Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Proceed to the QAC GIS Open Data Portal

Imagery from 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2008 are available from the State of Maryland.  Queen Anne’s County has additional imagery from: 2004, 1998, 1997, 1991, 1989, 1978, 1963, 1957, and 1937. All imagery can be found in the Property Viewer. To explore historic imagery check out the Historic Image Viewer.

https://www.qac.org/948/Elevation-Certificates

County maintained roads have green street signs; private roads have blue street signs. State Highway maintains roads with numbered route numbers, example 213. When in doubt call the Roads Division at 410-758-0920.

If you are on a county road and need a repair call the Roads Division at 410-758-0920. 

https://www.qac.org/519/Sewage-Backup

https://www.qac.org/513/Sanitary-District

If the ditch is along a county road call the Roads Division at 410-758-0920.

https://www.qac.org/556/Transfer-Station

Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at 410-758-0920

Elevation Certificates

Yes, the above stated requirement applies to new modular homes as well. Existing modular homes being moved from another jurisdiction do not require a sprinkler system provided there are no alterations or additions to the home. 

The tax sale is the 3rd Tuesday in May of each year and is held online at https://queenannes.marylandtaxsale.com/ .  Registration begins one month prior via the same website.

The notice of advertisement will be published weekly for the 3 weeks prior to the tax sale and beginning on the first of May on our online auction website at https://queenannes.marylandtaxsale.com/. The newspaper advertisement is not updated for payments received after advertisement, however the online postings are updated weekly up to the date of tax sale. Only 1 newspaper meets the requirement of “a newspaper that has a general circulation in the county in which the property is located” (Annotated Code of Maryland - Tax Property §14-813). The Record Observer can be reach by calling 410-758-1400.

Information will be available on the Queen Anne’s County website and updated weekly for the 3 weeks prior to the tax sale.

Register online at https://queenannes.marylandtaxsale.com/ beginning one month prior to the tax sale.  A nonrefundable $100 fee is required.

ACH only using a U.S. bank account.  Payments are made on the day of tax sale using our online auction service located at https://queenannes.marylandtaxsale.com/ .

We do not require a deposit, however we do require a one-time, non-refundable bidder registration fee of $100.

Bids are now placed online effective in 2021.  Visit https://queenannes.marylandtaxsale.com/ for full details.

Bidding starts at the sale amount. The sale amount is the sum of delinquent amounts owed to the County plus expenses incurred in making the sale. The tax sale lien is awarded to the highest bidder. All properties sold at tax sale are subject to a high bid premium (if applicable). Sale amount and high bid premium must be paid on the day of the auction.

High bid premiums are additional funds collected for a tax sale property whereby the highest bid exceeds the high bid threshold. The high bid threshold is 40% of the property’s assessed value except agricultural land. The collector of taxes determines the high bid threshold for agricultural land. The high bid premium is calculated as 20% of the amount that exceeds the high bid threshold. An example can be found under High Bid Premium Calculation Example. The County shall refund the high bid premium without interest to the holder of the tax sale certificate on redemption of the property for which the high bid was paid, or the plaintiff in an action to foreclose the right of redemption on delivery of a tax sale deed for the property for which the high bid premium was paid.

A bidder statement is sent to each successful bidder showing for each lien purchased: the bid amount, the sale amount, and the bid premium. The original Certificate of Sale is kept by Queen Anne's County. Certificates of Sale for any liens that have not been redeemed will be emailed to the bidder in September. 

Any liens that were not sold at the Tax Sale can be purchased over-the-counter from Queen Anne's County. A list of the available over-the-counter tax certificates can be found by visiting https://qac.org/598/Tax-Sale

If an owner fails to redeem a property from tax sale, the bidder may file a civil action case in Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court to foreclose the owner’s right of redemption. The action to foreclose the owner’s right of redemption must be filed no less than 6 months from the date of sale and no more than 2 years from the date of the sale.

If judgment is granted in favor of the bidder, the bidder may gain full title to the property by paying the balance of their bid, if any, any taxes and other fees that have accrued after the date of sale, after which a deed can be submitted to the Tax Collector. Payment must be made and deed submitted within 90 days or the Tax Collector will move to dismiss the judgment, see the Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax Property Article §14-847 (d).

If judgment is stricken, it is the same as if the bidder never filed civil action.

Property values are assessed by the state, not the county. Call the State Assessment Office, Centreville, at 410-819-4160, or visit the website for the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

Property tax rates for state, county, and incorporated towns within the county are set July 1 each year. Visit QACTaxes.org for current County tax rates.

The County Commissioners share their office with the County Administrator, on the Second Floor of the Liberty Building at 107 N. Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland.

The County Commissioners hold their meetings on Tuesdays in the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room, located on the Second Floor of the Liberty Building at 107 N. Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland. The Commissioners convene at 5:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the Month. (scheduled times are subject to change, except for public hearings) The public is welcome to attend any of these meetings. Occasionally, portions of the meetings are conducted in closed session (ex. personnel, legal and land acquisition) and the door to the hearing room will be posted as to whether or not you may enter.

You can find the whole County code here.  The Planning Division is concerned primarily with Chapter 14, Chapter 18, and Chapter 28.  

The Planning Commission meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. The meetings start at 8:45AM.  Each meeting is filmed and available to view at QACTV on channel 7 or via the web at QACTV.com.

Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8AM to 430PM. Permitting office operates Monday through Friday 8 to 330PM. We are closed for most national holidays. See holidays here.  You can always call us at 410-758-1255.

The Planning Division of Planning and Zoning has two distinct functions. The first involves reviewing proposed development projects for compliance with approved county, state, and federal codes. The second involves long range planning, setting a vision for the county’s near and distant future.

In addition to these functions, Planning Division staff also provides support for to the Planning Commission and the Board of Appeals.

The Zoning division of Planning and Zoning has two distinct functions. The first involves the review and issuance of construction level permits; grading, building, electrical, etc. The second function is the field inspection and enforcement of county zoning codes.  

