FAQs • Queen Anne's County, MD • CivicEngage

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Accounting

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

2. Does the County post RFPs and ITBs on their website?: 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

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Bay Bridge Airport

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1. What type of fuel do you carry and when is it available for purchase?: 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.

2. What are the fees to land at Bay Bridge Airport as a transient, and where should I park?: 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.

3. Is there anything in particular I should be aware of pertaining specifically to Bay Bridge Airport?: 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.

4. Do you have hangars or tie-down spots currently available?: 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.

5. What ground transportation is available?: 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.

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Board of Elections

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1. Am I registered to vote?: Check Maryland's Voter Registry

2. Where do I vote?: Maryland's Polling Place Lookup

3. How do I request an Absentee Ballot?: Absentee Voting: Information and Instructions for the 2018 Elections

4. How do I change my address or party affiliation?: Voter Registration & Absentee Ballot Request

5. What QAC District do I live in?: Election Districts & Election Precints

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Broadband in Queen Anne's County

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1. What is broadband?

Every page, image and video on the internet comes to your home computer or mobile device as small pieces of data, or packets. How fast these packets move on the network is measured in Megabits per second, abbreviated Mbps. Broadband technology can move those packets to and from your home much more quickly than older technologies such as dial-up used to access a modem using a telephone line. 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.

Here are some useful general resources:

2. For broadband, how fast is fast enough?: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines the minimum rural broadband speed at 25 Mbps download and 3Mbps upload. The ease of basic internet browsing – measured by the time it takes to download a page – improves with higher speeds up to 10 Mbps, but not beyond. However, higher speeds may be beneficial for demanding applications such as HD streaming video or moving large graphics files.

3. What types of internet access do we have in Queen Anne’s County (QAC)?: Digital subscriber line (DSL, or “dial-up”), cable, fiber, wireless, and satellite. Of these options, fiber “to the home” (meaning a wire connected directly to your residence) is the fastest and most reliable according to the FCC.

4. What is the difference between wired and wireless internet?: Enter your address using this tool from the FCC to see providers available to you. Many people use their cell phone as an internet source, creating a “hot spot” (read more here), and more powerful hotspots can also be purchased. Those methods rely on wireless communication. This cellmapper tool will show all available cell phone towers in your area along with the providers that use them.

5. For my current broadband connection, If I have been using the same equipment for a long time could that impact my internet speed?: Yes. Read here for more information. Upgrading your router/modem could make a huge impact in increased speeds without increasing your monthly bill.

6. What is QAC doing to increase/improve broadband access?

In January 2018, QAC established a Broadband Advisory Council (BAC) with representation across all four districts. Since this time, 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 strategic plan). Its main findings were:

“Most residents of Queen Anne’s County have access to a mix of internet services, but many

locations do not have robust broadband services. For example, Comcast delivers service in only

a small portion of the County. And while Atlantic Broadband provides residential wired broadband service in the County’s denser neighborhoods, it does not provide service that meets the definition of broadband in sparsely populated areas. Because of the challenging economics of broadband deployment in rural areas, private ISPs likely will not invest in ubiquitous broadband infrastructure in currently unserved parts of the County absent some sort of financial support. State and federal funding programs may present the County and its potential partners with opportunities to fill some broadband gaps.”

Prior to the completion of the strategic plan, QAC partnered with the state of Maryland on a grant application to provide service to an underserved, but “shovel-ready” District 2 region to connect a neighborhood too far from the main fiber line. The project was completed in December of 2020. The BAC meets monthly to review areas appropriate for fiber and wireless projects, meet with ISPs, evaluate contracts, and apply for grants. All meetings are open to the public.

7. What grant opportunities exist?

In May 2020, the BAC recommended to the QAC Commissioners strategic uses for federal CARES Act funds made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to June 2020 approval of broadband expansion to unserved areas in District 1. This project was completed at the end of December 2020.

CARES Act funding also enabled building a public wireless network on public lands, parks and libraries, to bring broadband to additional unserved and underserved communities. This project, in partnership with Atlantic Broadband, was cut short due to staffing cuts at the company, and the only project completed was a Wi-Fi network at the 4-H Park.

In January 2021, the BAC submitted nine applications for a federal grant to expand existing broadband networks for QAC’s three fiber ISPs: Atlantic Broadband, ThinkBig, and Talkie Communications. Pending approval, this expansion will cover a few hundred residences.

In addition, the BAC drafted for Commissioners’ approval letters of recommendation for ISPs to apply to the Maryland State Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program. This program allows the ISPs to apply without County involvement.

Also, the American Rescue Plan Act was recently voted into law as a part of federal pandemic relief efforts, and communities across the nation will be receiving resources for broadband.

8. Which areas of QAC are unserved and underserved?: See this map. The BAC estimates that approximately 4,000 residences of the County are unserved or underserved.

9. Why don’t we have broadband access in certain areas?: 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 works with companies on public-private partnerships to expand broadband access countywide.

10. Why won’t QAC allow other ISPs to “overbuild” (provide duplicate service) where Atlantic Broadband fiber exists?: QAC does not prohibit any ISPs from bringing their services anywhere in the County. However, the BAC has learned that because Atlantic broadband has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with QAC to provide cable television services, other ISPs do not see a suitable return on investment. They would have to convince a large proportion of current Atlantic Broadband subscribers to change from their current provider to a new service. Overbuilds are more typical in extremely densely populated areas where more infrastructure is available.

11. Is there any way to make getting wired broadband to my home more affordable if I have a long driveway?: ISPs are typically willing to work with you to have you dig your own trenches for them to install their fiber. The BAC suggests reaching out to your closest ISP (see list at end) to see what their specifications are and who they might recommend for this work if you don’t have heavy digging equipment available yourself.

12. What can I do to help get broadband to my community?

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 surveys (see links below) that show you are un or underserved. These surveys are used to determine where demand is greatest. You can also participate in a BAC meeting to express concerns and stay engaged in what is happening with broadband locally.

