COMPREHENSIVE REZONING & LAND USE ORDINANCE UPDATE PORTAL
Proposed final Land Use Ordinance / Unified Development Ordinance, introduced on May 6, 2025
Proposed final Kent County Zoning Map, introduced on May 6, 2025
Proposed Zoning Map for Planning Commission review - June 6, 2024
Land Use Ordinance adopted on - March 5, 2024
Presentation to County Commissioners - February 6, 2024
Major Changes Memo to Planning Commission - September 2023
General Summary Memo to Planning Commisison - September 2023
ABOUT
Making the Community's Vision for Kent County a Reality
The Department of Planning, Housing, and Zoning is excited to announce that Kent County has embarked on a new initiative to update the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) for the unincorporated areas of the County. The LUO is one of the tools that the County uses to implement its Comprehensive Plan. It guides how development occurs in the unincorporated areas of the County ensuring land uses are compatible and preserve the character of the community.
The current Land Use Ordinance was adopted on December 3, 2002, and following adoption of amendments required by the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission, it became effective on October 3, 2003. Although the LUO has been amended over the years, it hasn’t been comprehensively reviewed since its adoption. The Comprehensive Rezoning and Update (CRU) process will include a full review of all LUO text and potential evaluations of every property located in Kent County, but not in any Towns.
The goal of this project is to modernize and update the zoning text and zoning map.
What is the Community's Role?
The updated Zoning Code will reflect the vision for the Kent County community. The Code will also be user friendly, providing easy to understand text and graphics for everyday use. To achieve this, the community will be involved throughout the process, providing input and guidance on the development of the code through meetings and online opportunities. Check out the tabs above to see how you can get involved, view the latest documents, and contact us with any questions or concerns.
Still have Questions?
Send email to compzone@kentgov.org or call 410-778-7423 (voice/relay).
RESOURCES
Throughout the process, draft documents, reports and other resources will be available to view and download.
Still have Questions?
Send email to compzone@kentgov.org or call 410-778-7423 (voice/relay).
Press Releases
Schedules
Summary Schedule of Process v. 12 (April 11, 2022)
Summary Schedule of Process, v. 11 (July 14, 2021)
Topical Calendar through October 2021
Summary Schedule of Process, v. 10 (January 5, 2021)
Summary Schedule of Process, v. 9 (October 29, 2020)
Summary Schedule of Process, v. 8 (October 13, 2020)
Summary Schedule of Process, v. 7 (September 30, 2020)
Summary Schedule of Process, v. 6 (September 17, 2020)
Summary Schedule of Process, v.5
Summary Schedule of Process, v.4
Summary Schedule of Process, v.3
Forum Documents
First Forum - Opening Comments (August 18, 2020)
First Forum - Summary (posted September 4, 2020)
Second Forum - Presentation (posted April 28, 2021)
Third Forum - Summary (October 27, 2021)
Consultant Deliverables
DRAFT LUO In Track Changes incorporating ZoneCo recommenations, December 2022, v.3
DRAFT LUO incorporating ZoneCo recommendations, December 2022, v.3
DRAFT LUO Comprehensive Use Table prepared by ZoneCo
DRAFT LUO in Track Changes incorporating ZoneCo recommendations, v.2
DRAFT LUO incorporating ZoneCo recommendations, v.2 (clean copy)
DRAFT Condensed LUO with initial response by ZoneCo in Track Changes, v.1
DRAFT Condensed Land Use Ordinance (current text in new format)
DRAFT Commerce District Mock Up
DRAFT Residential Neighborhood District Mock Up
Proposed Structural Outline for Ordinance
Presentation to Task Force for December 9, 2020 Meeting
Diagnostic Report from Calfee Zoning (reformatted version posted 12/11/20)
Scope of Work from contract with Calfee Zoning
PUBLIC INPUT
Requests for text and map changes are no longer being accepted.
However, if you are curious about your current zoning, here's a link to the County's interactive parcel viewer:
Kent Parcel Viewer (will open in a new window)
Still have Questions?
Send email to compzone@kentgov.org or call 410-778-7423 (voice/relay).
Task Force
Thank you for visiting the Task Force website. The Task Force has completed its work, and the Comprehensive Rezoning process has moved to the Planning Commission for continued discussion and review. You can follow the progress of the Planning Commission by visiting its website at kentcounty.com/committees/planning. Additional notices will be published once the legislative process has begun.