To set up a phone account through Securus call 1-800-844-6591

All visitors must adhere to a proper Dress Code. The following items are not permitted:

• Mini Skirts
• Short Shorts
• Halter Tops
• Bathing Suits
• Tank Top Shirts
• Tube Tops
• Any other item of clothing that may be deemed reveaIing by staff

Please see the Revised Visitation Schedule, effective June 7, 2021 or call 410-758-3817 for incarcerated individuals visiting schedule (Hours are based on incarcerated individual's placement).

Send via US mail only as per following policy: POLICY - All incoming mail must be sent to the Detention Center in white, legal or letter sized envelopes. Incoming legal mail will be exempt from the white envelope rule, however the handling officer who searches the legal mail in front of the inmate, must retain the envelope and dispose of it. Any mail that does not fall within the guidelines will be returned to the sender. Mail will be returned to the sender for reasons to include, but not limited to, those items noted below: o No inmate name o Stickers of any kind (including return address labels) o Rubber inked stamps o Tape o Colored pencil(s), markers, glitter, crayons, paint, watercolors or wax on any part of the envelope or in the body of the correspondence o Paperclips or staples o Correction tape/fluid o Greeting cards o Colored envelopes (except legal mail) o Padded envelopes o Any non-paper items o Plastics or anything laminated or made of cardboard o Anything gang related (photos, colors, writing symbols or hand gestures) o Homemade cards or poster cards o Blank paper, blank cards or stamps o Magazines and books (individual subscriptions to one newspaper allowed) o Items having suspicious stains or markings o Instant camera photos (i.e. Polaroids) o Food items or cosmetic items o Photos of any size or type o Pictures or drawings of nude, obscene or sexually explicit material o Musical or recordable cards o Foreign unidentified substances o Correspondence in code o Magazine or newspaper clippings o Identification cards or facsimiles o Lottery tickets or prepaid phone cards o Mail that violates a no-contact order or other court order o Cash, personal checks or second party checks  o Pages from books o Computer printouts o Mail decorated with beads, ribbons, springs, etc. o Sports statistics for gambling o Paper folded in the form of origami o Letters with strong perfume-like or unusual odors o Letters with no return name or address o Inmate-to-inmate correspondence o Clothing items (Court clothing must be approved by administration and can be delivered in person only, one week prior to trial date.) o Over-the-counter or prescription medication o Digital memory cards/thumb drives o Hate or threatening related written or printed material NOTE: Disallowed material shall include items meeting the definition of contraband. Also, as noted above, correspondence may not consist of or contain adhesives, metal, hard plastics, sound chips and unusual devices or decoration. All returned mail will be marked or stamped "Return to Sender" on the envelope.

You can send money via Access Corrections website or download the mobile app for your device https://www.accesscorrections.com/#/ or you may also use the kiosk located in the lobby of the QAC Detention Center to send money to an incarcerated individual or by calling 1-866-345-1884, but you must obtain the incarcerated individual's current BOOKING number.

You can call 410-758-4500 during office hours.

Communications (911 Center)

Emergency Medical Services (Paramedics, EMT's)

Support Services (Information Technology and Radio Support)

Special Operations (Emergency Management, Animal Control, Training)

Fire Marshal (Inspections)

Business hours are the same as other county offices from 8am - 4:30 pm although emergency services are available and staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

If someone is interested constructing a new building, which is called a site plan, or creating another lot from their existing lot, which is called a subdivision, that requires review by this department of Planning & Zoning.

Development Review is within the Department of Planning and Zoning is located at 110 Vincit Street, Centreville MD 21617.  Find us here.  Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8AM to 430PM. We are closed for most national holidays. See holidays here.  You may always call us at 410-758-1255.

You can determine what zoning district you are in by going here and entering the address in the Search box at the top right. Then in the Layers (bottom left - click Layers) go to the Planning layer and expand it by clicking on the "+" symbol and then checking the boxes for both "planning" and "zoning".

You may also contact or visit the Department of Planning and Zoning if you are unable to access the Property Viewer/GIS on the County's website.

This type of subdivision is for the reconfiguration or abolishment of lot lines for at least two (2) but fewer than six (6) existing lots of record. No new lots are created.

They are approved administratively after multi-agency review and based on established zoning code regulations.

In general, they are utilized to demonstrate a subdivision project can conceptually meet established zoning code regulations.

A Sketch Plan may be submitted for matters pertaining to subdivisions such as:

• Transfer of Development Rights applications
• Non-contiguous Development applications
• Master Water & Sewer Plan Amendments, and
• Growth Allocation applications

Generally, approval is granted by the Planning Commission following a multi-agency review and based on established zoning code regulations.

Approval does not constitute project approval but allows the project to pursue additional required approvals.

The division of a tract or parcel of land into two (2) or more parts.

A division of land into seven (7) or less lots.

Approved administratively after multi-agency review and based on established zoning code regulations.

Subdivision of land into more than seven (7) lots.

The projects require STAC (Staff Technical Advisory Committee) meetings. These meetings are open for the public to attend.

Approval is granted by the Planning Commission following multi-agency review and based on established zoning code regulations.

In general, a concept plan is used to demonstrate that a proposed non-residential or multifamily project can conceptually meet applicable zoning code regulations and/or compliance with design standards.

A Concept Plan may be submitted for projects such as:

• A conversion of a property from a residential use to a commercial use of a property
• Master Water & Sewer Plans amendments
• Growth Allocations applications, or
• Conditional Use applications

Generally, approval is granted by the Planning Commission following a multi-agency review and based on established zoning code regulations.

Approval does not constitute project approval but allows the project to pursue additional required approvals.

A site plan is a graphic depiction of a proposed non-residential or multifamily project. It illustrates features such as, but not limited to, existing and proposed structures, impervious surfaces, landscaping areas, ingress and egress points, and parking areas.

A graphic depiction of a proposed multifamily development with up to five (5) units or a non-residential development equal to or less than 10,000 square feet of floor area.

Generally, approved administratively after multi-agency review and based on established zoning regulations.

May be referred to the Planning Commission based on location or if the Planning Director deems appropriate. In this case, approval is granted by the Planning Commission following multi-agency review and based on established zoning regulations.

A graphic depiction of a proposed multifamily development of six (6) or more units or a non-residential development over 10,000 square feet of floor area. The Adequate Public Facility Ordinance must be addressed at this stage.

