Carroll Commissioners Adopt Amendments to Zoning, Solid Waste Ordinances

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners recently adopted three changes to the zoning ordinance and one change to the Solid Waste Ordinance.

The first zoning code change permits residents to apply for a home occupation certificate which, if approved in an administrative hearing, allows residents to operate small landscape and lawn care maintenance services from their residence. This change will be added to all residential zoning categories.

The second change allows owners of existing standard billboards to apply to convert the billboard to electronic. Interested billboard owners will apply for the conversion, participate in an administrative hearing and, if granted, then have permission to convert the sign. 

Commissioner Doug Howard said in a statement, “I believe it is important to treat all residents equally, that’s why I amended the proposal to require all electronic conversion applications to have a public hearing. I’m glad this important amendment passed ensuring the fair treatment of everyone living and working in Carroll County.”

The final change to the Zoning Ordinance codified the existing practice of seeking a ruling from the Planning and Zoning Commission that a request for a special exception or conditional use is consistent with the county’s master plan. 

The Board also adopted a change to Section 185, the Solid Waste Ordinance, removing the prohibition of possessing a lawful firearm at county-owned solid waste facilities.

To watch the zoning ordinance discussions, visit the county's online meeting video archive. 

Information in this article taken from a Carroll County government news release.