The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Protection Act, passed in 1984, was significant and far-reaching, and marked the first time that the State and local governments jointly addressed the impacts of land development on habitat and aquatic resources. Calvert County adopted the local Critical Area Program in December 1988 to implement the the requirements of the Maryland State Critical Area Act.
The law identified the "Critical Area" as all land within 1,000 feet of the Mean High Water Line of tidal waters or the landward edge of tidal wetlands and all waters of and lands under the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. For Calvert County, that includes the Patuxent River. A statewide
Critical Area Commission (CAC) was created to oversee the development and implementation of local land use programs.
Critical Area Maps delineating the Critical Area have been formally approved as part of Calvert County’s Critical Area program and are available in the Department of Community Planning and Building office and online.
Zoning regulations governing the Critical Area in Calvert County can be found in
Article 8 of the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.
Critical Area Brochure
Critical Area Frequently Asked Questions
Critical Area Form