These projects require STAC (Staff Technical Advisory Committee) meetings. These meetings are open for the public to attend.

Approval is granted by the Planning Commission following multi-agency review and based on established zoning code regulations.

The Forest Conservation Act (FCA), enacted in 1991 by the State of Maryland, was created to balance development and conservation of Maryland's forests. Its purpose is to integrate forest protection into land planning and development - ensuring that overall loss of forested areas outside of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area is minimized.

The combining of commercial and/or services uses with residential, or offices uses in the same building or on the same site.

The Planning Division of Planning and Zoning has two distinct functions. The first involves reviewing proposed development projects for compliance with approved county, state, and federal codes. The second involves long range planning, setting a vision for the county's near and distant future. In addition to these functions, Planning Division staff also provides support to the Planning Commission and Board of Appeals.

The Zoning division of Planning and Zoning has two distinct functions. The first involves the review and issuance of construction level permits, grading, building, electrical, etc. The second function is the field inspection and enforcement of county zoning codes.

A review of any development plan that involves structures older than 50 years and/or any plan with a documented historic site on either the National Historic Register or Maryland Historic Inventory of Properties.

For any demolition or changes to historic structures, a tiered review process is in place to document the structure. There are no local and/or state policies in place to prevent demolition following historic review.

The Department encompasses 22 Parks including two equestrian trails, 10 Nature Areas, two beaches, 18 Public Landings - 10 of which have boat ramps, 3 Boat Slip Marinas, 2 fishing piers, Blue Heron Golf Course with Driving Range, and the Bay Bridge Airport.  It works with both the public and private sectors to plan, acquire, design and develop, maintain, preserve and enhance the County’s natural resources, open spaces and waterfront properties while providing remarkable public recreation opportunities to the growing population.  These amenities serve to stimulate economic development by spurring development of hotels, restaurants, fishing charters, organized water and sports activities, adventure tours and other ancillary uses of the County’s natural resources.

Park pavilions and trail areas can be rented for gatherings and walk/run/bike activities. Conquest Preserve is reserved for private parties such as weddings, family reunions, and company picnics.  Matapeake Clubhouse is currently only for rent for “off season” usage. 

• Parks are open from Dawn to Dusk. 
• Public Landings are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Romancoke Pier is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Matapeake Pier is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Public Landing usage is by parking permit only.  These annual and daily permits are sold over the counter by 17 vendors located throughout Queen Anne’s County.  The Permit Application is available on the website. 

At Matapeake boat ramp and Romancoke kayak launch area, landing permits are valid for boat launching only.  Use of the fishing piers requires a separate entrance fee.  Matapeake and Romancoke Fishing Piers utilize a Kiosk machine for parking.  The machines accept exact change or credit card and the cost is $2.50 per hour per vehicle. 

Public Landings Officers and Park Rangers patrol the facilities for patron assistance and can issue citations for infractions of the rules and regulations.  Payment of these citations can be done at qac.org, through the mail, or at our office. If a citation is left unpaid, the vehicle registration will be flagged and a release from our office will be needed to renew the tags.  MVA charges a fee for this service above the amount of the citation.

Various season sport leagues and travel teams reserve our baseball, football, soccer, and lacrosse fields and lights for practices, games, and tournaments. Field conditions due to inclement weather will be listed on the website.

Events on County owned property where the attendance for any type of event is expected to exceed 200 people or impact County services such as police, ambulance, fire departments. Sporting events with more than 10 teams.

At various times throughout the year volunteers are needed for various projects, such as tree plantings and clean-ups.  Eagle Scout projects can also be arranged through the Department.

Citizens may pay real property tax, water and sewer, or special benefit assessment bills online. For more information visit the Pay Taxes & Utility Bills page for the Department of Budget & Finance. 

http://www.qac.org/1158/Pay-Taxes-Utility-Bills

Yes, information on property records and utility accounts can be found online. Visit the Property Record & Utility Account Search page for the Department of Budget & Finance. 

http://www.qac.org/1162/Property-Record-Utility-Account-Search

The County Budget is adopted each year prior to the start of the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The budget schedule, work session materials and proposed & approved budget documents can be found here.

Yes three Public Hearings including a tax rate hearing are held before the budget is adopted each year. Public hearings are held at three different locations; Stevensville, Centreville, and Sudlersville. The schedule along with the public hearing presentation can be found on the Fiscal Year Budget Information page for the Department of Budget & Finance.

http://www.qac.org/588/Fiscal-Year-Budget-Information

Yes the approved budget and all budget work session files can be found on the Fiscal Year Budget Information page for the Department of Budget & Finance.

 http://www.qac.org/588/Fiscal-Year-Budget-Information

The Queen Anne's County annual tax sale takes place the 3rd Tuesday in May and is held online. Please visit our auction website for more information. 

The County tax rates can be found on the Department of Budget & Finance page here: http://www.qac.org/1188/Countys-Tax-Rates

Yes, the County’s CAFR can be found on the Accounting Section page for the Department of Budget & Finance.

http://www.qac.org/584/Accounting-Section

Yes, the County posts requests for proposals and invitations to bid on the County website and on eMaryland Marketplace. The County’s Procurement Policy and bid postings can be found on the Procurement page for the Department of Budget & Finance.

http://www.qac.org/593/Procurement

Yes the approved budget and all budget work session files can be found on the Fiscal Year Budget Information page for the Department of Budget, Finance & Information Technology. http://www.qac.org/588/Fiscal-Year-Budget-Information

Yes three Public Hearings including a tax rate hearing are held before the budget is adopted each year. Public hearings are held at three different locations; Stevensville, Centreville, and Sudlersville. The schedule along with the public hearing presentation can be found on the Fiscal Year Budget Information page for the Department of Budget, Finance & Information Technology.

http://www.qac.org/588/Fiscal-Year-Budget-Information

Yes, taxes, utility bills and special benefit assessment can be paid online. For more information visit the Pay Taxes & Utility Bills page for the Department of Budget & Finance.

http://www.qac.org/1158/Pay-Taxes-Utility-Bills

Yes, information on property records and utility accounts can be found online. Visit the Property Record & Utility Account Search page for the Department of Budget & Finance. 

http://www.qac.org/1162/Property-Record-Utility-Account-Search

The Queen Anne's County annual tax sale takes place the 3rd Tuesday in May and is held online. Please visit our auction website for more information. 