Take the Maryland state survey

13. ISPs in or near QAC:

Atlantic Broadband
- The BAC has learned that the best way to reach their customer service issues is by chat.
Choptank Electric Cooperative
- Choptank to roll out broadband in Queen Anne's, Caroline counties this summer
Starlink Engineered by SpaceX
Talkie Communications
- Note: Recently, Talkie Communications recently 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. Talkie also won most of the remaining areas of Maryland and Delaware, 39,098 areas and $57,065,010. This grant requires that at the end of year three that 40% of the homes in these areas must have service available. Note that since this is a federal grant, QAC is not regulating this activity, nor does the County have any agreements in place to monitor progress.

ThinkBig

14. Wireless ISPs in or near QAC:

15. Current or pending wired broadband infrastructure (service maps) based on permits or other available information:

Talkie Communications
ThinkBig
Atlantic Broadband as part of the Franchise Agreement the County is prohibited from sharing maps showing their service area. To determine if a property is in their service area please refer to their website.
Choptank Fiber - use the following link to see what is currently or planned to be served in Queen Anne's County - Service Locations | Choptank Fiber

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Budget

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1. Can I find the approved budget online?: 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

2. Are public hearings held before the budget is approved?

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

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Budget and Finance

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1. Can I pay my taxes online?

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

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

2. Can I find information about my property tax and utility bills online?

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 & Information Technology.

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

3. How do I read my tax ID number?

4. Where can I find information about the County budget?: 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.

5. Are public hearings held before the budget is approved?

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

6. Can I find the approved budget online?: 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

7. When is the tax sale?: The tax sale is the 3rd Tuesday in May of each year and starts at 10 a.m. The sale is located in the Queen Anne's County Commissioner's meeting room at 107 N Liberty Street in Centreville. The meeting room is on the 2nd floor.

8. What is the County tax rate?: The County tax rates can be found on the Department of Budget, Finance & Information technology page here: http://www.qac.org/1188/Countys-Tax-Rates

9. Can I find the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) online?

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

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

10. Does the County post RFPs and ITBs on their website?

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

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Chesapeake Bay Critical Area

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1. What is the Critical Area Program?: The Critical Area Program is a land use and resource protection program established by law to
improve water quality and protect wildlife habitat in Maryland’s tidal shoreline areas. The program operates through the Queen Anne’s County Chapter 14:1 Critical Area Ordinance.

2. What are the critical area land classifications?: Land within the Critical Area is classified as Resource Conservation Area (RCA), Limited Development Area (LDA), and Intensely Developed Area (IDA). These designations are based on land uses that existed on December 1, 1985 in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and on June 1, 2002 in the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area.

3. What is lot coverage and how does it affect my property?: Lot coverage is the percentage of a 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 fence or wall that is less than one-foot wide and is constructed without a footer, a walkway in the Buffer that provides access to a pier, a wood mulch pathway, or a deck with gaps to allow water to pass freely.

If your property is classified as RCA or LDA, there are limits on the amount of total lot coverage permitted on a parcel. Generally, lot coverage is limited to no more than 15% of the total land area of the lot. There are some exceptions. If your parcel is 0.5 acre or smaller, and was in residential use before December 1, 1985, then the maximum lot coverage is 25% of the parcel or lot (the date is June 1, 2002 for lots in the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area). Subject to certain requirements, a local government may allow you to exceed the lot coverage limit by 500 square feet or more, up to 31.25% of the lot. If your lot is greater than one-half acre and less than one acre, then lot coverage may exceed the 15% limit up to 5,445 square feet.

In some cases, lots within a subdivision may have different lot coverage limits; however, total lot coverage for the subdivision must remain at or below 15%.

4. If i buy a lot in the critical area, may I build a house on it?: A house can be constructed as long as the lot is legally recorded as a building lot and meets the county’s or town’s critical area, zoning, and Health Department requirements. Prior to buying property in the critical area, you should check with the local planning office to find out about all of the restrictions, limitations, and requirements that apply within the critical area.

5. If my home is in the critical area, will I be able to construct an addition or build a swimming pool, deck, or garage?: Generally, there is no prohibition on new development within the critical area. However, building and construction activities are subject to limits on lot coverage and clearing, as well as certain restrictions on the location of new structures. In order to obtain complete and accurate information about your specific site, you should contact your local planning office for information about compliance with the Critical Area Program.

6. Can I remove trees from my property if it is in the critical area?: In general, homeowners can obtain approval through the local planning office to remove one or more trees from their property as long as the trees are not located in the Buffer, and new trees are planted on the property. (See the question below for additional information about the Buffer.) The critical area law requires no net loss of forest or developed woodland cover in the critical area.

Replacement planting may be required at a higher ratio than one-to-one depending on the number of trees on your property and the size of the tree being removed. In general, 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.

7. What are Habitat Protection Areas?: Habitat Protection Areas (HPAs) are areas within the critical area that have been identified and designated for special protection through the critical area regulations. These areas include the critical area Buffer, non-tidal wetlands, habitats of threatened and endangered species and species in need of conservation, specific plant and wildlife habitats, and anadromous fish propagation waters. The Heritage Division of the Department of Natural Resources maintains maps and comprehensive data on the protected species, their habitats, and the locations of these habitats within the critical area.

8. If I think I see a violation near the water, where do I call?: If the violation is taking place on land, then you should call the local planning office in the jurisdiction where the violation is taking place. In most cases, you will be referred to someone in the inspections and permits department, and they will take the information. Providing
specific and accurate information about the location (street address if possible) of the violation and the nature of the activity will assist the agency in following up quickly.

If the violation is taking place in the water or in wetlands, then you should call the Maryland Department of the Environment at 410-537-3510.

If the violation is taking place on a week-end or after business hours, you can leave a message along with your name and phone number with the Critical Area Commission by calling 410-260-3460. If you believe the violation is serious and needs immediate attention on a week-end, then contact the Department of Natural Resources Communications Center at 800-628-9944 or 410-260-8888.

9. My property is in the RCA, can I create a lot to give to a family member?: Yes, for the purpose of creating a residence for a family member an intra-family transfer type subdivision may be permitted. The original parcel to be subdivided must have existed in its current configuration as of March 1, 1986, in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. This type of subdivision has regulations with respect to size of the original parcel and how many lots may
result. Additionally, restrictive covenants that run with the land, stating that the subdivision was created through an intra-family transfer and specifying the conditions under which it can be subsequently transferred to a non-family member are required.

