Zoning Report

Baltimore, MD Zoning

Baltimore City’s zoning framework is organized through Article 32 of the City Code, with base districts, special purpose districts, and overlay districts layered onto the zoning map. The available sources show a modern code that relies heavily on use tables, conditional-use review by the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals (BMZA), and targeted overlay tools for waterfront, transit-oriented, campus, and mixed-use areas. The source set provided supports only a partial citywide analysis, so this report focuses on the districts, approvals, overlays, and procedures that were explicitly documented in the gathered materials.

Last researched May 2026

Use tablesConditional usesBMZA appealsTransit-oriented developmentWaterfront overlayFloodplain constraintsSite plan reviewCampus districtsParking reviewHistoric district review

Zoning Districts in Baltimore, MD

OS Open-Space

Open-space district intended for parks, preserves, recreation, and similar low-intensity open land uses.

Allowed uses: Caretaker's dwelling, Government facility, Community-managed open-space garden, Forest and nature preserve, Park or playground

R-1A through R-4 Detached and Semi-Detached Residential Districts

Residential districts intended for detached and, in some districts, semi-detached housing, with a limited set of compatible accessory, civic, and community uses.

Allowed uses: Detached dwelling, Semi-detached dwelling in R-2 and R-4, Day-care home: adult or child, Home occupation, Residential-care facility

OR Office-Residential

District intended for areas with a mix of office and residential uses while keeping office activity compatible with a more residential character.

TOD-1 / TOD-2 / TOD-3 / TOD-4 Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-oriented districts intended to support higher-density, transit-friendly, pedestrian-oriented residential and commercial development near transit stations.

EC Educational Campus

Campus districts for educational facilities, with base regulations plus the ability to use a Campus Master Plan approved by ordinance for additional flexibility.

H Hospital Campus

Campus districts for hospitals and medical campuses, with base regulations plus the ability to use a General Development Plan approved by ordinance for additional flexibility.

T Transportation

District intended to preserve, protect, and enhance road, rail, and other transportation corridors.

Recent Zoning Changes

The provided Baltimore City sources did not include a clear list of adopted 2025 or 2026 zoning text amendments or rezonings. The code excerpts do show prior ordinance citations embedded in the code text, but the research package does not establish what citywide changes were newly adopted or pending as of the report date.

Setbacks, Lot Size & Height Limits in Baltimore, MD

The provided materials include explicit bulk and yard rules for the OS open-space district only. No residential, commercial, mixed-use, industrial, or overlay-specific dimensional tables were included in the research package.

District	Standard	Requirement
OS	Minimum lot area - Cemetery	2 acres
OS	Minimum lot area - All Other Uses	None
OS	Maximum building height - Principal Structure - Private	35 feet
OS	Maximum building height - Principal Structure - Public	50 feet
OS	Maximum building height - Accessory Structure – Private or Public	20 feet (but no more than 1 story)
OS	Front Yard	20 feet
OS	Interior-Side Yard	25 feet
OS	Corner-Side Yard	20 feet
OS	Rear Yard	25 feet

ADU, Rental & Special Use Rules in Baltimore, MD

Home Occupation

Home occupations are permitted in the listed detached and semi-detached residential districts, subject to supplemental standards.

Per §15-507

Day-Care Home: Adult or Child

Day-care homes are permitted in the listed detached and semi-detached residential districts, subject to use standards.

Per §14-310

Residential-Care Facility

Residential-care facilities are permitted in the listed detached and semi-detached residential districts, subject to use standards.

Per §14-334

Community-Managed Open-Space Garden / Farm

Community-managed gardens are permitted in OS and the listed residential districts, while community-managed farms are conditional uses.

Per §14-307

Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture is a conditional use in OS and the listed detached and semi-detached residential districts.

Per §14-339

Alternative Energy System: Community-Based

Community-based alternative energy systems are referenced as permitted or conditional depending on lot size, but the supplied text was truncated and needs verification.

Per §14-306
Source excerpt states systems on lots less than 0.5 acre require conditional-use approval by the Zoning Board; verify full rule text

Wireless Communications Services / Telecommunications Facility

Telecommunications-related uses have dedicated supplemental standards and may be permitted only for limited modifications to existing facilities; other cases require conditional approval.

