The law allows local jurisdictions to set tax rates for vacant lots and properties to discourage speculation and stimulate development.
A new Maryland state law signed by Governor Wes Moore, House Bill 2, allows local governments to impose higher taxes on the owners of vacant properties, reports Danielle J. Brown for Maryland Matters.
The bill is part of an effort to reduce the number of underused and vacant lots and encourage development and housing construction. “Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos explained that raising the taxes on vacant property could help reduce the number of abandoned houses and lots in two ways: to incentivize property owners to revitalize the lot for habitation and to make it easier for local jurisdictions to acquire the abandoned property.”
A legislative analysis reveals that there are 242,361 vacant properties across Maryland. Brown notes that “The law does not establish a required tax rate on vacant properties, but it provides the authority for local jurisdictions to do so at their own volition.” Higher taxes can speed up the process of “judicial in rem foreclosure,” letting the city acquire properties for redevelopment more quickly.
FULL STORY: New Maryland law enables local jurisdictions to impose higher taxes on vacant properties
How Effective are Philadelphia’s Keystone Opportunity Zones?
The impacts of a tax break designed to create jobs, stimulate development, and reduce blight are proving hard to track.
Detroit Mayor Proposes Vacant Lot Tax
A new tax plan would reform the city’s famously low vacancy tax rates in an effort to stimulate more housing development and limit speculation.
Placemaking in the Barrio: Conceptualizing Infill Development in Disenfranchised Communities
How one San Antonio neighborhood could approach sustainable revitalization while supporting the existing community and drawing on its rich and diverse history and cultural resources.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland