1. A. After program approval, local jurisdictions shall allow the continuation, but not necessarily the intensification or expansion, of any use in existence on the date of program approval, unless the use has been abandoned for more than 1 year or is otherwise restricted by existing local ordinances. If any existing use does not conform with the provisions of a local program, its intensification or expansion may be [permitted] authorized only in accordance with the variance procedures outlined in COMAR 27.01.12.

2. B. Local jurisdictions shall establish grandfather provisions as part of their local Critical Area programs. Except as otherwise provided, local jurisdictions shall allow the development of the types of land described in the following subsections in accordance with density requirements in effect prior to the adoption of the local Critical Area program, notwithstanding the density provisions of this chapter:

   1. (1) A single lot or parcel of land that was legally of record on the date of program approval to be developed with a single family dwelling, if a dwelling is not already placed there, notwithstanding that the single family dwelling may be inconsistent with the density provisions of the approved local program;
   2. (2) Any land on which development activity has progressed to the point of the pouring of foundation footings or the installation of structural members;

   3. (3) Any legal parcel of land, not being part of a recorded or approved subdivision, that was recorded as of December 1, 1985, and land that was subdivided into recorded, legally buildable lots, where the subdivision received the local jurisdiction's final approval prior to June 1, 1984, if:

      1. (a) The local jurisdiction develops, as part of its program, procedures to bring these lands into conformance with the local Critical Area program insofar as possible, including the consolidation or reconfiguration of lots not individually owned, and these procedures are approved by the Commission, or
      2. (b) The land has received a building permit subsequent to December 1, 1985 but prior to local program approval, and is located in a resource conservation area, then the acreage of that land shall be deducted from the total growth allocation allotted to the local jurisdiction under Regulation .06 of this chapter, unless the Commission determines at the time of program approval that steps had been taken to conform the development to the criteria in this subtitle insofar as possible;
   4. (4) In accordance with Natural Resources Article, §8-1813, Annotated Code of Maryland, land that was subdivided into recorded, legally buildable lots, where the subdivision received the local jurisdiction's final approval between June 1, 1984 and December 1, 1985; and

   5. (5) Land that was subdivided into recorded, legally buildable lots, where the subdivision received the local jurisdiction's final approval after December 1, 1985, if:

      1. (a) Development of any such land conforms to the criteria in this subtitle; or
      2. (b) The acreage of that land is deducted from the total growth allocation allotted to the local jurisdiction under Regulation .06 of this chapter.
3. C. For purposes of implementing this regulation, a local jurisdiction shall have determined, based on land uses and development in existence on December 1, 1985, which land areas fall within the three types of land classifications described in this chapter.
4. D. Nothing in this regulation may be interpreted as altering any requirements for development activities set out in COMAR 27.01.03 and 27.01.09 of this subtitle.

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)