == True
    • project.requires_subdivision_or_grading_permit == True

Preempted fields

2 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
review_typeaddforest_stand_delineation_and_conservation_plan_requiredAny project disturbing ≥40,000 sf must submit a Forest Stand Delineation (FSD) and a Forest Conservation Plan (FCP) before subdivision, grading, or sediment-control permit issuance.
base_districts[*].afforestation_reforestation_ratiofloor_at1:1Cleared forest must be replaced at 1:1 (existing forest cover above threshold) or 1:4 (priority forest); RCA/LDA programs require 3:1 inside the Critical Area. Fee-in-lieu rates set by local FCP ordinance (typically $0.10-$0.30/sf).

Citation

Authority source
Md. Code Ann., Natural Resources §§5-1601 through 5-1613 (Forest Conservation Act); COMAR 08.19.01 et seq.
§ §§5-1601 through 5-1613
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gnr§ion=5-1601

Research notes

Statewide minimum-standard preemption: every county and municipality with planning/zoning authority must adopt and enforce an FCP ordinance at least as stringent as the state minimum. Administered by DNR Forest Service with local-program approval. 2013 amendments (Sustainable Forestry Act) raised replanting ratios; 2019 amendments tightened priority-forest definition and added climate-resilience criteria. Interacts with Critical Area (3:1 inside RCA) and the 2024 Tree Solutions Now Act (HB 723) for street-tree planting funded by FCA fee-in-lieu revenues.