The Development Review Section is responsible for the review of residential and commercial development plans, forest conservation plans, and landscaping plans. Plans are reviewed for conformance with the Harford County Development Regulations. These regulations designate permitted uses in different zoning categories and they control numerous aspects of the development, including parking, building setbacks, bufferyards, and sensitive environmental features. This section is also responsible for conducting Development Advisory Committee meetings, which are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month and are open to the public. Plans for proposed subdivisions are submitted to the Department of Planning and Zoning for review by all involved agencies.
Subdivision includes any division of land except for agricultural purposes.
Detailed construction plans for water, sewer, roads, stormwater management, and sediment and erosion control are submitted to the County for final design review. Building Permit applications may be made after the final plat is recorded and a Public Works Agreement is executed and a bond posted to ensure that the public roads are constructed and accepted by the County. DAC meetings serve as a forum for the review of subdivision and site plans submitted to the Department of Planning and Zoning. The DAC Committee is not an approving agency, but rather an advisory group that makes recommendations to the Director of Planning and Zoning regarding the technical requirements and legal requirements for each development. The DAC meeting is also a forum to address issues and comments by the general public.