10. What is a grandfathered lot? If my lot is grandfathered, am I exempt from the critical area regulations?: A grandfathered lot is a lot or parcel that existed in its current configuration prior to adoption of the local critical area program. Grandfathered lots are not exempt from the critical area regulations. However, each local government adopted grandfathering provisions, which allow preexisting uses to continue even though they may be inconsistent with the local program. Local governments also have grandfathering provisions that include limited flexibility for compliance with the critical area regulations and allow a property owner to request a variance from the strict application of the regulations.

It is important to check with your local planning and zoning office when you are planning to develop or build on your grandfathered lot to ensure that your project complies with the applicable standards for your property.

11. Are farming and timber harvesting exempt from the critical area regulations?: Farming and timber harvesting are considered resource utilization activities in the critical area, but are not exempt from the critical area regulations. All farms in the critical area must have a soil conservation and water quality plan in place, and farmers must work cooperatively with the local Soil Conservation Districts to implement best management practices as specified in these plans. All timber harvesting and cutting in the critical area require a Timber Harvest Plan.

These plans must be approved by the District Forestry Board. Timber harvests that exceed 5,000 square feet also require a sediment and erosion control plan.

12. What is the Critical Area Commission?: The 29-member Critical Area Commission was created by the 1984 Chesapeake Bay Protection Act. Initially, the commission was tasked with developing the critical area criteria, which are the basis of the 64 local critical area programs. The members of the commission are appointed by the governor and represent the critical area jurisdictions, affected interest groups, and state agencies. The commission meets monthly and must review and approve all changes to local jurisdictions’ critical area programs, including changes resulting from the required six-year comprehensive update.

The commission also reviews and approves all development projects in the critical area on state land.

13. Do I need to obtain the approval of the Critical Area Commission to build on my lot in the critical area?: Most residential building permits do not require review or approval by the Critical Area Commission and can be handled by the local government. If the project involves a variance, special exception, or conditional use, or if the project involves disturbance greater than 5,000 square feet in the RCA, the Critical Area Commission staff will review and provide comments to the local government. Most subdivisions, site plans, and rezoning requests are required to be sent to the commission for review and comment in conjunction with the local review process.

14. What is the difference between local zoning ordinances and the state’s critical area law and regulations?: Maryland’s Critical Area Program is based on State law included in the Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Implementation provisions are found in the critical area regulations in Title 27 of the Code of Maryland Regulations. However, because local
governments are required to implement these provisions locally, local zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, codes, policies, plans, and guidance documents are used to facilitate effective implementation at the local level.

The commission is constantly working to streamline the critical area program and improve its effectiveness, so there may be regulations in effect that have not yet been incorporated into a county’s or town’s code or ordinance. There are also occasions where there may be conflicts between local provisions and state regulations. In these instances, the more restrictive provisions usually apply.

15. What is growth allocation?: Growth allocation is a process whereby local jurisdictions are allowed to approve additional growth and development in certain parts of the critical area by changing the critical area classification from RCA to either LDA or IDA or from LDA to IDA. Growth allocation is used to
accommodate more intense land uses and development than what would have been permitted based on the existing classification. Each county is allotted a finite number of acres that can be used to reclassify land.

Requests to use growth allocation must go through a rigorous review and approval process at the local level and must be approved by the local governing body. Following local approval, growth allocation requests must be submitted to the Critical Area Commission for review and approval.

16. What are FIDS?: FIDS is an acronym for forest interior dwelling species. In the critical area, these are bird species that require large forested tracts (usually 50 acres or more) with mature deciduous trees in order to reproduce successfully and maintain viable populations. Many of these species are neo-tropical migratory songbirds that are an integral part of Maryland’s landscape and natural heritage. FIDS habitat is a designated Habitat Protection Area and subject to additional regulations within the critical area.

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Communications (911)

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1. When should I call 911?: Whenever there is an immediate danger to life or property. It should be used to report fires, crimes in progress, or medical emergencies.

2. When should you not call 911?: Power outages, traffic conditions, weather reports, school closing or to request info about special events or municipal services.

3. What is Next Generation 911 (NG911)?: 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.

4. What is text-to-911?: 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.

5. How can I schedule a tour of the 911 Center for my scout group / school group?: To schedule a tour or request a speaker please call in advance 410-758-4500 x 1100

6. How can I stay informed during emergencies?: You can listen to local radio or TV, follow The Department of Emergency Services on social media and check our website.

7. How do I get a copy of a 911 call?

Fill out the following form and return to the Department of Emergency Services. There is a $25.00 fee and it can take up to 30 days to process.

http://www.qac.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/8707

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County Commissioners

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1. Where is the County Commissioners' Office?: 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.

2. When do the County Commissioners Meet?: 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.

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County Ride

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1. Will I have to share a ride with another passenger if I am using a specialized service/demand response?: You may have to share a ride. It will depend on our scheduled trips for the day; however, our vehicles are safe and comfortable, and we will make every effort to ensure you have a pleasant experience. Please call 410-758-2357 for more information.

2. Am I able to request a ride to go shopping or get my hair done?: Yes, our goal is to assist you in meeting your transportation needs. Please call 410-758-2357 for more information.

3. Do I have to pay for each trip?: Yes, you need to pay each time you ride. The driver who picks you up may not be the driver who takes you home. Exact change is required, the drivers do not carry change. Monthly passes and ticket books are available for purchase for public routes. Special payment arrangements may be set up for specialized services. Please call 410-758-2357 with any questions about fares.

4. Do I have to wear a seat belt?: Yes, it is the law. Please call 410-758-2357 for more information.

5. What should I do if I decide not to go on a scheduled demand response trip?: You need to ensure you call the County Ride Office at 410-758-2357, and speak to a dispatcher or leave a message at least 2 hours before your scheduled trip.

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Critical Area Buffer

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1. What is the critical area buffer?: The critical area buffer is the land area immediately adjacent to tidal waters, tidal wetlands, and tributary streams. The minimum buffer width is 100-feet; however, on some properties it may be wider because of steep slopes, wetlands, or sensitive soils. On some projects, a wider buffer, often 300-feet or more, was part of the original project approval. The local planning office can assist you in determining the width and location of the buffer on your property.

