The Harford County Health Department (HCHD), specifically its Land and Water Resources Division, reviews subdivision plans to ensure new land developments have safe drinking water and proper sewage disposal. This environmental review is a mandatory component of the overall county development approval process coordinated by the Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning.
Overview of the Subdivision Review Process for HCHD
The review process typically unfolds in these stages:
- Preliminary Plan Submission: The developer submits a concept or preliminary site plan to the Department of Planning and Zoning. This plan is routed to the HCHD for properties that will rely on private wells and/or On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems (OSDS, or septic systems). This office also reviews plans submitted that will rely on public water and/or sewer systems.
- Percolation Testing and Field Evaluation: For unsewered areas, HCHD’s licensed environmental health specialists oversee site evaluations and “perc tests.” This testing confirms whether the soil can adequately absorb wastewater and determines the exact boundaries for a designated Septic Reserve Area (SRA).
- Formal Comments: The HCHD submits formal comments and environmental findings regarding the feasibility of the well and septic layout. In addition, the HCHD will provide feedback regarding projects on public utilities.
- Final Plat Review and Signature: Before a subdivision can be legally recorded, the final plat layout—detailing the exact boundaries of the building lots, well locations, and SRAs—must be routed to the HCHD for formal sign-off through Harford County’s Planning and Zoning office. No building permits are issued until these final plats are approved and recorded. To view the required MDE Plat Notes, please visit MDE – Plat Signatory Guidance
The HCHD acts as a technical advisor to the Harford County Development Advisory Committee (DAC).
Core Regulations Used
The HCHD enforces a blend of state environmental laws and local county codes during its review:
- COMAR Title 26 (Maryland Department of the Environment): COMAR 26.04.03, COMAR 26.04.04, COMAR 26.04.02. These are the primary state regulations governing water supply, groundwater protection, and individual septic system designs. It sets strict requirements for sand mound systems, conventional deep-trench septics, and minimum separation distances between wells and septic fields.
- Harford County Code Chapter 216: County regulations involving the construction of OSDS systems, setbacks, SRAs, soil percolation tests, etc.
- Harford County Health Department Policies and Design Manuals: Internal guidelines that mandate specific buffer zones, mapping scales (such as 1″=30′ or 1″=50′ blueprints), etc.