• Solid waste transfer station ticket books
• MVA sticker/registration renewal
• Public landing permits
• Real Estate Property Tax payments
• Hotel Tax payments
• Road, ditch, and sanitary payments
• Deed stamp

The County tax rates can be found on the Department of Budget & Finance page here: http://www.qac.org/1188/Countys-Tax-Rates

Yes, the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) can be found on the Accounting Section page for the Department of Budget, Finance & Information Technology. http://www.qac.org/584/Accounting-Section

Yes, the County posts requests for proposals and invitations to bid on the County website and on eMaryland Marketplace. The County’s Procurement Policy and bid postings can be found on the Procurement page for the Department of Budget, Finance & Information Technology. http://www.qac.org/593/Procurement

Bay Bridge Airport carries 100LL fuel which is available to customers self-serve 24/7, including all holidays. The fuel station is on the S ramp, to the East of transient parking. You will need a credit card to operate the pumps.

There is no fee to land at Bay Bridge Airport. If you plan to remain parked for longer than 1 hour, the fee is $5 for the day, $10 for overnight (1 day or night fee waived with fuel purchase over $25). Longer stays -over 8 nights - will be charged at the monthly rate of $85/mth. Transient parking is directly in front of the FBO on the S ramp, and all transient tie-down spots are painted blue.

Please be advised that there are noise abatement procedures in effect. These are published on our website as well as described on the AWOS recording. In addition, there is high Gyro activity at this field. All Gyro operations in the pattern are on the N side.

We have both paved and grass tie-downs available. Grass is $70/mth, and paved spots are $85/mth. All of our hangars are currently rented. If you are interested in joining the hangar waitlist please contact the office at 410-643-4364 to inquire.

Bay Bridge Airport does not offer a crew car. Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Stevensville will often arrange car drop off/pick up with you, and can be reached at 410-604-6154. Uber is also an option. Please see our website for an up to date list of all available options.

Machine readable raw data including tabular data and spatial data.  Examples of datasets include information on capital projects, revenue, property assessments, and permits.

Yes. Publishing data is an ongoing effort and new tables are added monthly (at a minimum). Please come back often to explore newly published datasets.

No. Anyone can navigate, view, or download data on this site.  However, by creating a new account you will be able to save custom views and tables.

Setting up an account will allow a user to create a personal workspace where you may save filtered views and visualizations created from the data sets.

If you have questions about the open data platform, please visit the support site.

If you have questions about a specific dataset, or would like information on having a new dataset developed, you can contact the Queen Anne's County Open Data Coordinator at (410) 758-4064 x2093 or email opendata@qac.org

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for the Queen Anne's County Open Data portal, please contact us via email. We would love to hear from you.

It uses Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License.

Yes, but unfortunately it isn’t as easy as just receiving funds to help.  You will need to come in and meet with one our Housing Program Administrators so that we can determine which resources will best suit your circumstances. On occasion our requests are so high that we run out of available funds.  If that happens we will work with you to help you find other resources.  To set up an appointment call the Division of Housing at 410-758-3977 to make an appointment.

Yes, we do!  The Rental Allowance Program (RAP) is a grant to Queen Anne's County from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. It provides rent subsidies to low-income residents who are either homeless or have an emergency housing need. The goal of the program is to enable them to move from homelessness or temporary emergency housing into permanent housing and to return to self-sufficiency. Funding is limited.

Yes, if you are a renter and have a concern about the condition of your home, and the landlord is not responding to your concerns you may call the Inspector at 410-758-3977. He works to ensure rental structures and premises meet minimum property maintenance standards in accordance with the Queen Anne's County Housing Code.

The Department of Housing and Community Services is located at 104 Powell Street, Centreville, MD, located behind the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Department.  You can reach us at 410-758-3977. Office hours are 8:00-4:30 Monday-Friday

The Housing Authority assists with Housing Choice Vouchers, also known as “Section 8” and rental communities.  Rental Communities Include: Fisher Manor, Foxxtown, Grasonville Terrace, Riverside Estates and Terrapin Grove. If you have questions regarding Section 8 housing or any of the rental communities, please contact the Housing Authority at 410-758-8634.

No, the Division of Housing is a resource offered by Queen Anne’s County through the Department of Community Services.  We work to help all Queen Anne’s County citizens who need help become self-sufficient. We do this through a variety of different services that cover all ends of the spectrum from homeless assistance, to enforcing housing livability codes, housing rehabilitation and providing mortgages to support workforce housing.  We also oversee the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the County.

Yes we have several loan programs that may be available to help you buy a home.  Programs in this area are available to moderate income residents. Call 410-758-3977 for more information and to see if you qualify.

Yes, the Critical Workforce Program offers second mortgage financing to first-time home buyers who meet the program guidelines. The purpose of the program is to ensure that the county continues to have an adequate supply of workers in local jobs that are critical to the safety and well- being of our county residents. The loan cannot exceed 33% of the total purchase price or the appraised value of the home and property, whichever is less.

Yes.  The Home Repair Program is designed to repair serious health or safety hazards of owner-occupied homes of low-income senior citizens or handicapped persons. Due to limited funding, the amount allotted for emergency repairs cannot exceed $500.

Whenever there is an immediate danger to life or property. It should be used to report fires, crimes in progress, or medical emergencies.

Power outages, traffic conditions, weather reports, school closing or to request info about special events or municipal services.

NG9-1-1 is an Emergency Services IP network combining Data Bases and data management to create an ever evolving, fully functional 9-1-1 system that is accessible, anytime, anywhere, from any device.

This service allows cellular carriers to deliver text messages (SMS) to 9-1-1 centers that are capable of handling these types of messages. This service is not yet available in Queen Anne’s County.

To schedule a tour or request a speaker please call in advance 410-758-4500 x 1100

• Go to https://member.everbridge.net/1332612387832222/login.
• Follow the registration prompts to choose your preferred delivery methods.

