Maryland Proposed Forestry Regulations

​This is a summary of regulatory proposals submitted by the Maryland Forest Service.

Consult the Maryland Register, Code of Maryland Regulations and Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for full legal text. If you have any questions regarding the proposed regulations, please email or call the contact person stated in the proposed regulations as published in the Maryland Register notice.

The Maryland Forest Service welcomes public comment on proposed regulations. However, only comments entered during the official public comment period specified in the Maryland Register become part of the official regulatory record. The official public comment period is 30 days after publication in the Maryland Register. Receiving comments on the proposal provides the Department with invaluable information and perspectives that may be incorporated into content or editorial changes. The Maryland Register notice will provide contact information where all official public comments may be sent.

Archived Proposed Forestry Regulations​


Current Proposed Forestry Regulations (2022)​

​​
​​Proposal Subject​Emergency, Proposed or Final​Sent for Publication Date​MD Register Issue DateHearing DatePublic Comment DeadlineScheduled Effective Date
Forest Management ProgramsProposedJuly 11, 2022July 29, 2022None
August 29, 2022Oct. 3, 2022

COMAR 08.07.03.03 Charges for Administering the Forest Conservation and Management Program

The purpose of this action is to eliminate certain fees related to the program under certain circumstances.

Click here to view proposed text

Click here to view Notice of Final Action




(2020)

Proposal SubjectEmergency, Proposed or FinalSent for Publication DateMD Register Issue DateHearing DatePublic Comment Deadline​Scheduled Effective Date
Licensed Tree ExpertProposedJuly 13, 2020July 31, 2020
​NoneSept 14, 2020Oct 5, 2020

COMAR 08.07.07.02 Incorporation by Reference

The purpose of this action is to update the edition of the incorporation document.

Click here to view proposed text​

Click here to view Notice of Final Action​


  

(2019)

​Proposal Subject​Emergency, Proposed or Final ​Sent for Publication Date ​MD Register Issue Date Hearing Date Public Comment Deadline​Scheduled Effective Date
Forest ConservationProposedAugust 12, 2019August 30, 2019​NoneSept 30, 2019Nov 4, 2019

COMAR 08.19.02, .04 and .05 State Review and Approval of a Local Program

COMAR 08.19.03.01 Model Forest Conservation Ordinance

The purpose of this action is to amend the regulations to reflect statutory changes that were adopted during the 2019 Legislative Session.

Click here to view proposed text.

Click here to view Notice of Final Action.​​


​Proposal Subject​Emergency, Proposed or Final ​Sent for Publication Date ​MD Register Issue Date Hearing Date Public Comment Deadline​Scheduled Effective Date
Licensed Tree ExpertsProposed​June 3, 2019​June 21, 2019​NoneJuly 22, 2019​​​August 26, 2019

COMAR 08.07.07 Licensed Tree Experts

The purpose of this action is to adopt certain prior industry standards for pruning as the applicable tree care practice in the state.

Click here to view proposed text.​
Click here to view Notice of Final Action.


 

​Proposal Subject​Emergency, Proposed or Final ​Sent for Publication Date ​MD Register Issue Date Hearing Date Public Comment Deadline​Scheduled Effective Date
Chesapeake Forest Lands & State ForestsProposed​Dec 17, 2018​Jan 4, 2019​NoneFeb 4, 2019​​​March 11, 2019

COMAR 08.01.07 Chesapeake Forest Lands

The purpose of this action is to clarify the regulations regarding pets on State forest lands.

COMAR 08.07.01 State Forests

The purpose of this action is to revise the regulations to prohibit baiting and feeding and to clarify the requirements for pets brought onto State forest lands.

Click here to view proposed text.


(2018)

​Proposal Subject​Emergency, Proposed or Final ​Sent for Publication Date ​MD Register Issue Date Hearing Date Public Comment Deadline​Scheduled Effective Date
Licensed Tree ExpertProposed​March 26, 2018​April 13, 2018​NoneMay 14, 2018​​​​June 18, 2018

COMAR 08.07.07.02-1

The purpose of this action is to update the incorporated documents.

Click here to view proposed text.

Click here to view Notice of Final Action.


​​​