Maryland is facing a severe housing shortage, with tens of thousands of affordable units needed to meet current and future demand. Yet despite ambitious goals and legislative efforts like the 2024 Housing Expansion and Affordability Act, the state’s permitting system remains a major bottleneck—delaying projects, driving up costs, and discouraging development.
According to the Mercatus Center, developers in Maryland often face three to four years of delay between securing land and receiving occupancy permits. These delays aren’t due to construction—they’re caused by a maze of overlapping local, state, and federal regulations, public meeting requirements, and appeals processes that slow everything down.
The report outlines actionable steps to streamline permitting, including:
- Limit public meetings for by-right developments to reduce unnecessary delays.
- Restrict appeals to those with legitimate, documented grievances.
- Allow third-party plan reviews by licensed engineers to speed up approvals.
- Standardize environmental waivers to reduce regulatory duplication.
- Track housing production and set clear growth targets.
These reforms would reduce uncertainty, lower costs, and help Maryland meet its housing goals faster. Without them, even well-intentioned legislation will fall short.
It’s time for Maryland to treat permitting reform as a top priority—not just for developers, but for every resident who needs a place to call home.
Read more from report authors Salim Furth and Tom Coale at the Mercatus Center website: How to Streamline Housing Permitting in Maryland | Mercatus Center