Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Secretary, Maryland

Town of Secretary’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, reconstruction, extension, conversion or structural alteration of buildings inside Secretary town

  • Ordinary repair and maintenance that only restores a building in its existing form and does not change use or configuration is specifically exempt.
  • Permit is issued by the town in accordance with Section 18.

  “it shall be unlawful to locate or begin the excavation, erection, construction, reconstruction, extension, conversion, or structural alteration of any building, structure, shore erosion control structure, or water-dependent facility without first obtaining a building permit from the town in accordance with section 18 of this ordinance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Use or occupancy of buildings and premises in Secretary town for commercial use or habitable residential space

  • This is a town zoning occupancy permit, not a building-code certificate of occupancy.
  • Required for commercial use and habitable residential space, as well as a change of use, addition, conversion or alteration of such buildings.

  “it shall be unlawful to use, occupy, or change the use of any building, structure, or premises without first obtaining a zoning occupancy permit. this permit shall be required for all buildings, structures, and premises intended for commercial use or habitable residential space”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All lands, structures and buildings inside the corporate limits of Secretary town, Dorchester County, MD

  • Ordinance covers lands within the corporate limits of Secretary, Maryland, including submerged lands or water areas (Section 4.01).
  • Section 5.01 excludes land, structures and buildings owned or leased by the Commissioners of Secretary, or under contract with them.
  • Town-adopted ordinance; cover shows effective date April 10, 2006. Later amendments were not checked.

  “this ordinance shall apply to all lands, structures, and buildings within the corporate limits of secretary, maryland, including any submerged lands or water areas.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Secretary town

  • Districts in the ordinance: R-1, R-2, R-3 residential and V-1 village districts.
  • Chesapeake Bay critical area overlay zone (Section 14) is reserved and not yet written.
  • Official zoning map is kept in the town clerk's office (Section 6.01). The 2012 zoning map PDF listed on the town Ordinances page was not opened.

  “"r-1" residential district 23 "r-2" residential district 25 "r-3" residential district 27 "v-1" village district 29”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Secretary town's R-1 residential district (main low-density residential district; minimum lot size 40,000 square feet)

  • Table applies to all uses and structures in the R-1 district.
  • Lot width at road and at front setback line is also 100 feet.

  minimum lot size: >= 40000 square feet · minimum lot width at road and at front setback line: >= 100 feet

  “1. minimum lot size 40,000 square feet 2. minimum lot width a. at road b. at front setback line 100 feet 100 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal structures in Secretary town's R-1 residential district

  • Accessory uses and structures have their own setbacks under Section 24 of the ordinance.
  • Setbacks shown are minimums.

  minimum front yard setback: >= 100 feet (accessory uses and structures governed by section 24) · minimum side yard setback: >= 20 feet (accessory uses and structures governed by section 24) · minimum rear yard setback: >= 50 feet (accessory uses and structures governed by section 24)

  “3. minimum front yard setback 100 feet 4. minimum side yard setback 20 feet 5. minimum rear yard setback 50 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Secretary town's R-1 residential district

  • Height limit stated for all uses and structures in the R-1 district.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet

  “3. minimum front yard setback 100 feet 4. minimum side yard setback 20 feet 5. minimum rear yard setback 50 feet 6. maximum building height 35 feet”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications for work inside Secretary town

  • Town staff check zoning requirements; water or sewer applications are certified by a town representative and copied to the Dorchester County health department.
  • After all required agencies sign, the permit goes to the Commissioners of Secretary for approval or disapproval.
  • Fees, timelines and forms not in the excerpts checked.

  “if all required agencies sign their approval on the application and if zoning requirements are inet, then the permit is forwarded to the commissioners of secretary for consideration and approval”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Secretary or Dorchester County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits in Secretary town
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Secretary town
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Secretary town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Secretary town
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Secretary town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.