Zoning

The Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association boundaries encompass a number of “enclaves” with different appearances and use.  Some parts of Mount Vernon have a residential nature, and other areas have an institutional or commercial presence.  The Zoning Committee works closely with the Development Committee and Architectural Review Committee to advise developers and property owners of appropriate new uses on a block-by-block basis.  

Height limits were also established in the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Plan and incorporated into the city’s TransForm Baltimore zoning code along with changes in allowed and conditional uses.  Note that height limits (which include rooftop equipment) are an absolute cap, but actual height limits are often lower and are subject to local case-by-case conditions, which often take into account the height, massing, and use of adjacent and nearby structures (e.g. a lot in the middle of a block of 4-story residential rowhouses).  

Developers and investors are advised to contact the Zoning Committee to discuss their proposed plans before making financial commitments or hiring an architect.  The committee is comprised of industry professionals and maintains strict confidentiality and avoidance of conflicts of interest in these pre-development meetings.  

See Development Committee.