• Local radio or TV stations-they'll broadcast official warnings via the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
• A NOAA Weather Radio-essential for receiving timely weather-related warnings, especially during storms or flooding.

• Real-time incident data and response times
• Interactive maps
• Updates on public safety programs

• Queen Anne's County Sheriff & Department of Emergency Services App (Google Play and Apple Store)
• Queen Anne's County Department of Emergency Services (via Facebook, X/Twitter)

Please fill out the following form and return it to County Administrator Todd Mohn at tmohn@qac.org.

There is a $20 fee, and processing may take up to 30 days.

https://www.qac.org/documentcenter/view/3494

Emergency Management is the lead division of a comprehensive and integrated system of planning, entrusted with ensuring necessary mitigation, response and recovery when the community is preparing for or faced with disaster.

You can listen to local radio or TV, follow The Department of Emergency Services on social media and check our website. Using a NOAA weather radio and signing up for Emergency Citizen Alerts are also ways to stay informed.

Click the link below and follow the registration instructions.

https://member.everbridge.net/index/1332612387832222#/login

http://www.qac.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3736

Click the link above for a list of items that are recommended for an Emergency Supply Kit

DES does not activate emergency shelters unless they are needed. The location and details will be announced by the local media, on the county website, through Emergency Citizen Alerts and on social media.

QUICK MED CLAIMS

1-800-901-1155

www.quickmedclaims.com

Please download the forms found here and return to the Department of Emergency Services

http://www.qac.org/419/Frequently-Requested-Forms-Info

Fill out the form found here and return to the Department of Emergency Services

http://www.qac.org/419/Frequently-Requested-Forms-Info

Fill out the attached form and return it to Assistant Chief Zach Yerkie RYerkie@qac.org

108D Patient Request Form

Check Maryland's Voter Registry

Maryland's Polling Place Lookup

Absentee Voting: Information and Instructions for the 2018 Elections

Voter Registration & Absentee Ballot Request

Election Districts & Election Precints

Broadband is a high-speed internet connection that is fast, reliable, and “always on,” allowing people to do online activities like streaming video, attending virtual school or telehealth appointments, working from home, video calling family, using smart home devices, and running online businesses. Broadband is generally understood as internet connectivity that can handle multiple users and devices at the same time without frequent slowdowns, buffering, or dropped connections. Broadband can be delivered through several technologies – including fiber, cable, fixed wireless, and satellite – but the goal is the same: consistent, modern internet access that supports everyday needs for communication, education, healthcare, public safety, and economic growth.

A broadband connection has two speeds: download and upload. Download speed is the speed of getting information from the internet to your computer, and upload speed is the reverse. Today in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband as a connection with at least 100Mbps download speed and 20Mbps upload speed.

• Enter your address using this tool from the FCC to see providers available to you.
• When considering how much speed you need this article may help - What’s a Good Internet Speed? Find Out How Many Mbps You Need

Wireless internet delivers an internet connection through radio signals rather than a physical cable, allowing devices to connect without being plugged in. This is different from wired internet (fiber or cable), which carry the signal directly to a home or building. Wired connections, especially fiber, are typically faster, more consistent, and less affected by weather, distance, or interference (such as trees or waterways), while wireless service can be easier and quicker to put into place in rural areas but may have more variability in speed and reliability.

• What is wireless internet? A 2025 guide for businesses

A hotspot is a device or feature that provides internet access by using a cellular signal (like a smartphone signal) and then sharing that connection with other devices through Wi-Fi. Many smartphones can act as hotspots, and you can also buy dedicated portable hotspot devices. Hotspots are useful for temporary internet access while traveling or during an outage, but they may have slower speeds, data limits, or higher costs compared to home broadband service. In rural areas with uneven or weak cellular coverage, hotspot performance can be limited or unreliable because it depends on the strength of the local cell signal.

Yes. Read here for more information. Upgrading your router/modem could make a big impact in increased speeds without increasing your monthly bill.

In January 2018, QAC established a Broadband Advisory Council (BAC) with representative members across all four county districts. Since then, the BAC has interviewed every internet service provider (ISP) in the area to discuss their possible involvement in expanding broadband in QAC. This process resulted in hiring an outside consultant (CTC Technology and Energy) to obtain a high-level understanding and estimated cost to serve unserved and underserved areas in QAC (read the 2020 strategic plan). Its main findings (as of 2020) were: 

• Unserved Areas: 4,000 premises lack broadband access in three categories: i) Contiguous areas, ii)  isolated roads, and iii) homes with long driveways.
• Preferred Solution: Fiber-to-the-home offers better scalability and reliability.
• Funding Opportunities: Federal and state programs provide significant support.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborations with ISPs are key to closing gaps.
• Fixed Wireless: A backup option for areas where fiber is not feasible.

Timeline:

The BAC continues to meet every other month  to review areas appropriate for fiber and wireless broadband projects, meets with ISPs, evaluates contracts, and applies for grants. All meetings are open to the public.

• 2019: Maryland launched the Neighborhood Connect grant program and received its first award for the Pioneer Point area.
• 2019-2020: QAC received seven additional Neighborhood Connect grants, expanding service to areas in northern QAC including Kingstown, several smaller crossroads, and later Tilghman Neck.
• 2020 (pandemic period): QAC received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and used it to expand broadband in low-density areas unlikely to be prioritized by ISPs. This included work with Think Big to build along rural roads such as Peters Corner Road (Millington to Ingleside.
• Late 2020: The ISP Talkie Communications won funding through the federal Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to expand broadband throughout QAC.
• 2021: Maryland launched additional Infrastructure Grant programs. Choptank Electric received awards to build out large areas, including Price to Willow Branch and parts of southeastern QAC (east of Route 50, south of 304, and north of 404).
• 2023: QAC established a Long Driveway Program (modeled after Charles County) to help residents with the cost of extending broadband down long driveways.
• 2023-2024: To address areas not eligible under the Long Driveway Program, QAC approved a middle-mile grant to reach 10 gap areas, which have now been completed.
• Current: QAC is working with the state of Maryland through the Difficult to Serve program to connect 130 unserved addresses, with Choptank and Talkie selected through the State’s bidding process.
• Future: QAC expects additional expansion through the federal BEAD program (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment), projected to reach approximately 100 more QAC locations.

