# Land Use (GLU)

## Title 1. Definitions; General Provisions

### Subtitle 5. Growth Tiers

#### Section 1-508

(a) The growth tiers adopted by a local jurisdiction shall meet the following criteria:

  (1) Tier I areas are areas that are:

    (i) served by public sewerage systems and mapped locally designated growth areas; or

    (ii) a municipal corporation that is a priority funding area that is served by public sewerage systems;

  (2) Tier II areas are areas that are:

    (i)

      (1) planned to be served by public sewerage systems and in the municipal growth element; or

      (2) mapped locally designated growth areas; and

    (ii) needed to satisfy demand for development at densities consistent with the long-term development policy after consideration of the capacity of land areas available for development, including in-fill and redevelopment, within the local jurisdiction;

  (3) Tier III areas are areas that:

    (i) are not planned for sewerage service and not dominated by agricultural or forest land;

    (ii) are not planned or zoned by a local jurisdiction for land, agricultural, or resource protection, preservation, or conservation; and

    (iii) are one of the following:

      (1) municipal corporations not served by a public sewerage system;

      (2) rural villages as described in Sec. 5-7B-03(f) of the State Finance and Procurement Article;

      (3) mapped locally designated growth areas; or

      (4) areas planned and zoned for large lot and rural development; and

  (4) Tier IV areas are areas that are not planned for sewerage service and are:

    (i) areas planned or zoned by a local jurisdiction for land, agricultural, or resource protection, preservation, or conservation;

    (ii) areas dominated by agricultural lands, forest lands, or other natural areas; or

    (iii) rural legacy areas, priority preservation areas, or areas subject to covenants, restrictions, conditions, or conservation easements for the benefit of, or held by a State agency, as defined in Sec. 9-206 of the Environment Article, or a local jurisdiction for the purpose of conserving natural resources or agricultural land.

(b) A local jurisdiction shall strive to avoid creating a Tier III area that is bounded on all sides by land in a Tier IV area.

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Md. Code Ann., Land Use (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)