The buffer serves as an important protective area for aquatic resources and shoreline habitat. The buffer is subject to much stricter requirements than the rest of the Critical Area because it is essential to water quality improvement and fish, wildlife, and plant habitat enhancement. A fully forested buffer is the best environment for filtering pollutants and removing sediment, nutrients, and toxic substances that run off the land and pollute Maryland’s waterways.

A naturally vegetated buffer also provides the most functional habitat for wildlife, providing food, cover, and nesting areas. Vegetation along the shoreline is also essential to maintaining the intertidal zone, which is important to a variety of fish, shellfish, crabs, and birds. The buffer also functions as an important physical barrier between human activity and development related disturbance and Maryland’s streams, creeks, rivers, and bays.

2. What are the restrictions in the buffer?: Generally, construction and land disturbance, such as clearing trees, cutting brush, or grading, are prohibited in the buffer. New structures, roads, septic systems, sheds, and utilities must be located outside the buffer unless an applicant works with the local approving authority to obtain a variance. Some structures that are determined to be water dependent, such as a boat ramp, or that provide access to the water or are associated with erosion control measures can be permitted in the buffer subject to certain regulatory requirements and permits.

The cutting or removal of natural vegetation in the buffer is not allowed unless a property owner obtains approval of a buffer management plan from the local government.

Replanting is typically required for the removal of vegetation with certain exceptions for dead trees and invasive species. If the buffer is already forested, it should be maintained in natural vegetation. Supplemental planting is permitted within the buffer. Native plant species should be used to enhance wildlife habitat.

3. If I am building a house or an addition outside the buffer, is buffer planting still required?: Yes. Planting is required unless the buffer is already fully forested. The area of planting
required depends on the type of project proposed, when the lot was recorded, and the area of
existing forest in the buffer.

4. When is a buffer management plan required?: Any development activity (human action that results in disturbance to land, natural vegetation, or a structure) on land that has frontage on a tidal waterway, a tidal wetland, or a stream, or any disturbance to the buffer or expanded buffer will require a buffer management plan. The buffer management plan must be submitted to and approved by the local government, usually the Planning Office.

5. Can I prepare my own buffer management plan?: Yes. A property owner can prepare a buffer management plan for removal of individual trees, riparian access paths to the water, pruning, and most small construction projects. The Green Book for the Buffer includes Garden Plans in Chapter 6 that can be submitted for projects that require submission of a minor buffer management plan. If your required buffer planting is 5,000 square feet or greater, you may want to hire a professional to assist in developing a plan that addresses conditions on your site and meets your specific needs.

6. Will my Buffer Management Plan require that I replant areas where I remove vegetation?: Yes. When vegetation, including invasive species, is removed in the Buffer, it must be replaced. The only exception is when a dead tree is removed. In that case, the area of the stump must be stabilized with native ground cover or other native vegetation as may be necessary.

7. Do i need a buffer management plan to plant trees, shrubs, or a garden in the buffer?: In general, a buffer management plan is not required to plant voluntarily in the buffer. A garden may be planted in the buffer; however, if the garden is large and involves tilling to prepare the soil, you may need to file a buffer management plan. Check with your local planning office before starting work.

8. What is the difference between buffer establishment and buffer mitigation?: Buffer establishment is required on certain properties when construction or development takes place outside the buffer. Buffer mitigation is required when construction or land disturbance takes place in the buffer.

9. I have a lot of poison ivy, vines, and brush in my buffer. Can I “bush hog” it?: No. Bush hogging is not permitted in the buffer because it is potentially damaging to this sensitive area. Poison ivy can be sprayed with a herbicide and removed by hand (gloves are strongly recommended). Vines and brush can be cut or grubbed by hand. Some brush species
may actually be native shrubs. Manual removal will ensure that desirable native species can be maintained. Mulching or planting with native ground cover species is strongly recommended to stabilize that area after removing noxious or invasive species.

10. What size plants do I need to satisfy a buffer planting requirement?: The minimum size for a canopy tree is ¾-inch caliper (trunk diameter measured 6 inches from the ground) in order to receive 100 square feet of credit. A ¾-inch understory tree is worth 75 square feet of credit. Large shrub species should be at least 3 feet high for 50 square feet of credit and small shrubs at least 18 inches high for 25 square feet of credit. Smaller planting materials or natural regeneration may be acceptable for large planting requirements.

11. Can i cut small trees in the buffer without a buffer management plan approved by the local government?: No. The cutting or removal of any trees, shrubs, and natural vegetation in the buffer requires the homeowner to file a buffer management plan.

12. Can I remove invasive or noxious plants such as English Ivy, Japanese Honeysuckle, or Phragmites in the buffer?: Yes. Removal of invasive or noxious species in the buffer and replacing them with desirable native species is encouraged. However, a simplified buffer management plan is required. Also, the removal of invasive species must be done by hand or by using a backpack sprayer. Mowing or bush hogging is not permitted.

13. Can I remove a tree or natural vegetation that blocks my view?: Removal of healthy trees and natural vegetation in the buffer is not permitted solely for the purpose of creating a view. However, trees and shrubs can be pruned and trimmed up to create openings that provide a view. The removal of invasive species and vines is permitted and can also improve a view. A buffer management plan can be used for this purpose. Thoughtful design in selecting the type and location of plants in the buffer, careful pruning of existing trees and shrubs, and a thorough approach to removing invasive plants and planting ground covers can be used to enhance water views.

14. Can I apply herbicides in the buffer?: Yes. You can manually apply herbicides in the buffer for the removal of invasive species. Targeted spraying to eradicate individual plants or treat small areas, using an herbicide appropriate for application near waterways, is recommended. You may need to cover or protect desirable native species so they are not destroyed.

15. Can I mow my lawn in the buffer?: Yes. Mowing an existing lawn in the buffer is permitted. Mowing of shrub scrub vegetation, marsh vegetation, or forest understory vegetation is not permitted. New areas of lawn cannot be created in the buffer.

16. What can I do about trees that are damaged by storms?: If a tree is diseased, dying, invasive, or considered a hazardous tree (likely to fall and cause damage or injury), a property owner can remove the tree by obtaining approval of a simplified buffer management plan. Each tree removed must be replaced with a ¾-inch caliper nursery stock tree.

