Land Use

Smith, Gildea & Schmidt’s Land Use and Zoning attorneys represent developers, property owners, and institutions in complex land use and development matters throughout Maryland, with a particular concentration in the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Our team has extensive experience navigating the administrative, regulatory, and political processes that govern land development at the local and state levels.

Clients rely on our deep understanding of Maryland land use law, zoning ordinances, and development regulations to move projects efficiently from concept to approval. We routinely represent a wide range of clients, including national and multinational commercial entities, institutional owners, and local residential and mixed-use developers. Whether a project involves large-scale commercial development or a single-lot subdivision, we provide strategic guidance tailored to each client’s goals.

Smith, Gildea & Schmidt attorneys regularly appear before zoning boards, planning commissions, hearing examiners, and legislative bodies throughout Maryland. We work closely with planners, engineers, and other consultants to anticipate potential obstacles, address community concerns, and secure necessary approvals. From seeking relief from complex zoning regulations to navigating subdivision and annexation processes, our Land Use Team is committed to helping clients achieve successful outcomes.

Representative Land Use Matters

Our Maryland land use attorneys handle a broad range of zoning and development issues, including:

Zoning matters, including variances, special exceptions, and special hearings
Development approvals and entitlement processes
Planned Unit Developments (PUDs)
Water and sewer amendments
Historic district nominations and approvals
Growth allocation requests
Urban–Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) relocations
Annexations
Rezoning applications and map amendments
Code enforcement hearings and compliance matters