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Mission Statement

The mission of the Board of Appeals is to implement the flexibility provided by the Zoning Ordinance, as approved by the County Council, in a fair and equitable manner, and to assist County residents, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nativity, gender, disability, or other relevant demographic or socioeconomic characteristics, in understanding and participating in the variance, administrative appeal, special exception modification, and conditional use appeal processes.

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Budget Overview

The total approved FY25 Operating Budget for the Board of Appeals is $588,642, a decrease of $56,273 or 8.73 percent from the FY24 Approved Budget of $644,915. Personnel Costs comprise 93.82 percent of the budget for three full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 3.00 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 6.18 percent of the FY25 budget.

Consistent with the County Charter, the County Executive makes recommendations on the operating budget for all County departments, offices and agencies. However, recognizing the Charter-designed roles, the Executive defers significantly to the Legislative and Judicial Branch agencies. Questions regarding the approved budgets for Legislative Branch departments should be directed to Sandra Marin, 240-777-7923.


County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following is emphasized:

  • Effective, Sustainable Government

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Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable). The FY24 estimates reflect funding based on the FY24 approved budget. The FY25 and FY26 figures are performance targets based on the FY25 approved budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY26.

MeasureActual
FY22
Actual
FY23
Estimated
FY24
Target
FY25
Target
FY26
Number of Administrative Appeals decided111111111
Average days to issue written Administrative Appeals decisions (within 45 days of close of record unless extended) 1212525
Number of Variances decided 24252525252
Average days to issue Variance decision (within 30 days of close of record unless extended) 3111111
Number of Conditional Use cases decided 422222
Average days to issue Conditional Use decision (must issue within 30 days of voting on the matter unless extended)171515
Number of Circuit Court appeals processed24444
Number of Administrative Actions taken 59086868686
1  Board of Appeals Rule 9.1 requires issuance of administrative appeal opinions within 45 days of close of record.
2  The Board continues to see a large number of variances relative to past years.
3  Board of Appeals Rule 9.1 requires issuance of variance opinions within 30 days of close of record.
4  Outyear projections are based on FY23 actuals.
5  Matters considered and/or decided at worksessions include, but are not limited to: preliminary motions in Administrative Appeals, requests for major modifications (following the issuance of a report and recommendation by the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings) and administrative modifications of existing special exceptions, requests for by-right hearings, requests for oral argument regarding appeals of conditional use decisions, requests for the revocation of special exceptions, requests for the reconsideration of earlier Board decisions, requests for show cause hearings, complaints regarding the operation of special exceptions, inspection reports from the Department of Permitting Services and the Department of Housing and Community Affairs regarding such complaints, and the submission of documents fulfilling various Board-imposed reporting requirements.

Program Descriptions

  Zoning Related Hearings and Administrative Appeals

The Board of Appeals hears requests for variances as provided in the Zoning Ordinance. Development standards for each zone are set by the Zoning Ordinance. Variances from these standards require approval by the Board. In addition, the Board hears appeals of conditional uses decided by the Hearing Examiner, as provided...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Barbara Jay of the Board of Appeals at 240.777.6604 or Richard H. Harris of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2795 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY23
Budget
FY24
Estimate
FY24
Approved
FY25
%Chg
Bud/App
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages454247.00491301.00 505551.00 444849.00-9.5
Employee Benefits109295.00117267.00 119307.00 107413.00-8.4
County General Fund Personnel Costs563542.00608568.00 624858.00 552262.00-9.3
Operating Expenses32375.0036347.00 30745.00 36380.000.1
County General Fund Expenditures595917.00644915.00 655603.00 588642.00-8.7
PERSONNEL
Full-Time3.003.00 3.00 3.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs3.503.50 3.50 3.00-14.3
REVENUES
Board of Appeals Fees188411.00158064.00 158064.00 158064.000.0
Other Charges/Fees6160.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
County General Fund Revenues194571.00158064.00 158064.00 158064.000.0
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures595917.00644915.00 655603.00 588642.00-8.7
Total Full-Time Positions3.003.00 3.00 3.000.0
Total Part-Time Positions0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Total FTEs3.503.50 3.50 3.00-14.3
Total Revenues194571.00158064.00 158064.00 158064.000.0
FY25 Approved Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION6449153.50
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment229560.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases188510.00
Increase Cost: Board Member Stipends [Zoning Related Hearings and Administrative Appeals]70000.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail330.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs-2480.00
Decrease Cost: Retirement Adjustment-22650.00
Shift: Move Tax Supported Charge Backs from Board of Appeals to the Office of the County Attorney [Zoning Related Hearings and Administrative Appeals]-102600-0.50
FY25 APPROVED5886423.00
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY25FY26FY27FY28FY29FY30
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Approved589.000000589.000000589.000000589.000000589.000000589.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.00000010.00000010.00000010.00000010.00000010.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures589.000000599.000000599.000000599.000000599.000000599.000000