Prince George's County, MD · Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance
The CS Zone provides for commercial service and heavier commercial uses not appropriate in neighborhood-serving commercial zones (Subtitle 27).
Development standards in CS
Maximum height
50 ft
Sec. 27-4203
Front setback
At least 15 ft for multifamily dwellings, artists' residential studios and live-work dwellings; 10 ft for other uses; portions of a building higher than 35 ft are set back an additional 1 ft for every 2 ft above 35 ft — see Sec. 27-4203
Side setback
At least 8 ft for multifamily dwellings, artists' residential studios and live-work dwellings; 0 ft for other uses; portions of a building higher than 35 ft are set back an additional 1 ft for every 2 ft above 35 ft — see Sec. 27-4203
Rear setback
At least 20 ft for multifamily dwellings, artists' residential studios and live-work dwellings; 0 ft for other uses; portions of a building higher than 35 ft are set back an additional 1 ft for every 2 ft above 35 ft — see Sec. 27-4203
Front setback, Side setback and Rear setback are 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.
Portions above 35 ft must step back from the minimum yards an additional 1 ft per 2 ft of height over 35 ft.
Read from Prince George's County, MD Zoning Ordinance (Subtitle 27), effective through 2026-01-05. We last checked with the publisher on 2026-09-24 and found nothing newer -- a check on that date, not a promise about today.
How complete is this market? Across 299,690 parcels we answer 76.6% of the 6 questions this site is built to answer, each with a source you can check. The rest are shown as “not recorded” rather than filled in — we would rather be short than wrong.
Permitted uses in CS
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.
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.
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.
AllowedHealth campus Permitted by right — 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.
AllowedPublic utility uses or structures, major Permitted by right — 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).
AllowedAll other business support service uses Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(4).
AllowedAlcohol production facility, small-scale; shared commercial kitchen; Restaurant; and Restaurant, quick- service (without drive- through) Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(5).
AllowedCatering or food processing for off-site consumption Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(5)(C).
ConditionalRestaurant, quick- service (with drive- through) Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalCemetery or crematory Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalFuneral parlor or undertaking establishment Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(d). Standards: 27-5102(e)(6)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
"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.
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