Progress to date: QAC estimates broadband has been made available to approximately 1,900 homes through its combined efforts.

Remaining need: After completion of the Difficult to Serve and BEAD programs, QAC estimates that approximately 440 homes may still remain unserved.

Next steps for remaining homes: These homes may fall within existing grant-funded build areas or may be eligible for support through the County’s Long Driveway Program, depending on location and available funding.

Total Investments in QAC Broadband to date:

• County - $1.3M
• State - $2.75M (also has ties to Federal funds)
• Federal - $1M
• ISPs - $2.75M
• Total - $7.8M (does not include investment between Choptank and Maryland State that covered areas of Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Somerset Counties totaling $3.6M)

What grant opportunities exist?

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) – current Maryland State grant in working with the federal government for a specific list of addresses that the State provided directly to ISPs to bid on.  For more information - State Plans

QAC is currently working with the State and two ISPs to complete a specific list of addresses. Maryland State is paying 100% of the build to these addresses to be completed by September 30, 2026.  Grant Programs – FY24 Home Stretch – Difficult to Serve Properties Grant Program

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) – current Maryland State grant in working with the federal government for a specific list of addresses that the State provided directly to ISPs to bid on.  For more information - State Plans

QAC is currently working with the State and two ISPs to complete a specific list of addresses. Maryland State is paying 100% of the build to these addresses to be completed by September 30, 2026.  Grant Programs – FY24 Home Stretch – Difficult to Serve Properties Grant Program

Long Driveway Grants – funding approved by the QAC Commissioners that allows QAC to provide funding assistance (90% of the build with a maximum of $13,500) to those with long driveways that do not fall in any other grant areas.  Long-Driveway-Grant-Program--Revised_01302026

Approximately 438 households remain unserved with some falling in and out of grant areas on this map.  

There are many reasons why an area does not have broadband access, but the three most common reasons are funding, geography, and density. ISPs will only provide service in the areas they can get a return on their investment. If the housing isn’t dense enough in a particular area, it may not be fiscally responsible for them to provide their service there. The rougher the terrain, the higher the installation cost. The County has no jurisdiction over what companies do; however, as noted earlier, QAC continually works with companies on public-private partnerships to expand broadband access countywide.

The County Commissioner approved a Long Driveway Grant Program in June of 2023. This program will allow residents with internet at the end or their driveway (or within approximately 1500 feet of their driveway) to apply for County funds.

You can help the County’s broadband access grow! Lobby your community leaders and legislators and give examples. Email your Commissioner with concerns or ideas and/or email your elected representatives. You can also participate in a BAC meeting to express concerns and stay engaged in what is happening with broadband locally.

1. Breezeline
   • Contact Information
2. Choptank Fiber
   • Contact Information
3. Talkie Communications

   • Note: In 2020, Talkie Communications received a federal grant from the Rural Development Opportunity Fund to connect unserved or underserved areas. Based on this grant’s auction format, as the lowest bidder (undercutting the price point set by Verizon), Talkie Communications won all the 289 census blocks in QAC. Over 10 years they will receive $3,230,027 ($323,027 annually) to complete this work  Deployment requirements provide that 40% of areas in this grant have service by 2024, 60% by the end of 2025, 80% by the end of 2026 and 100% by the end of 2027.   

4. IQ Fiber (Formerly ThinkBig)

   • Contact Information

5. Comcast

• Bridgemaxx

• Starlink Engineered by SpaceX

• Tidewater WiFi Internet

• Talkie Communications
• Comcast
• IQ Fiber/ThinkBig
• Breezeline  This does not depict the entire Breezeline coverage area (only permits filed since 2021 are mapped) as it is much further reaching.  To determine if a property is in their service area, please refer to their website www.breezeline.com
• Choptank Fiber - This does not depict the entire Choptank coverage area (only permits filled since 2024 are mapped) as it is much further reaching.  To determine if a property is in their service area please refer to their website.”   - Service Locations | Choptank Fiber

The Housing Authority of QAC accepts payments online and in person. Using our online payment portal, we accept direct debits from a checking account and Visa and Mastercard payments. If you would prefer to pay in person, we only accept money orders and checks at our central office and onsite office locations.

Payments made BEFORE 5:00 PM EST will be credited the same day. Payments made AFTER 5:00 PM EST will be credited the next business day. Payments made on weekends and federal holidays, when banks are closed, will be credited on the next business day.

All payments made online are conditional until accepted and processed by your bank. Payments received by HAQAC's are accepted "WITHOUT PREJUDICE." HAQAC reserves the right to reject any payment due to legal reasons. If your payment is rejected, you will receive a refund based on how your payment was made, minus a processing fee, in the mail within two to four weeks from the date of your payment.

Personal information provided to us remains strictly confidential and is protected by confidentiality provisions of Federal, State and local laws. We do not share this information with any third party for any purpose unless required by law.

HAQAC is required to follow the Income Guidelines provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to determine who qualifies for low-income housing. Applicants who meet these criteria are housed on a first-come, first-served basis based on an applicant waiting list. Please see the image below for more detailed information. As a note, Queen Anne’s County is considered part of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area. (Include a picture of the FY24 Income Limits Summary from the HUD website for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area. FY25 isn’t out yet.)

Emergency maintenance are items that are considered to pose a serious health or life-threatening risk to residents or housing authority staff and/or could cause serious property damage. This includes, but is not limited to:

• No heat (during winter months)
• No air conditioning (during summer months)
• No water or water leaks
• Flooded dwelling unit
• Electrical power failure and/or exposed electrical lines
• Toilet backup or overflow
• Inoperable smoke alarm

Anyone can access the portal to view public Planning and Zoning information. Additionally, property owners, developers, engineers, and other interested parties can submit applications for various Planning and Zoning requests.

Whether you're a local resident or someone from outside the area, the portal is designed to provide easy access to important information.

