Subdivision Administration

 

Subdivision Administrators:
Chad Fike
John Nelson
301-334-1920

The above referenced subdivision ordinance applies to Garrett County; however, the Towns of Accident, Mountain Lake Park and Oakland maintain their own subdivision regulations. The Accident Subdivision Ordinance can be downloaded by clicking here.  Hard copies of the Mountain Lake Park and Oakland subdivision regulations can be obtained from the appropriate Town Hall.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Garrett County Subdivision Ordinance is to create conditions favorable to the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the citizens by:

1) assisting in the orderly and efficient integration of subdivisions;
2) ensuring conformance of subdivision plans with the public improvements plans of the County;
3) ensuring sites suitable for building purposes and human habitation;
4) facilitating the efficient movement of traffic and avoiding traffic hazards and congestion;
5) securing equitable handling of all subdivision plans by providing uniform procedures and standards;
6) improving land records by establishing standards for surveys and plans;
7) safeguarding the interests of the public, the homeowner, the subdivider and all municipalities;
8) preserving natural and historic features; and
9) carrying out the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan and Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

APPLICATION

Subdivision requests are divided into three categories - lot line adjustment, minor subdivision or major subdivision.

A lot line adjustment is the revision or deletion of one or more lotlines in such a way that all of the following are true:
1) no new lots will be created beyond what was previously approved;
2) no additional road segments or significant changes in alignment are proposed other than what was previously approved, and
3) no additional nonconformities will be created under any applicable Zoning Ordinance.

A minor subdivision is a proposal involving land which is either:
1) a "lot line adjustment" or
2) a subdivision which:
a. results in a maximum total of 5 new residential lots of any permitted size or new agricultural lots of more than 10 acres each, in addition to the one pre- existing "parent" lot and
b. does not involve an extension or new segment of a road (other than what was previously approved).
3) To discourage numerous piecemeal subdivisions, if 6 or more new lots have received final subdivision approval from the same parent tract within the previous 3 years, then any new proposed lot shall meet the requirements for a
major subdivision.

A major subdivision is any subdivision of land which does not qualify as a "minor subdivision".

Application and checklists for each of the above categories can be viewed and printed from the the links above. Each application should include a layout plan submitted by a registered Maryland surveyor. Each proposed lot must pass a percolation test by the Garrett County Environmental Health Department. Applications for lot line adjustments and minor subdivisions are approved by the subdivision administrators. Applications for major subdivisions must be approved by the Garrett County Planning Commission.

FEES

All applicants for minor subdivision are required to pay a fee of $5 per lot. All applicants for major subdivision must pay a fee of $7 per lot. Subdivision plans shall not be considered filed until all fees are paid and the applications are
properly signed as required. If the expenses of the County for reviews of a subdivision exceed the total fees that have been paid or placed in escrow by an applicant, such excess expenses shall be paid by the applicant prior to release of the Final Plats by the County for recording.

Before downloading any ordinances and/or maps from this website please read the End User Agreement and Data Disclaimer.

Any comments and suggestions for this website will be welcomed by the website administrator.

 

Conditions of Use
© 2010 Garrett County Governmental Departments, Oakland, Maryland, USA.
All rights reserved.