Board of Appeals (BOA)

  1. Overview
  2. Hearing Information
  3. Submitting Comment

Overview

Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Appeals is a five-member board that reviews applications for variances, special exceptions, and expansion or replacement of non-conforming uses. It has the authority to:

  • Hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative officer in the enforcement of ordinances adopted under Section 4-305 of the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
  • Hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the Zoning Ordinance.
  • Grant variances from the terms of the Zoning Ordinance.

BOA Hearing Schedule and Application Deadlines

Hearing Date Application Deadline
January 4, 2024 November 9, 2023
February 1, 2024 December 14, 2023
March 7, 2024 January 11, 2024
April 4, 2024 February 8, 2024
May 2, 2024 March 14, 2024
June 6, 2024 April 11, 2024
July 11, 2024 May 9, 2024
August 1, 2024 June 13, 2024
September 5, 2024 July 11, 2024
October 3, 2024 August 8, 2024
November 7, 2024 September 12, 2024
December 5, 2024 October 10, 2024

Notes:
1. Board of Appeals Applications are scheduled for hearings on a first-come, first-serve basis.
2. New fees were implemented July 1, 2023. Please review the revised Fee schedule.
3. Completed applications must be submitted with proper payment prior to the deadline in order to be eligible for, but is not a guarantee that it will be scheduled on, the desired months agenda.

  1. Susan D. Hance-Wells, BOA Chair

    Susan D. Hance-Wells

    Chair

  1. Daniel O. Baker, Jr., BOA Member

    Daniel O. Baker, Jr.

    Vice Chair

  1. Robert Carpenter, BOA Member

    Robert Carpenter

    Member

  1. Thomas Ireland, BOA Vice Chair

    Thomas Ireland

    Member

  1. Christopher Moore, BOA Member

    Christopher Moore

    Member

Name District Term Expiration
Susan D. Hance-Wells, Chair 2 04/30/2025
Daniel O. Baker, Jr., Vice Chair 2 09/30/2025
Christopher Moore, Member 2 11/30/2023
Robert Carpenter, Member 3 11/30/2023
Thomas H. Ireland, Member 2 10/31/2024
Marcia P. Claggett, Alternate Member 3 07/31/2022
VACANT, Alternate Member    
Lisa Smith Sanders, Esq., Board Counsel    

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board of Appeals, please refer to the Volunteer Boards and Commissions web page.