Housing & Development
Our policy focus on housing and development regulation issues for Maryland
Our focus: Housing & Development
Maryland’s economic competitiveness depends on a development environment that is predictable, efficient and cost-effective. The Housing & Development Policy Committee evaluates legislation and regulatory proposals that influence the pace, cost and feasibility of both commercial and residential development.
For employers, available housing and modern commercial space directly influence talent attraction, workforce stability, expansion decisions and overall economic growth. Making it easier and more cost-effective to build is central to keeping Maryland competitive in the region and the country.
To ensure strategic engagement, the committee is invite-only and open to members at the Guiding level or above.
Why This Matters:
Businesses rely on a strong pipeline of commercial and residential development. When Maryland’s building environment is slow, unpredictable, or expensive, employers feel the effects — from difficulty recruiting talent to higher operational costs.
Affordability matters, but the most effective way to achieve it is by reducing regulatory friction, accelerating approvals, and lowering the cost of building. A competitive development climate benefits employers, workers, and communities alike.
Key Issues Include
- Permitting and regulatory reform — reducing delays, eliminating duplicative reviews, and creating a predictable process
- Commercial development and redevelopment — enabling new business growth and revitalization of aging commercial properties
- Workforce housing near job centers — focused on supply and feasibility, especially in transit-accessible areas
- Zoning and land-use modernization — promoting flexibility that supports job creation, mixed-use projects, and economic development
- Cost-driving mandates — evaluating proposals that increase construction or operational costs for commercial or residential buildings
- Incentive-based climate and energy policy — supporting modernization through incentives rather than penalties
Related Policy Priorities & Anticipated Issues for 2026
- Reduce Barriers to Building: Maryland’s approval and permitting processes are among the most time-consuming in the region, which increases costs and discourages investment. We support:
- Streamlining reviews and eliminating duplicative steps
- Increasing transparency and predictability in timelines
- Modernizing local and state processes to keep projects moving
- Strengthen Maryland’s Competitiveness for Development: Businesses need access to affordable, modern space to expand and hire. Development policy must support growth, not hinder it. We support:
- Policies that lower the cost of commercial development
- Tools that enable redevelopment of underperforming or vacant sites
- Consistent land-use rules that reduce uncertainty for investors
- Expand Workforce-Supporting Housing: Housing is an economic competitiveness issue: employers need nearby, attainable options for workers. We support:
- Increasing supply near job centers, especially via transit-oriented development
- Removing unnecessary regulatory barriers that limit production
- Policies that encourage the private sector to build more efficiently
- Avoid Cost-Driving Mandates: Well-intended policy proposals can unintentionally raise construction and operational expenses, limiting economic growth and reducing supply.
We advocate for:
- Thorough cost-impact analysis before mandates are enacted
- Avoiding requirements that place Maryland at a regional disadvantage
- Using incentives and market-driven tools to achieve environmental and modernization goals
All 2026 Legislative Priorities & Critical Issues
Get an in-depth look at the pressing issues and legislative priorities we've identified for the 2026 Legislative Session.
Get involved
Join our Housing & Development Policy Committee
Our Labor & Employment policy committee covers all employment law and workplace regulation issues.
This committee meets every Thursday morning during legislative session at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are held remotely via video conferencing. Outside of session, the committee generally meets once or twice in-person, in the early fall.
Contact governmentaffairs@mdchamber.org for more information.
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Legislative Tracking
Stay up to date with our members-only Bill Tracker during session. Get concise bill summaries, anticipated positions, and more. Our 2026 Bill Tracker will be available soon after the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Additional resources
Our resources
Additional reading
- Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development — Development resources and programs
- Maryland Department of Planning — Land-use and growth management information
- Maryland Department of Labor — Building Codes and Building Performance Standards