Zoning › State preemptions › Maryland

Maryland Scenic and Wild Rivers System (MD)

Tracked preemption from the Maryland overlay bundle.

Overview

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Effective
1968-07-01
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 Forest Conservation Act (FCA)Maryland Wetlands of Special State Concern (WSSC) & Nontidal Wetlands

Trigger predicate

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

OR
  • parcel.in_designated_scenic_river_segment == True
  • parcel.geometry geographic match

Preempted fields

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

FieldOpValueNote
review_typeaddscenic_rivers_review_board_advisory_reviewLocal zoning, subdivision, and public-works actions within designated scenic or wild river corridors require review-and-comment by the DNR Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board; ½-mile management-plan corridor is the customary scope.
base_districts[*].new_impoundment_within_scenic_corridorwaive—Construction of new dams or impoundments on a designated scenic or wild river is restricted absent General Assembly concurrence and DNR finding of compatibility with the river's designated character.

Citation

Authority source
Md. Code Ann., Natural Resources §§8-401 through 8-411 (Scenic and Wild Rivers Act)
§ §§8-401 through 8-411
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gnr§ion=8-401

Research notes

Administered by DNR Scenic and Wild Rivers Program. Designated segments include the Patuxent (Upper), Youghiogheny (Wild), Deer Creek, Pocomoke, Severn Run, Wicomico Creek, Anacostia (lower), Monocacy, and Tuckahoe. Designation does not directly preempt local zoning but (a) restricts new impoundments without state concurrence, (b) creates a review-board advisory framework, and (c) carries DNR management plans that local plans should address. Federal conflict check: the Youghiogheny is partially designated under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is subject to Pennsylvania interstate coordination.