As the legislative branch, one of our primary responsibilities is to be active participants in the legislative process that changes our county code (laws). While I have become fairly familiar with the code in the last 5 years, there are areas I still uncover when reviewing for another time.
There are also circumstances where I hear from a constituent over a challenge with the code, and think to myself, "that can't be right."
I recently had one of those moments.
A constituent in Severna Park reached out to me just a few weeks ago because they were denied a permit to build a pergola in their backyard. The county considered their backyard their front yard based on our code, and you can't have an accessory structure in your front yard. Does this mean the county also thought their backyard was their front yard? NO! Are you confused yet? According to county code, they have TWO front yards!! I thought, "that can't be right."
Sure enough, it was.
According to county code, if you have a county road that abuts any side of your property, the county considers that your "front yard", even if it means you have multiple front yards. This is a perfect example of the "backyard" issues (no pun intended) that your local government can address - and so I have, with the introduction of Bill 88-23. Another added bonus for this constituent? The County Council recently unanimously passed Bill 76-23, introduced by my colleague, Councilman Nathan Volke, which exempts pergolas from necessary permits if under a certain size.
Land use legislation makes up the large majority of council legislation. While it may not be headline making law, it is incredibly impactful to your daily life in our county, and maybe even your backyard!
AN ORDINANCE concerning: Zoning – Accessory Structures in Front Yards