Per §14-338

Overlay Districts in Baltimore, MD

W Waterfront Overlay Districts

Overlay districts intended to preserve, create, and enhance public views of and access to the waterfront, including a waterfront promenade and connections to nearby public rights-of-way and open spaces.

R-MU Rowhouse Mixed-Use Overlay Districts

Overlay districts for rowhouse areas where a mixed-use environment is desired while maintaining the underlying rowhouse character.

D-MU Detached Dwelling Mixed-Use Overlay Districts

Overlay districts for detached dwelling areas where some mixed-use activity is desired.

Adult-Use Overlay Districts

Overlay districts identified in Title 12 as a special overlay category.

Floodplain-regulated areas

Baltimore City maintains FEMA floodplain maps and states that the regulated floodplain includes the 1% and 0.2% annual-chance flood areas, also known as the 100-year and 500-year floodplain.

Parking Requirements in Baltimore, MD

Non-residential uses of less than 2,000 square feetExempt from all parking requirements

Baltimore, MD Zoning FAQ

Are ADUs allowed in Baltimore, MD?

Day-care homes are permitted in the listed detached and semi-detached residential districts, subject to use standards.

What are the setback requirements in Baltimore, MD?

Setbacks vary by district. Examples — OS: 20 feet; OS: 25 feet; OS: 20 feet; OS: 25 feet. Always confirm the exact yard requirements for your district with Baltimore, MD.

What is the minimum lot size in Baltimore, MD?

Minimum lot size depends on the zoning district — OS: 2 acres; OS: None.

How tall can buildings be in Baltimore, MD?

Height limits are set per district — OS: 35 feet; OS: 50 feet; OS: 20 feet (but no more than 1 story).

What are the parking requirements in Baltimore, MD?

Parking minimums vary by use — Non-residential uses of less than 2,000 square feet: Exempt from all parking requirements.

What zoning districts are in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD includes districts such as OS Open-Space, R-1A through R-4 Detached and Semi-Detached Residential Districts, OR Office-Residential, TOD-1 / TOD-2 / TOD-3 / TOD-4 Transit-Oriented Development, EC Educational Campus, H Hospital Campus, T Transportation.

Are there flood zones or overlay districts in Baltimore, MD?

The clearest environmental constraint documented in the supplied sources is floodplain regulation and flood-risk mapping. The city also flags floodplains and the Critical Area as permit-review triggers, and site-disturbance thresholds trigger stormwater, erosion-control, and possibly forest-conservation review.

Have there been recent zoning changes in Baltimore, MD?

Common questions about Baltimore, MD zoning

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Sources

Zoning Tables | City of Baltimore Law Library — Primary source for use-table symbology, OS district uses, OS dimensional standards, and R-1A through R-4 residential use permissions and conditional uses.
Article 32, Title 12 | City of Baltimore Law Library — Used cautiously for overlay district descriptions and one limited parking exemption noted in the supplied excerpt; full section context was incomplete.
Permits Requiring ePlans Review | Baltimore City — Primary source for plans review procedure, departmental referrals, pre-development/site plan review coordination, and stormwater/land disturbance triggers.
2025 Zoning Dockets & Minutes | Baltimore City — Used to confirm frequency of zoning hearing activity and existence of posted dockets and minutes through 2025.
Zoning Code | Baltimore City — Used for general explanation of Article 32, CityView use-table access, and note that conditional uses may be approved by BMZA or City Council by ordinance.
FEMA Maps | Baltimore Office of Sustainability — Primary source for Baltimore City floodplain mapping description and statement that regulated floodplain includes 1% and 0.2% annual-chance flood areas.
Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps | Baltimore City — Used to confirm FEMA preliminary flood maps, floodways, base flood elevations, and map appeal resources.
Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals | Baltimore City — Primary source for BMZA hearing format, in-person attendance rules, contact information, and broad board role.
How to File an Appeal with the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals (BMZA) | Baltimore City — Used for BMZA filing workflow, completeness review, fee schedule, and appeal categories including variance, conditional use, and nonconforming use.

This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with Baltimore, MD officials before making decisions.