If the tree removal involves more than five trees, a local government may require a site visit, additional documentation, or a minor buffer management plan at its discretion. Dead trees do not require replacement, but the area should be stabilized with native vegetation.

17. Can I trim shrubs and prune trees within the buffer?: Yes. You can trim shrubs and prune trees within the buffer using hand tools as long as the pruning and trimming does not affect the water quality and habitat functions of the buffer. In general, if live branches are to be pruned or invasive species are to be removed, and three or more trees will be affected, you should contact your local planning office to determine what, if
any, authorization is needed. Depending on the number of trees and shrubs to be trimmed or pruned and the size of the area of the buffer affected, a simplified or minor buffer management plan may be required. Check with local planning staff before starting work.

18. Is mitigation required for trimming and pruning trees within the buffer?: No. Mitigation is not required as long as the pruning and trimming does not remove more than
25 percent of the living canopy and limbing up of lower branches is limited to the lower 1/3
of the height of the tree.

19. Do I have to plant in the buffer when I am doing a shore erosion control project?: Yes. Generally planting in the buffer will be required at a 1 to 1 ratio for the square footage of shoreline disturbance associated with the project and for the replacement of any canopy trees that are removed. This is usually calculated as the linear feet of shoreline multiplied by the work area along the shoreline or 15 feet, whichever is greater plus the area of canopy coverage removed.

20. Why is planting required for shore erosion control projects when the project is being installed to help the bay by reducing sedimentation?: Planting is necessary to restore the functions of the buffer after disturbing the sensitive intertidal zone along the shoreline. Planting offsets the temporary impacts on habitat and water quality associated with the construction activity itself and helps to rapidly stabilize the disturbed
shoreline area. Mitigation by planting in the buffer also improves the habitat and water quality benefits of most shore erosion control practices by stabilizing soils, promoting infiltration, building natural resilience, and enhancing nutrient uptake.

21. Is mitigation required for access to the shoreline and for stockpile areas created when you do a shore erosion control project?: No. As long as the access and stockpile areas do not involve clearing of natural vegetation, grading, or the installation of an access road, mitigation is not required. If natural vegetation is cleared, it must be replaced at a one-to-one ratio. If a temporary road is installed, the road must be removed and the area fully restored

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Detention Center

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1. How do set up a phone account?: To set up a phone account through Securus call 1-800-844-6591

2. Can I buy an inmate food?

The detention center is currently conducting a program in which the family/ friends may purchase food items for their loved ones thru icaregifts.com Once, the food items have been purchased the Detention Center kitchen will prepare and serve the items to the inmates on Wednesdays at dinner time.

To send food go to icaregifts.com, choose a state, then navigate finding the inmate by name, and make the purchase.

3. What is the Dress Code for Visitors?

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

4. When can I visit?: Please see the Revised Visitation Schedule, effective June 7, 2021 or call 410-758-3817 for inmates visiting schedule (Hours are based on inmate placement).

5. What is the incoming mail policies to inmates?: 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.

6. How can I give money to an inmate?

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 inmate or by calling 1-866-345-1884, but you must obtain the inmate’s current BOOKING number

7. When is children's visitation?: Children may visit on the first full weekend of the month. No children under 12 due to Covid Restrictions.

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Development Review

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1. What is Development Review?: 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.

2. Where is the Development Review office located and what are the hours?: 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.

3. What is my property zoned?

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 that ON) 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 call or visit this office if you are unable to access the Property Viewer/GIS on the County's website. Additionally, you may email us and we can send you a print out via email that has the zoning information.

4. What are my setbacks?: Depending on the existing or proposed structure or use on your property, there are various required distances from property lines or other uses; aka setbacks. Setbacks can vary greatly depending on the zoning district. Sometimes setbacks are referred to as "building restriction lines" or "BRLs". If you know your zoning district, you can find your setbacks here.

5. What is the Critical Area?: Please see the FAQ for the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and Critical Area Buffer.

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Emergency Management

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1. What is Emergency Management?: 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.

2. How do I stay informed?: 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.

3. How do I sign up for Emergency Citizen Alerts?

Click the link below and follow the registration instructions.

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

4. What should go in an Emergency Supply Kit?

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

5. How do I know where my Emergency Shelter is?

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.

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Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

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1. Who do I contact for questions concerning ambulance billing?

QUICK MED CLAIMS

1-800-650-7544

www.quickmedclaims.com

2. How do I get cleared as a volunteer EMS provider?

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

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

3. How do I request a Ride Along?

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

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

4. How do I get a copy of a patient care report?: Contact Assistant Chief Scott Wheatley swheatley@qac.org

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Emergency services

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1. How do I contact the Department of Emergency Services?: You can call 410-758-4500 during office hours.

2. What divisions make up the Department of Emergency Services?

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)

3. What are the Department of Emergency Services Hours?: 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.

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Floodplain

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1. What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)?: Through the National Flood Insurance Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies flood hazard areas nationwide through a series of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). A Flood Insurance Rate Map, or FIRM, is an official map of a community on which FEMA has delineated special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

2. What is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)?: A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), is a high-risk area defined as any land that would be inundated by a flood having a 1% chance of occurring in a given year (also referred to as the base flood). This area may be more commonly known to some as the 100 year floodplain.

3. How is Development in SFHA’s Regulated?: Queen Anne’s County regulates development within the floodplain through the Planning and Zoning permitting process. Standards established for development within an Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) constitute a reasonable compromise between the need for building restrictions to minimize potential loss of life and property and the economic benefits to be derived from floodplain development. Development may take place within an SFHA, provided that development complies with the county’s Floodplain Ordinance, which is established in accordance with Federal requirements and local interests. Queen Anne's County Floodplain Ordinance

4. Is flood insurance required?: Flood insurance is required for insurable structures within Special Flood Hazasrd Areas (SFHA) to protect lenders and federal financial investments and assistance used for acquisition and / or construction purposes within communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Call 1-800-427-4661 or visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more. FloodSmart.gov

5. Am I in a Flood Zone?: Maryland’s DFIRM Outreach Program and FEMA's Map Service Center guide property owners and communities through the process of determining their current flood risk as well as future flood risk based on the Preliminary FIRM. FEMA's Map Service Center

6. I need a copy of my Elevation Certificate, how can I get that?: Elevation Certificates

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GIS

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1. What is GIS?: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is defined as an information system that is used to input, store, retrieve, manipulate, analyze and output geographically referenced data or geospatial data, in order to support decision making for planning and management of land use, natural resources, environment, transportation, urban facilities, and other administrative records.