Creating an account and submitting applications online is free! However, there are established fees for online payment processing and for document printing. For a comprehensive breakdown of these costs, please visit the CSS Help Center.

Currently, the portal only accepts permit applications. We are actively working on expanding the system to include applications for licenses, subdivisions, site plans, and more. Please check back for updates!

If you're experiencing difficulties navigating the portal, we offer a variety of "How-To" guides and resources to assist you. These guides cover common tasks and features within the portal. You can find them in the "Help Center" section of the Planning and Zoning page. 

If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Planning and Zoning Department.

Required documents vary by application type. A list is provided during the application process to guide you.

While we do prefer .pdf, the portal also accepts

Public Planning and Zoning information typically includes details such as property addresses, permit types, application statuses, and associated documents. The portal is designed to protect your personal information and we ensure any sensitive data you provide during the application process is handled securely and only for its intended purpose.

If you experience technical difficulties, please contact the Planning and Zoning Department Let us know about the problem you're facing so we can troubleshoot and work towards a solution. Your feedback help us improve the system for all users.

The comprehensive plan is a State required policy document that outlines and proves details for the community's vision and goals to guide future growth, development, and preservation. The Comprehensive Plan also provides guidance regarding long-term public policy, and the need to prioritize infrastructure, residential needs, environmental resources, along with the interrelationships of all within the community.

It is a document that changes overtime relative to the data that has been found in an effort to provide the appropriate general guidance for decision making while contemplating all aspects of government and municipality. The Comprehensive Plan is generally looked at from what is known as the countywide view or the 1,000' level and not specific to particular properties. 

The previously approved comprehensive plan, public surveys, SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats) analysis, studies and plans completed in the last decade, existing conditions and trends, as well as Census data, and town, state, and other federal data. An extensive list of resources used in the existing comprehensive plan can be found in Appendix AB-4, Resources.

The County stakeholders or County citizens, local and state governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, community groups, Planning Commission, and the County Commissioners all have specific roles in the drafting of a comprehensive plan.

County stakeholders, local governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community groups provide a broad array of perspectives, data, information, as well as represent the interest of affiliated organizations and agencies.

The Planning Commission is the lead in the comprehensive plan development. They work with the project team which may include a consultant in drafting the plan, maps, and implementation strategies and endorses then plan for County Commissioner approval.

While the County Commissioners provide guidance at key p0ints in the planning process, reviews and adopts the plan, and oversees implementation.

The role of the county citizen is to provide knowledgeable information, concerns, and comments. This role begins with providing input during public workshops or meetings during the data collection phase. 

As the Planning Commission drafts the document, citizens should review drafts and provide input and address concerns during the process with the Planning Commission. As well, the Planning Commission is required to hold a public hearing and 60-day review of the draft document for public, county citizens, and other county and state agencies to provide comments.

Prior to adopting, the County Commissioners shall hold a public hearing. Citizens are welcome and encouraged to attend all public hearing and provide valid and meaningful input to the Planning Commission, County staff, consultants, and the County Commissioners.

The State of Maryland requires each County and municipality to update its Comprehensive Plan every ten (10) years. The State also requires that the Comprehensive Plan address specific components (elements) in the Comprehensive Plan including Goals and Objectives, Land Use, Housing, Transportation, Growth and Development, Sensitive Areas, Mineral Resources, Fisheries, and Water Resources.

A comprehensive rezoning is a public process initiated by the County to update the County's zoning map on a County-wide basis to align with the comprehensive plan future land use map. This is typically done in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan update. As well, county citizens can request a comprehensive rezoning request through the comprehensive plan process.

The Comprehensive Plan is a long-term policy document outlining the community's vision and goals to guide future growth, development, and preservation in Queen Anne's County.

The Zoning Ordinance is part of the Queen Anne's County Code that regulates the physical development of the land within a specific zoning district. 

Generally, the comprehensive plan is looked at from a collective larger countywide or 1,000' view while the zoning code is to provide analysis at the parcel level.

In addition to serving as Queen Anne's County document outlining the community's vision and goals to provide future growth, development, and preservation, the Comprehensive Plan also provides guidance on long-term public policy, prioritizing infrastructure, residents, environmental resources, and the interrelationships of all within the community. Many other required county documents and applications for development review are required to be found consistent, or what is known as findings of consistency, with the Comprehensive Plan in order to be approved.

In the Comprehensive Plan, the goals, strategies, and recommendations work together to address the long-range vision for Queen Anne's County. Goals are the broad, long-term outcomes. Strategies are the methods to achieve these goals. Recommendations are the specific actions for implementation.

The Queen Anne's County Comprehensive Plan includes a set of goals, strategies, and recommendations at the end of each subject chapter and a full matrix in Chapter 12, Implementation.

Maryland requires that the Comprehensive Plan be updated every 10 years. The Queen Anne's County current Comprehensive Plan was adopted on May 24, 2022, so the next update will be due in May 2032.

The Critical Area is 1,000' beyond the landward boundaries of state or private wetlands which established a resource protection program for the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries utilizing more sensitive development activities to minimize impacts to water quality and natural habitats.

No. Within the State of Maryland, Critical Area regulations are subject to all land and water areas within 1000' beyond the landward boundaries of state or private wetlands as designed by the State of Maryland. The local jurisdiction of Queen Anne's County is responsible for applying and enforcing the state regulations which were originally adopted by the County in 1989, and as amended.

To know if your property within the Critical Area, please visit the QAC Property Viewer. Enter the address in the Search box at the top right. Then in the Layers (bottom left) click the Environmental tab, followed by the Queen Anne's County tab, and finally the Critical Area option. The Critical Area development areas will populate.

• Red = Intensely Developed Area (IDA)
• Yellow = Limited Development Area (LDA)
• Green = Resource Conservation Area (RCA)

The protected area immediately landward of mean high water (MHW) of tidal water and generally at least 100' in width. The buffer may be expanded if it is adjacent to steep slopes, hydric soils, highly erodible soil, and nontidal wetlands.

The Critical Area consists of three development areas. To understand what you can do on your property, please view Chapter 14:1 Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act of the Queen Anne's County Code.