Archived videos may be viewed on the Kent County Government YouTube channel
Survey to assess the interest of Task Force members to discuss text amendments.(posted 7/6/21)
Agendas
December 14, 2022 (posted 12/8/22)
DRAFT LUO In Track Changes incorporating ZoneCo recommenations, December 2022, v.3 (posted 12/2/22)
DRAFT LUO incorporating ZoneCo recommendations, December 2022, v.3 (posted 12/2/22)
DRAFT LUO Comprehensive Use Table prepared by ZoneCo (posted 12/2/22)
Proposed Task Force Recommendations (posted 10/17/22)
September 28, 2022 (posted 9/23/22)
July 27, 2022 (posted 7/20/22, updated to correct call-in number on 7/25/22)
May 25, 2022 (posted 5/20/22)
March 30, 2022 (posted 3/25/22)
December 8, 2021 (posted 12/3/21)
November 10, 2021 (posted 11/5/21)
October 27, 2021 (posted 10/22/21)
October 13, 2021 (posted 10/8/21)
September 22, 2021 (posted 9/17/21)
September 8, 2021 (posted 9/3/21)
August 25, 2021 (posted 8/20/21)
August 11, 2021 (posted 8/6/21)
July 28, 2021 (posted 7/23/21)
Staff reports for agenda items
July 14, 2021 (posted 7/9/21)
Staff reports for agenda items
June 23, 2021 (posted 6/18/21)
Economic Developement Plan and Staff reports for agenda items (posted 6/18/21)
June 9, 2021 - (posted 6/3/21)
June 9, 2021, Staff reports for agenda items (updated 6/8/21)
May 26, 2021 (posted 5/21/21)
May 26, 2021, Staff reports for agenda items (posted 5/22/21)
May 12, 2021 (posted 5/6/21)
April 28, 2021 (posted 4/14/21)
April 14, 2021 (posted 4/9/21)
March 31, 2021 (posted 3/26/21)
March 10, 2021 (posted 3/5/21)
February 10, 2021 (posted 2/3/21)
January 14, 2021 (posted 1/9/21)
December 9, 2021 (posted 11/25/20)
Presentation from ZoneCo for 12/9/20 Task Force Meeting re: Diagnostic Report and Methodology
(See Resources Tab/Consultant Deliverables for Diagnositic Report and Scope of Work)
Agenda, 11/12/20 (posted 10/29/20)
Agenda, 10/15/20 (posted 10/09/20)
Meeting Summaries
Audio Recordings
Correspondence
1 MacLeod revised letter 2021-03-04
2 Zoning at Millington Interchange and Research on PUD Floating Zones and Mixed-Use Base Zoning
3 MacLeod revised submittal - map attachments
5 Updated Client Letter 033121
6 Peaceful World LLC_Ford Schumann
7 Task force comment from Farm Bureau 2021-04-27
8 Saunders_ten percent_enclave rule_05_14_21
9 KC Planning letter - proposed text amendment signed
10 Moseman_James and Emily_419 High Street
11 ELSC on Kent Co Comp Rezoning LUO
12 Solar (utility scale) in AZD...yes
13 Re_ Solar (utility scale) in AZD...yes
15 Singer_Hans_Durham Point Farm_12936 Goosedown Farm Lane
17 Meding_Schnellenberg Farm Inc_21785 Bay Shore Road
18 New Hope Farm_25076 Smithville Road
19 Fairlee Farms Partnership_23980 and 23461 Chestertown Road
21 Trey Hill_Harborview Farms_5376 Eastern Neck Road
22 Turners Creek Farms_13640 and 13300 Kentmore Park Road
23 Watts Farm LLC_Smithville Road_Worton
24 Kurhessen Trust_9960 Flatland Road
26_Ltr to Kent County CRU Task Force re Richardson et al (plus Shahan)
27_Stonehill Farms LLC Support Letter to Kent CRU Task Force
28_Hurtt_Mary Lou_32762 Galena Sassafras Road
29_Rezoning Task Force Comment
32_Watson_written_submission_10-27-21
33_Update Letter to Kent County CRU with Maps (12-17-21)
34_Map AX-1 Growth Area Properties (see Parcel 9C)
35_Stonehill Farms LLC Support Letter #2 to Kent CRU Task Force (Parcel 19)
37_Richardson_Support for Millington Sewer Funding
38_Email re Wedding Venues in AZD
39_Letter re Forest Conservation from Michael Lamb
40_ Letter re Forest Conservation from Earl Runde
41_Email re Trees from Sydney Brookes
42_ShoreRivers LOS for FCA Text Ammendment
43_Forest Resoration Testimony SGA
44_Email from Ken Noble 2022-12-13
45_ShoreRivers Testimony in support of FCA
46_Citizen Amendment Testimony from the Washington College Democrats
Last updated: January 5, 2023