2. Does the County provide downloadable data?: Yes! Proceed to the QAC GIS Open Data Portal

3. Do you have any aerial photography?: 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.

4. Do you provide custom map products?: No, we currently only provide services to county departments.

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Housing

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1. I am currently or in danger of becoming homeless. Can you help me? And if so, what do I do?: 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.

2. Do you have rental assistance programs?: 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.

3. 2. Will you help me if I believe the building or apartment I rent is substandard?: 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.

4. Where are you located?: 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

5. 1. How is the Housing Authority different from the Department of Housing and Community Services?: 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.

6. Are you Housing Authority?: 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.

7. 3. Do you offer loans or support to people who are interested in buying a home?: 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.

8. 4. Is there a special program for police, fire fighters, teachers, corrections officers and others to help them purchase a home?: 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.

9. 5. Do you have home repair assistance for seniors and other low income homeowners?: 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.

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License & Rabies Information

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1. Do I need a dog license?: Yes all resident dogs 4 months or older must be registered in Queen Anne’s County. Registrations can be obtained at:
Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne's County
201 Clay Drive
Queenstown, MD 21658
Website

2. Do I need a dog license if I am a new resident?: All dogs must be licensed within 30 days of residency. Please call 410-758-2393 for more information.

3. Does my animal need a rabies vaccination?: All dogs, cats, and ferrets 4 months or older are required by state law to have a current rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccinations are required to obtain a current county license. Please call 410-758-2393 for more information.

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Office of the Fire Marshal

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1. Must I apply for a permit to install a fire sprinkler system, a gaseous fire extinguishing system, a hood and duct suppression system, or a fire alarm system?: Yes. Any alteration or addition to existing buildings must have a fire review. A mechanical permit is required to be filed with the Planning and Zoning Office.

If this is new construction, a contractor must include 2 sets of plans for these systems when the building plans are submitted for review to Planning and Zoning. Planning and Zoning will assign the same permit number (Building Permit) to these suppression systems under the Mechanical Permit, but the plans will be reviewed by a different department.

2. What if I am doing any kind of work requiring a fire review in Centreville, do I need to file for a fire review through Queen Anne's County?: Yes. The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Fire Marshal is responsible for enforcing all fire protection codes for Queen Anne’s County, including all of the incorporated towns within the county.

3. What do I do if an inspector finds violations in my building?: The inspector will tell you exactly what needs to be completed before you can obtain an occupancy permit. You can work out a timeline with the inspector at the time of the inspection.

4. How much does a fire inspection or plan review cost?: It depends on the type of occupancy or type of fire suppression system. There are documents available on this same website that details the charges applied to specific inspections.

5. Why won’t the building inspector come out to give me a final inspection until the fire marshal completes his/her inspection?: A final inspection by our office is required prior to issuing a "Use and Occupancy" permit. As a courtesy to our office, MDIA (building inspector) will hold their inspection until we have completed ours.

6. Can I use a portable electric heater in my office or place of business?: No. The use of any portable electric heater in a commercial building is prohibited in Queen Anne’s County. These appliances are relatively safe for use at home provided the directions included with the heater are followed but they are not for use in commercial buildings.

7. I am building a new home in Queen Anne’s County, do I need a sprinkler system?: Yes. As of January 1st, 2015 ALL single family and two family dwellings must be protected by a residential sprinkler system in the state of Maryland. The system must be designed and installed by a licensed sprinkler contractor who is listed in the state of Maryland.

8. What if I am purchasing a modular home and moving to a lot in Queen Anne’s County?: 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.

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Open Data

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1. What kind of datasets are available on this site?: Machine readable raw data including tabular data and spatial data. Examples of datasets include information on capital projects, revenue, property assessments, and permits.

2. Will more datasets be published?: 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.

3. Do I need an account to use the site?: 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.

4. What are the benefits of signing up for an account?: 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.

5. Who should I contact if I have questions?

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.

6. What license does Queen Anne's County Government use for the data on this open data portal?: It uses Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and License.

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Other Billing & Payments

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1. Why do I have to pay more for online payments?: To cover the electronic banking systems processing and service fees.

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Parks and Public Landings

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1. What are the hours for the Parks, Public Landings and Fishing Piers?

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.

2. Can the Parks be rented for events?: 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.

3. Do I need a permit to use the Public Landings?

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.

4. I received a citation, what do I do now?: 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.

5. Can the general public use the ballfields?: 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.

6. Who needs a Special Event Permit?: Events on County owned property where the attendance for any type of event is expected to exceed 400 people or impact County services such as police, ambulance, fire departments. Sporting events with more than 10 teams.

7. How can I volunteer?: 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.

8. Who is the Parks Department?: 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.

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Planning & Zoning

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1. When does the Planning Commission Meet?: 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.

2. What are the hours of operation?: 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.

3. What does the Planning division do?

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.

4. What does the Zoning division do?: 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.

5. Where can I find the Queen Anne's County Code?: You can find the whole County code here. The Planning Division is concerned primarily with Chapter 14, Chapter 18, and Chapter 28.

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Property Tax Billing and Collections

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1. What do I do if I disagree with my property assessment?: 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 State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Department of Assessments and Taxation Website

2. What is the property tax rate?: 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.

3. In which property tax district is my property located?: Your property tax identification number is a 10-digit number. The first 2 digits, '18', indicate Queen Anne's County, the 3rd and 4th digits provide the tax district, and the last 6 digits are your account number.

4. Is my tax bill sent to my mortgage company?: No, all tax bills are sent to the homeowners. We do send an electronic file to the mortgage companies and they can pick their customers off of it, but we strongly suggest that you send a copy as well.

5. What period does the tax bill cover and when is it due?: The billing cycle for Queen Anne’s County is based on a fiscal year running from July 1 to June 30.

Tax bills for principal residences are due semiannually on July 1 and December 1 and are charged interest after September 30 and December 31.

