Program Permits and Variances for Solar Panels, Calculation of Impervious Cover
Category Regulatory Policy
Implementing sector State
Last Update
State Maryland
Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Photovoltaics
Sectors Residential

In May 2012, Maryland enacted legislation stating that any calculation of "impervious surface" required by state or local authorities as part of a permit or variance relating to zoning, construction, or stormwater may only include the foundation or base supporting the solar panel. The law generally applies statewide, including charter counties and Baltimore City. It does not however apply in a defined "critical area", including the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and the Coastal Bays Critical Area. The term "solar panel" is not specifically defined, but presumably would include both solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal panels.

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