1. A. The Commission recognizes these types of land classifications:

   1. (1) Intensely developed areas;
   2. (2) Limited development areas; and
   3. (3) Resource conservation areas.

2. B. A local jurisdiction shall:

   1. (1) Based on the criteria stated in Natural Resources Article, Title 8, Subtitle 18, Annotated Code of Maryland, and in this subtitle, identify each of the land classifications within its jurisdiction; and
   2. (2) Develop policies and programs to achieve the objectives proposed by the Commission.

3. C. The policies and programs developed under §B(2) of this regulation shall include all of the following provisions:

   1. (1) Development in each type of land classification shall be subject to strict criteria in order to prevent adverse impacts on water quality or fish, wildlife, or plant habitat;
   2. (2) It is preferable to direct intense development activities outside the Critical Area;
   3. (3) If proposed in the Critical Area, an intense development activity is appropriately located in an intensely developed area;
   4. (4) Low intensity development may be authorized in a limited development area;
   5. (5) Land uses in a resource conservation area are primarily designated for nature-dominated environments, such as wetlands, forests, and abandoned fields, and resource-utilization activities, such as agriculture, forestry, and fishery activities; and
   6. (6) It is a priority to improve the quality of stormwater entering the Chesapeake or Atlantic Coastal Bays or their tributary streams.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§8-1806, 8-1808(c), 8-1808.4(a), and 8-1811, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: May 13, 1986 (12:24 Md. R. 2352)

COMAR 14.15 became effective upon the enactment of Resolution No. 37 (SJ 9), Acts of 1986.

COMAR 14.15.02 recodified to COMAR 27.01.02 in August, 1992

Regulation .03B amended as an emergency provision effective June 26, 2009 (36:15 Md. R. 1164); amended permanently effective September 21, 2009 (36:19 Md. R. 1438)

Regulation .03C, D amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177); October 29, 2012 (39:21 Md. R. 1380)

Regulation .04 amended effective October 29, 2012 (39:21 Md. R. 1380)

Regulation .04C amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177); November 1, 2010 (37:22 Md. R. 1555)

Regulation .05 amended effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177)

Regulation .05C amended effective October 29, 2012 (39:21 Md. R. 1380)

Regulation .05-1 adopted effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 527)

Regulation .05-2 adopted effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 527)

Regulation .08 adopted effective August 10, 2009 (36:16 Md. R. 1251)

Regulation .08 amended effective September 6, 2010 (37:18 Md. R. 1215)

Regulation .08B amended effective October 29, 2012 (39:21 Md. R. 1380)

Chapter revised effective June 9, 2014 (41:11 Md. R. 606)

Regulation .05C amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 644); March 8, 2021 (48:5 Md. R. 218)

Regulation .06-1 amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .06-1B amended effective March 6, 2023 (50:4 Md. R. 123)

Regulation .06-3A, D amended effective March 6, 2023 (50:4 Md. R. 123)

Regulation .06-3G amended effective November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 980)

Chapter revised effective January 20, 2025 (52:1 Md. R. 19)