Tax bills for nonprincipal residences are due annually on July 1. Interest is charged after September 30.

6. What is a supplemental bill and what does it cover?: A supplemental bill is a bill for new construction substantially complete by December 30. This bill covers from January to June on the new construction and is mailed out in January. The bill becomes due on January 1 and is charged interest after March 31.

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Public Works

Show All Answers

1. I need a copy of my Elevation Certificate, how can I get that?: https://www.qac.org/948/Elevation-Certificates

2. How do I know if my road is maintained by the County?: 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.

3. How do I request a road repair?: If you are on a county road and need a repair call the Roads Division at 410-758-0920.

4. My toilet is backing up…: https://www.qac.org/519/Sewage-Backup

5. My water pressure is low…: https://www.qac.org/513/Sanitary-District

6. I need my ditch cleaned out, who do I call?: If the ditch is along a county road call the Roads Division at 410-758-0920.

7. What dump is open today, what can I take there, where can I get tickets?: https://www.qac.org/556/Transfer-Station

8. How do I request a road repair?

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

Roads Division Page

9. Who cleans ditches and storm drains?: The Roads Division not only cleans, but repairs County-maintained ditches and storm drains. Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at 410-758-0920 during business hours. Visit the Roads Division page to view the department hours. Road Division Page

10. Who picks up litter and debris along roadways?: The Roads Division picks up litter and debris in the County right-of-way along County-maintained roadways. Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at 410-758-0920 during business hours. Visit the Roads Division page to view department hours.

If the debris is on private property, it is the owner's responsibility. Roads Division Page

11. Who cuts grass along the roads?: The Roads Division cuts the grass in the County right-of-way along County-maintained roadways. Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at 410-758-0920 during business hours. Visit the Roads Division page to view department hours. Roads Division Page

12. Who trims and removes trees in Queen Anne's County?: The Roads Division trims and removes fallen trees on the County Right-of-Ways. Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at 410-758-0920 during business hours. Visit the Roads Division page to view department hours. Roads Division Page

13. Who can I call to get my street plowed?: The Roads Division performs snow removal operations on all County-maintained roads. Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at (410) 758-0920 during business hours. Visit the Roads Division page to view department hours.

During snow clearing operations, avoid parking on streets and in cul-de-sacs. Cars should remain in driveways, if possible. Listen to audible alarms and watch for flashing lights warning of backing equipment. Maintain at least 2 car lengths minimum space between large equipment, including dump trucks. Roads Division Page

14. Who repairs and installs traffic signs and signals?: The Roads Division installs and repairs traffic control signs, street name signs, and signals along County-maintained roads. Requests can be called in to the Roads Division at 410-758-0920 during business hours. Visit the Roads Division page to view department hours. Roads Division Page

15. When will my street get resurfaced?: The Roads Division rates and prioritizes roads for resurfacing. Generally high-traffic roads are resurfaced every 15 years. Mid-traffic roads are resurfaced every 20 years with a slurry seal every 15 years. Lastly, low-traffic roads are resurfaced every 25 years with a slurry seal every 20 years.

To find out where your road is on our priority list, please contact the Roads Division at 410-758-0920.

16. How do I get an "Oversize Vehicle" permit to cross County-owned bridges with weight restrictions?: To request an Oversize Vehicle Permit, you will need to write to the Chief Roads Engineer. Be sure to iInclude the address, number of axles, gross axle loads, and the distance between axles. Permits may be issued to the owner of the truck only and may or may not be granted depending on axle loads, spacing, etc. Call the Roads Division with any questions at 410-758-0920. Permits may take up to 2 weeks, so allow time accordingly.

Visit the Roads Division page for the mailing address for the Chief Roads Engineer. Roads Division Page

17. How can I get the County to take over my private road?: Property owners must submit a petition to the County requesting takeover. The County will make a field inspection and prepare a report informing the property owners what they must do to bring the road up to County standards before the County would accept the road. All improvements are at the property owner's expense.

18. What is tar & chip?: Tar and chip is actually a surface treatment applied over a gravel road base to create a form of pavement. It typically consists of several successive layers of liquid asphalt emulsion and chip stone. Once cured, these layers produces a pavement that serves in sealing the gravel base from water damage and creating a wearing surface that is suitable for vehicle use.

19. Do I need a special permit to do work in the County right-of-way?: Yes, the law states that any construction, installation of culverts, or alteration of landscape in the County's right-of-way requires a permit from the Roads Division. The required permit can be downloaded from the Roads Division page.

There is a $500 fee for this review, and the property owner will have to purchase the materials and have it delivered to the site. Instructions are on the entrance permit application. Once the application is filled out, please mail it to the Roads Division. Their address is also found on the Roads Division Page. Roads Division Page

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Sanitary Division

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1. Where do I make my water and wastewater service payments?: Although the Department of Public Works provides water and sewer service, it does not handle customer billing. Bills are sent to customers quarterly by the Billing Office within the County Department of Budget and Finance. Payments may be made by mail or in person to:
Finance Office
107 North Liberty Street
Centreville, MD 21617

You can also make your payment at any Queenstown Bank location.

2. How do you determine the amount of my bill?: If served with public water, bills are determined by the amount of water that has passed through your water meter since the last meter reading. Meters are read quarterly. Wastewater is not metered, but rather is based on 85% of the amount of water that is delivered through the meter to your home. If not served by public water, there is no way to measure the usage and as such you are billed a flat fee. The rates currently being charged are presented above.

3. Why do I have to pay so much for a vacant lot, or uninhabited dwelling?: This is due to the fact that the rate schedule is made up of 4 components, only 1 of which is actual usage. All utilities have certain fixed costs that have to be funded regardless of the actual use. When you operate a small utility such as ours, you have to assure a minimum amount of revenue to cover these costs. As our customer base expands, we hope to gradually shift the rates such that the majority of costs are recovered by actual usage, as opposed to the current system in which approximately 50% of the cost is fixed regardless of usage.

4. Who can I call if I need further billing information?: Call Sanitary District Billing at the County Finance Office at 410-758-2574 with any questions.