• Intensely Developed Area (IDA) - An area where residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial land uses are predominant and where relatively little natural habitat, if any, occurs.
• Limited Developed Area (LDA) - An area that is currently developed with low- or moderate intensity uses, which contains areas of natural plant and animal habitats and where the quality of runoff has not been substantially altered of impaired.
• Resource Conservation Area (RCA) - An area characterized by nature-dominated environments; including wetlands, forests, abandoned fields, and resource-utilization activities.

No. The Critical Area land designations or development areas, also known as IDA, LDA, and RCA, were established by state law to provide specific regulatory protection for land and water resources located within the first 1000' of high mean water (HMW). 

Local zoning is established and mapped by the local jurisdiction, Queen Anne's County. However, because local governments are required to implement the Critical Area program locally, local zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, policies, and related measures are used to help implement these regulations at the local level.

Habitat protection areas (HPA) are areas within the Critical Area that include the critical area buffer, non-tidal wetlands, habitats of threatened or endangered species, species in need of conservation, specific plan and wildlife habitats, and fish that migrate from saltwater to freshwater to spawn and reproduce.

Habitat protection areas are regulated the Critical Area regualtions.

The 29-member governor appointed state-wide Critical Area Commission was created by the 1984 Chesapeake Bay Protection Act to protect and conserve tidal waters, aquatic habitat, and wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays by providing oversight for local land use programs with the designated Critical Area. The Critical Area Commission meets monthly and must review and approve program amendments to Chapter 14:1 and particular project applications such as growth allocation.

Any building activity or human action that results in disturbance to land or natural vegetation on land that has frontage on a tidal waterway, a tidal wetland, a stream, or any disturbance to the buffer or expanded buffer will require a buffer management plan. A buffer management plan must be submitted to and approved by the Queen Anne's County Planning and Zoning Office.

Lot coverage is the percentage of lot or parcel that is developed with a structure, accessory structure, parking area, driveway, walkway, or roadway. Lot coverage includes areas covered with gravel, stone, shell, impermeable decking, pavers, permeable pavement, or any other man-made material. 

Lot coverage does not include a less than one-foot-wide fence or wall constructed without a footer, a walkway to a pier, a wood mulch pathway, or a permeable deck. All parcels within the RCA and LDA are subject to the lot coverage limit as set by the State of Maryland.

Growth allocation is a process whereby local jurisdictions are allowed to approve a finite amount of additional growth and development in certain parts of the critical area by changing the critical area development area. Growth allocation is used to accommodate more intense land use development that what would have been permitted based on the existing Critical Area development area. Whether based on the proposed land use or lot coverage limit, growth allocation must be approved at both the local and state level through the Critical Area Commission.

Trees that are located within the Buffer cannot be removed unless they are dead, dying, diseased, or creating a hazard to people or property. A Buffer Management Plan is required for all removal of vegetation within the Buffer except for mowing an existing lawn. A Buffer Management Plan must be submitted to and approved by the Queen Anne's County Planning and Zoning Department. 

Outside of the buffer, vegetation may be removed but required a Tree Removal Permit Application to be submitted and approved by the Zoning Department. Mitigation is generally required for both a Buffer Management Plan and a Tree Removal permit. All applications can be found here.

The Planning Commission is appointed by the County Commissioners to draft the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code and then to implement them. While the Commissioners are the legislative body that enacts the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning code, you can think of the Planning Commission as the keepers of those documents.

The Planning Commission reviews text amendments, map amendments, Critical Area Growth Allocation applications, concept plans, major site plans, sketch plans, and major subdivisions. Additionally, the Planning Commission review minor site plans that are visible from Route 50 and minor plans that the Planning Director determines warrants review by the Commission.

As outlines in County Zoning Code § 18:1-109, the Commission consists of seven members.

The current (and historic) list of members can be found on the Planning Commission website. The members are appointed to four-year terms. The dates of the current and historic members' terms can be found on the website.

The Planning Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month and on an as-needed basis for special projects. The meetings begin at 8:45am and are held at 110 Vincit Street, Centreville.

Citizens may participate on Zoom using the link from the website and on the agenda. This option is available ten minutes before the start of the meeting.

The meeting are broadcast live on QAZTV, Breezeline cable 7 & 507, streaming live on QACTV Facebook, YouTube, and QACTV.com.

The County Zoning Code establishes which projects must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and which standards must be met in order to receive approval.

Article XXV of the Zoning Code establishes site plan and Article XXVI establishes subdivision standards. Major Site Plans and Subdivisions are reviewed by the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission also reviews minor site plans that are visible from Route 50.

When project applications are submitted and meet the minimum standards outlined above, then the project is placed on a Planning Commission agenda. Some project require multiple stages of review (concept, preliminary, and final) and are placed on multiple agendas once the minimum standards at each stage of review are met.

If a project does not meet minimum standards set forth in the Zoning Code, it is not placed on an agenda. This can account for the misconception that the Planning Commission "approves everything". The fact is, the Planning Commission review projects that are generally consistent with the Zoning Code.

Most of the projects on the Commission agendas are subject to the standard open meetings act requirements. However, the Code does specify that some types of public reviews must be conducted as public hearings. They include the following applications: mining operations, Critical Area Growth Allocation proposals, Critical Area text amendments, map amendments, and comprehensive rezonings.

Due notice must be given in advance of a project being discussed on a Planning Commission agenda. The signs are meant to alert the public that a project review is underway. They are not meant to provide a full and complete account of the project details.

The County Agenda Center is where the public can really find out "what is going on". The Planning Commission agendas are posted two weeks before the meeting is held. The staff report, location map, and overall project plan are posted on the agendas. Citizens may sign up for notifications that are sent when agendas are posted to the agenda center.

Additionally, the meetings and project information are posted to Threads, X, Nextdoor, Instagram and Facebook, and the County website (check the News section).

Yes. There is a general public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, during each project review, and at the end of the meeting before adjournment. Citizens are limited to three minutes of testimony.

The Planning Commission Correspondence & Testimony Protocols can be found on the website.

In accordance with the protocols noted above, public comments may be submitted in advance of the meetings. Tips on how to do so successfully may also be accessed on the County website.