This Subtitle shall be known as the Zoning Ordinance of Prince George's County, Maryland.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. (a)
   The purposes of the Zoning Ordinance are:

   1. (1)
      To protect and promote the health, safety, morals comfort, convenience, and welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the County;
   2. (2)
      To implement the General Plan, Area Master Plans, and Functional Master Plans;
   3. (3)
      To promote the conservation, creation, and expansion of communities that will be developed with adequate public facilities and services;
   4. (4)
      To guide the orderly growth and development of the County, while recognizing the needs of agriculture, housing, industry, and business;
   5. (5)
      To provide adequate light, air, and privacy;
   6. (6)
      To promote the most beneficial relationship between the uses of land and buildings and protect landowners from adverse impacts of adjoining development;
   7. (7)
      To protect the County from fire, flood, panic, and other dangers;
   8. (8)
      To provide sound, sanitary housing in a suitable and healthy living environment within the economic reach of all County residents;
   9. (9)
      To encourage economic development activities that provide desirable employment and a broad, protected tax base;
   10. (10)
       To prevent the overcrowding of land;
   11. (11)
       To lessen the danger and congestion of traffic on the streets, and to insure the continued usefulness of all elements of the transportation system for their planned functions;
   12. (12)
       To insure the social and economic stability of all parts of the County;
   13. (13)
       To protect against undue noise, and air and water pollution, and to encourage the preservation of stream valleys, steep slopes, lands of natural beauty, dense forests, scenic vistas, and other similar features;
   14. (14)
       To provide open space to protect scenic beauty and natural features of the County, as well as to provide recreational space; and
   15. (15)
       To protect and conserve the agricultural industry and natural resources.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

1. (a)
   Whenever any provision of this Zoning Ordinance imposes a greater requirement or a higher standard than is required in any State or Federal statute or other County ordinance or regulation, the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance shall govern unless preempted by State or Federal law.
2. (b)
   Whenever any provision of a State or Federal statute or other County ordinance or regulation imposes a greater requirement or a higher standard than required by this Subtitle, the provision of the State or Federal statute or other County ordinance or regulation shall govern.
3. (c)
   It is not the intent of the Zoning Ordinance to interfere with or annul any easements, covenants, or other agreements between parties; provided that where the Zoning Ordinance imposes a greater restriction upon the use and dimensions of buildings, structures, or land, or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by other ordinances, regulations, or permits, or by easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance shall govern, except where expressly qualified in it.
4. (d)
   Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (c) above, whenever any provision of Subtitle 27A, the Urban Centers and Corridor Nodes and Zoning Development Code of Prince George's County, imposes a greater requirement or a higher standard than required in any State or Federal statute or other County ordinance or regulation, including the Zoning Ordinance, the provisions of Subtitle 27A shall govern unless preempted by State or Federal law.

(CB-2-2010)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, they are the minimum requirements for the promotion of the purposes of this Subtitle.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

The Zoning Ordinance shall be in effect in that part of the Maryland-Washington Regional District in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Should any provision of the Zoning Ordinance be decided by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, that decision shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance other than the part decided to be unconstitutional or invalid.

Effective on: 1/1/1901