Prince George's County, MD · Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance
The CGO Zone provides for a broad range of retail, service, and office uses along corridors and at commercial centers (Subtitle 27).
Development standards in CGO
Front setback
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Side setback
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Rear setback
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Maximum height
Set by use tier: 50 ft two-family and townhouse; 86 ft multifamily, artists' residential studio and live-work; no maximum for other (general nonresidential) uses, with office and primarily-office mixed-use capped at 110 ft — see Sec. 27-4203
A standard shown as "set by" is banded in the ordinance — it depends on what you build or on the lot itself, so no single figure is true for the whole zone. The cited table is the authority; read the tier that matches your intended structure.
Read from Prince George's County, MD Zoning Ordinance (Subtitle 27), effective through 2026-01-05.
Permitted uses in CGO
AllowedCommunity garden Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(b)(1)(A).
AllowedUrban agriculture Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(b)(1)(D).
AllowedFarm market Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedFarm supply sales or farm machinery/implement sales, rental, or repair Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedFood hub Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedArboretum or botanical garden, park or greenway, or public water-oriented recreational and educational area Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(b)(3)(A).
AllowedArtists’ residential studios Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(c)(1)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDwelling, live-work Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(c)(1)(B); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDwelling, multifamily Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(c)(1)(D), 27-5102(c)(1)(E); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDwelling, townhouse Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDwelling, two-family Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedApartment housing for elderly or physically disabled families Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
Allowed≤ 8 elderly or handicapped Assisted residents Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(c)(2)(A) a nd refer to.
Allowedliving > 8 elderly or facility handicapped residents Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: special exception standards.
AllowedConvent or monastery Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
ConditionalPlanned retirement community Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPrivate Dormitory Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(c)(2)(C).
AllowedAntenna Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(1)(A).
AllowedBroadcasting studio and Newspaper/periodical publishing establishment Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
ConditionalTower, pole, or monopole Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(1)(B); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalAdaptive use of a Historic Site Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedAdult day care center Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(D); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedCultural facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalDay care center for children Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalEleemosynary or philanthropic institution Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedEmergency services facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPlace of worship located on a lot less than 1 acre in size Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-.
AllowedPlace of worship located in a building that was originally constructed as a dwelling, on a lot less than 1 acre in size. Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 5102(d)(2)(C) a nd; Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPlace of worship located on a lot between 1 and 2 acres in size Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedPlace of worship located in a building that was originally constructed as a dwelling, on a lot between 1 and 2 acres in size Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedPlace of worship, all others Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
ConditionalAdaptive reuse of a surplus public school Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedCollege or university Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDriving school Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(B).
AllowedPrivate school Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedVocational or trade school Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedWater-dependent research facility or activity operated by government or educational institution Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(D); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedHospital Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalHealth campus Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedMedical or dental office or lab Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedNursing or care home Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(4)(A) a nd; Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedState-licensed medical clinic Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(4)(B).
ConditionalAirfield, Airpark, Airport, or Airstrip Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPark and ride facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedParking facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(5)(A) a nd; Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedParking of commercial vehicles Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedTransit station or terminal Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalPublic utility uses or structures, major Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(d)(6)(B); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPublic utility uses or structures, minor Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedAnimal shelter Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(A) a nd; Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalKennel of a lot having a net area of 20,000 sq. ft. or less Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(D); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalKennel on a lot having a net area of more than 20,000 sq. ft. Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(E); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPet grooming establishment Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(B).
AllowedVeterinary hospital or clinic Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(C) a nd; Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedArt gallery Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedArt, photography, music, dance, yoga, pilates, or martial arts studio or schools Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedManufacturing, artisan or maker Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedTattoo or body piercing establishment Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d).
AllowedQualified data center Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(4)(B).
AllowedAll other business support service uses Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(4).
"Conditional" means the use generally requires a public hearing or special-exception approval — a very different timeline and risk profile from a by-right permit.
This is the zone. What about the parcel?
Zone rules are the starting point — the answer for a specific property also depends on lot
size, overlays, existing improvements and site conditions. Run a free address lookup to see
what applies to one property.