5. What are the current rate schedules?: Visit our Rate Schedules page for more information about our current rates. Rate Schedules Page

6. Why are my water and sewer rates so much more expensive than where I used to live?: Visit our Rate Schedules page for more information about water and sewer rates. Rate Schedules Page

7. How do I get public water and/or wastewater extended to my property?: If you are not currently within the service area, you will need to amend the Master Water and Sewer Plan. Typically extensions are discouraged to areas not within the designated growth areas. Call the Sanitary District office for more information. If in the service area, you should already be receiving a quarterly bill. If your proposed use requires additional sewer (and / or water) allocation, you will need to pay all applicable permit fees.

8. How are new extensions paid for?: The Queen Anne's County Sanitary District is a public enterprise system, which means it must be self-supporting and does not receive tax dollars to operate. Therefore, water and wastewater projects resulting from new development are paid for by the developer. The cost of extending service is borne by the developer requesting the service. Engineering designs are reviewed and approved by the Sanitary District. Once approved, a surety typically must be in place to ensure the work is completed to the approved design, and an inspection fee is paid to the Sanitary District to reimburse the District for field inspection. The property owner would then hire the contractor of their choice to perform the actual construction.

In some cases, the County serves existing developments that have been identified as having failing septic systems. In these cases, an assessment is placed on each property for a period of 20 years and transfers with the sale of the property.

9. What should I do if sewage backs up into my house?: Please visit our Sewage Backup page for more information. Sewage Backup Page

10. What causes a sewage backup?: Visit our Sewage Backup page to learn about possible causes of your sewage backup. Sewage Backup Page

11. What can I do to prevent backups?: Visit our Sewage Backup page for tips on preventing backups in your home. Sewage Backup Page

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Tax Sale

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1. What are the date, time and location of your tax sale?: The tax sale is the 3rd Tuesday in May of each year and is held online at https://queenannescountymd.realtaxlien.com. Registration begins one month prior via the same website.

2. How often are tax sales held?: Tax sales are held annually on the 3rd Tuesday in May.

3. Does the County hold a deed sale in addition to a lien sale? If so, when and where does it take place?: The County does not hold a deed sale.

4. When and where will the tax sale be advertised?

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 acution website at https://queenannescountymd.realtaxlien.com. The newspaper advertisement is not updated for payments received after advertisement, however the online postings are updated weekly through 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.

5. How and when do I register for the tax sale?: Register online at https://queenannescountymd.realtaxlien.com beginning one month prior to the tax sale. A nonrefundable $100 fee is required.
Bidder Information Page

6. What methods of payment are accepted when purchasing tax sale items? Is there a deposit required before the sale?

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://queenannescountymd.realtaxlien.com.

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

7. What is the bidding process?

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

Bidding starts at the sale amount. The sale amount is the sum of delinquent amounts owed 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.

8. What is a High Bid Premium and how is it calculated?: 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 Bid Premium 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.

9. What type of document is issued at the sale?: An itemized cash receipt showing for each lien purchased: the amount paid, the total bid, and the bid premium. The original certificate of tax sale is mailed to the bidder or kept by Queen Anne’s County depending on the bidders request in the Conditions of Sale. The original certificate must be returned to the County upon property owner redemption prior to distribution of funds.

10. Are there any other expenses in addition to the cost of the lien?: If the tax sale purchaser proceeds with foreclosure, there will be foreclosure, transfer, recording costs, etc. These costs are solely the responsibility of the tax sale purchaser.

11. What is the foreclosure process, and will the County handle the foreclosure process for a fee? If so what is the fee?: A tax sale purchaser may institute a foreclosure proceeding through Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court. To insure that you fully comply with the law and the required procedures as set forth in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax Property Article §14-808 to §14-854, you may wish to seek the advice of an attorney. The County does not handle the foreclosure process.

12. What happens to the liens that are not sold at the Tax Lien Certificate auction? Can they be purchased over-the-counter directly from the county? Can I get a list of these liens? Can I purchase them n: The liens can be purchased over-the-counter directly from the County. A list may be found on this website.

13. Do you allow investors to invest in Tax Lien Certificates without attending the auction via mail, telephone, or fax? Can I send a representative to the sale to bid for me?: An investor or their representative must register and attend the auction. Keep in mind the Conditions of Sale requires a Tax ID or Social Security number. Those tax liens not purchased at the auction may be purchased by mail after the Conditions of Sale have been met.

14. Will you please forward a copy of the statutes regarding tax sales in your jurisdiction?: We do not provide copies of the State tax sale statutes. The tax sale statutes are found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax Property Article. The sections for tax sale are §14-808 thru §14-854 inclusive.

15. How long is the tax lien valid?: The tax lien certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of the certificate.

16. What interest rate is paid on the lien upon redemption?: The current interest rate paid by Queen Anne’s County on tax sale property is 12% annually. The interest amount will be calculated at a monthly rate from the date of sale to the date of redemption.

17. What if the owner does not redeem the property?: If an owner fails to redeem his 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 90days 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.

18. What will happen if a bidder does not file a civil action case within 2 years?: If the owner does not redeem and no civil case is filed within 2 years from the date of the certificate of sale, the certificate of sale is void and the bidder loses all rights to the property and to any monetary reimbursement.

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Treasury

Show All Answers

1. Can I pay my taxes online?: Yes taxes, utility bills and special benefit assessment can be paid online or by phone. For more information visit the Pay Taxes & Utility Bills page for the Department of Budget, Finance & Information Technology. http://www.qac.org/1158/Pay-Taxes-Utility-Bills

2. Can I find information about my property tax and utility bills online?: 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 & Information Technology. http://www.qac.org/1162/Property-Record-Utility-Account-Search

3. How do I read my tax ID number?

4. When is the tax sale?: The tax sale is the 3rd Tuesday in May of each year and starts at 10 a.m. The sale is located in the Queen Anne's County Commissioner's meeting room at 107 N Liberty Street in Centreville. The meeting room is on the 2nd floor.

5. What services does the Treasury Office provide?

Solid waste transfer station ticket books
MVA sticker renewal (8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday - Friday)
Public landing permits
Tax payments
Hotel Tax payments
Road, ditch, and sanitary payments
Deed stamp
Notary

6. What is the County tax rate?: The County tax rates can be found on the Department of Budget, Finance & Information technology page here: http://www.qac.org/1188/Countys-Tax-Rates

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