# Land Use (GLU) ## Title 25. Prince George's County Provisions ### Subtitle 2. Land Use Controls -- in General #### Section 25-201 Notwithstanding any other State law, in its rules and procedures the district council may allow a duly elected officer of a bona fide civic association or homeowners association to represent the association before the county planning board, district council, zoning hearing examiner, or board of appeals regardless of whether that individual is an attorney. #### Section 25-202 (a) The People's Zoning Counsel or any party of record may request the continuance of a hearing in accordance with this section. (b) The zoning hearing examiner shall grant a continuance if a required technical staff report has not been filed at least 30 days before the scheduled hearing. (c) If a continuance is granted under this section, the zoning hearing examiner may not hear the case for at least 30 days after the technical staff report is filed. #### Section 25-203 (a) All witnesses appearing in a hearing before the district council are subject to cross-examination. (b) (1) The district council may establish rules for the administering of oaths to and the cross-examination of witnesses appearing to testify at district council hearings. (2) Before establishing rules under this subsection, the district council shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed rules. #### Section 25-204 A contested application for a map amendment or special exception may not be granted or denied without written findings of material facts and conclusions. #### Section 25-205 The record of every district council hearing on a map amendment or special exception shall include: (1) the vote of each member; (2) whether the member abstained from voting; or (3) whether the member was absent. #### Section 25-206 If the People's Zoning Counsel has a reasonable belief that a final action on an application for a subdivision, special exception, variance, or site plan is arbitrary and capricious, the People's Zoning Counsel may petition for judicial review of the final action on behalf of a bona fide citizens association that is entitled to judicial review under this division. #### Section 25-207 (a) In this section, "date of disapproval" means: (1) the date of the decision of the district council; or (2) in case of judicial review, the date of the final judgment of the circuit court. (b) If the district council wholly or partly disapproves an application for a map amendment, it may not act on a subsequent application for any portion of the same land: (1) within 18 months after the date of the first disapproval; and (2) within 24 months after the date of any subsequent disapproval. (c) In any subsequent application for any portion of the same land and for the same zoning classification or the same purpose for special exception, by the same applicant, the district council may not base its findings solely on any fact or circumstance that was presented at the hearing on the prior application. #### Section 25-208 The district council may not approve a special exception to construct or operate a rubble landfill: (1) at a site without a three-fourths majority vote of the district council; or (2) if an application for a special exception to construct or operate a rubble landfill at the site was previously denied on or after October 1, 1981. #### Section 25-209 (a) The Commission shall prepare a report in accordance with this section before a zoning hearing examiner or the district council may conduct a hearing on a request for a special exception to mine sand or gravel. (b) The report shall comprehensively evaluate the request by analyzing the impact of the proposed mining activities on the surrounding area, considering only: (1) noise; (2) watershed and water quality; (3) airshed and air quality; (4) traffic and traffic safety; and (5) other environmental factors relating to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents in the affected area. (c) In addition to the initial filing fee, the applicant shall pay a fee not to exceed $8,000 for the services of the Commission to prepare the report. #### Section 25-210 (a) (1) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the district council may review a final decision of the county planning board to approve or disapprove a detailed site plan. (2) A party of record may appeal to the district council a final decision by the county planning board to approve or disapprove a site plan. (b) The district council may only decide whether to review the final approval or disapproval of a detailed site plan under this section within 30 days after the date the final approval or disapproval was issued. (c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the district council decides to review an approval or a disapproval under this section, the district council shall hold a hearing within 70 days after the district council issues the decision to conduct a review. (2) The district council may decide to extend the time to hold a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection for up to 45 additional days on its own motion or on request of the applicant. (d) The district council shall issue a final decision within 60 days after the date of the hearing. (e) The district council may revoke a delegation of site plan approval authority to the county planning board only for the purpose of delegating approval authority over detailed site plans to the governing body of a municipal corporation in the regional district under Sec. 25-301(c)(2)(ix) of this title. #### Section 25-211 (a) The district council shall designate and maintain the federally owned property known as the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center or any other U.S. Department of Agriculture property in Beltsville or its vicinity to a zoning classification that restricts the uses to open space or reserved open space. (b) If the federal government or any assignee sells, leases, licenses, or otherwise encumbers any portion of the property known as the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center or any other U.S. Department of Agriculture property in Beltsville or its vicinity, the district council shall continue a zoning classification for that property that: (1) restricts the uses to open space or reserved open space; and (2) does not permit commercial, industrial, or residential uses. (c) A central natural area, as defined in Sec. 4-217 of this article, in the property known as the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center may not be converted to be used for agriculture, active recreation, forestry, or other plant harvesting. (d) Prior to any development on land in the property known as the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, the district council shall: (1) hold a public hearing; and (2) make a final decision, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of the Environment, that the proposed development will not have a substantial impact on any land in a central natural area. #### Section 25-212 In Prince George's County, a person may make a request to the district council for the review of a decision of the zoning hearing examiner or the county planning board only if: (1) the person is an aggrieved person that appeared at the hearing before the zoning hearing examiner or county planning board in person, by an attorney, or in writing; and (2) the review is expressly authorized under this division. #### Section 25-213 In Prince George's County, when the district council is hearing a zoning matter that has been appealed from a decision of a zoning hearing examiner, the district council: (1) may remand the zoning matter back to the zoning hearing examiner only one time; and (2) shall specify that the zoning hearing examiner take action within 30 days after the matter is remanded and relevant information is received from the applicant or the district council. #### Section 25-214 For the purpose of compliance under Subtitle 27 of the Prince George's County zoning ordinances, if any visual effects are displayed on the exterior of an immersive entertainment venue, as defined in Sec. 12-201 of the Economic Development Article, the visual effects may not be considered a sign. --- Md. Code Ann., Land Use (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)