The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) promotes vibrant communities through sensible growth and efficient use of State resources. MDP provides data, trend analysis, research assistance, and policy development and implementation support for local governments, communities, businesses, and organizations. The Department provides technical assistance, local program review and planning design services for Maryland's counties and municipalities.

A Message from Secretary Richard E. Hall, AICP

PlanMaryland: A Statewide Plan for Smart and Sustainable Growth

PlanMaryland is a new planning process designed to create a better and more sustainable future for Maryland. The state legislature created the authority for such a plan in the 1970s, but a broader recognition of the costs of unsustainable types of land use has grown in recent years to the point where such a plan is now urgently needed. The Maryland Department of Planning is coordinating this process.

Maryland GrowthPrint

Sprawling development has had a severe impact on the land, streams, waterways, aquatic habitats, living resources and both surface and groundwater supplies. In response, Maryland created a framework more than a decade ago to steer development toward Priority Funding Areas (PFA) to try to ensure that new construction occurred in areas where there was existing or planned services and infrastructure. The purpose of GrowthPrint is to initially highlight areas within Priority Funding Areas that are currently being targeted for infill, revitalization and redevelopment. Growthprint will change to include locally designated places that are identified for new development or for revitalization without existing state programs. GrowthPrint is designed to complement other existing mapping efforts, such as GreenPrint and AgPrint.

Land Use/Land Cover

The Land Use & Cover map and data is used to show development trends on the landscape in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) created the first Land Use/Land Cover map in 1973 and updated it in 2002. This is the first revision since 2002 and includes several enhancements for a more accurate analysis of land-use change. Data for the analysis came from a combination of aerial photography and parcel data from MdProperty View. The updated dataset is reviewed by local jurisdictions and comments are incorporated into the final product.

PlanMaryland is now on Facebook

Follow PlanMaryland on facebook! PlanMaryland has both a group page and a profile page. Join or add as a friend to stay current on the State’s first growth plan on your facebook page. Don’t have a facebook account? Sign up for free.

Smart Growth Maryland

SMART GROWTH MARYLAND is a MDP’s blog “Encouraging a smart, green and growing future for the Land of Pleasant Living.” SMART GROWTH MARYLAND is written by members of MDP and is intended to become a forum for the exchange of ideas and news about the future of growth in the State, e.g. smart growth, sustainable planning, livable communities and historic and land preservation.

Maryland Sustainable Communities Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program

The Maryland Sustainable Communities Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program is administered by the Maryland Historical Trust and provides Maryland income tax credits.