# Land Use (GLU)

## Title 7. Other Development Management Tools

### Subtitle 5. Housing Expansion and Affordability

#### Section 7-502

(a) In this section, "qualified project" means a residential project that:

  (1) consists of new construction or substantial renovation, as annually established and identified by the Department of Housing and Community Development in the Multifamily Rental Financing Program Guide;

  (2) is on property that:

    (i)

      (1) was formerly owned by the State;

      (2) consists of more than one building;

      (3) includes at least one building that was built more than 50 years before the date of application for the project; and

      (4) is appropriate for redevelopment as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Community Development; or

    (ii)

      (1) is currently or was formerly owned by the federal government;

      (2) is greater than 80 acres in size; and

      (3) was the site of a former U.S. military reservation;

  (3) contains at least 25% of units that are affordable dwelling units; and

  (4) is deed-restricted to include 25% of units that are affordable dwelling units for a period of at least 40 years.

(b)

  (1) In accordance with this subsection, a local jurisdiction shall allow the density of a qualified project to exceed the density otherwise authorized in a district or zone.

  (2) In an area zoned for single-family residential use, a qualified project may include middle housing units.

  (3) In an area zoned for multifamily residential use, a qualified project:

    (i) shall have a density limit that exceeds by 30% the allowable density in that zone for uses that are not part of a qualified project; and

    (ii) may consist of mixed-use.

  (4) Subject to Sec. 7-509 of this subtitle, a qualified project may consist of mixed-use development with density limits that do not exceed the highest allowable density in the local jurisdiction's multifamily residential zones:

    (i) in an area zoned for nonresidential use; or

    (ii) on land that:

      (1) is currently or was formerly owned by the federal government;

      (2) is more than 80 acres in size; and

      (3) was the site of a former U.S. military reservation.

  (5) In an area zoned for mixed-use, a qualified project may consist of residential development with density limits that do not exceed the greater of the following:

    (i) the highest allowable density in the local jurisdiction's residential zones; or

    (ii) six units per gross acre.

  (6) If a qualified project is allowed to exceed the density otherwise authorized by a local jurisdiction in a district or zone under this section, the qualified project may not also exceed the authorized density under Sec. 7-503 or Sec. 7-504 of this subtitle.

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