Prince George's County, MD · Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance
The RMF-48 Zone provides sites for high-density multifamily residential development supporting residential living and walkability, proximate to centers including transit centers (Subtitle 27).
Development standards in RMF-48
Maximum height
110 ft
Sec. 27-4202
Maximum lot coverage
60%
Sec. 27-4202
Minimum lot size
7500 sq ft
Sec. 27-4202
Minimum lot width
75 ft
Sec. 27-4202
Max density
48 units/acre
Sec. 27-4202
Front setback
At least 15 ft; portions of a building higher than 52 ft are set back an additional 0.5 ft for every 1 ft above 52 ft — see Sec. 27-4202
Side setback
At least 8 ft (one figure for 'both yards total/either yard'); on a corner lot, at least 30 ft for the side yard alongside the street; portions of a building higher than 52 ft are set back an additional 0.5 ft for every 1 ft above 52 ft — see Sec. 27-4202
Rear setback
At least 20 ft; portions of a building higher than 52 ft are set back an additional 0.5 ft for every 1 ft above 52 ft — see Sec. 27-4202
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.
At least 80% of buildings must be >= 52 ft tall; portions above 52 ft must be set back an additional 0.5 ft per 1 ft of height over 52 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 RMF-48
AllowedCommunity garden Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(b)(1)(A).
ConditionalNursery and Garden Center Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedUrban agriculture Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(b)(1)(D).
AllowedFarm-based alcohol production Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(b)(2)(A).
AllowedFarm market Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
ConditionalSawmill Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(b)(2)(B); 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(c). Standards: 27-5102(b)(3)(A).
AllowedArtists' residential studios Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(1)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDwelling, live-work Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(1)(B); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDwelling, multifamily Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(1)(D), 27-5102(c)(1)(E); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedApartment housing for elderly or physically disabled families Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedAssisted living facility (≤ 8 elderly or handicapped residents) Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(2)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedAssisted living facility (> 8 elderly or handicapped residents) Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(2)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedConvent or monastery Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
AllowedFraternity or sorority house Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedGroup residential facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(2)(B).
ConditionalPlanned retirement community Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPrivate dormitory Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(c)(2)(C).
AllowedAntenna Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(1)(A).
AllowedBroadcasting studio and newspaper/periodical publishing Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
ConditionalTower, pole, or monopole Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). 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(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedAdult day care center Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(D); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedCultural facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalDay care center for children Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). 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(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedEmergency services facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalPlace of worship located on a lot less than 1 acre in size Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalPlace of worship located in a building that was originally constructed as a dwelling, on a lot less than 1 acre in size Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(C); 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(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
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(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPlace of worship, all others Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(2)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalAdaptive reuse of a surplus public school Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalCollege or university Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedDriving school Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(D).
ConditionalPrivate school Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(3)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalHospital Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalHealth campus Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedMedical or dental office or lab Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
ConditionalMedical/residential campus Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalNursing or care home Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(4)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalAirfield, Airpark, Airport or Airstrip Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalPark and ride facility Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedParking facility Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(5)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalTransit station or terminal Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalPublic utility uses or structures, major Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(d)(6)(B); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedPublic utility uses or structures, minor Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
AllowedAnimal shelter Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalVeterinary hospital or clinic Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(e)(3)(C); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedArt gallery Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
AllowedArt, photography, music, dance, yoga, pilates, or martial arts studio or schools Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedManufacturing, artisan or maker Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedAll other business support services Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). 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(c). Standards: 27-5102(e)(5).
AllowedCatering or food processing for off-site consumption Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(e)(5)(C).
ConditionalFuneral parlor or undertaking establishment Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(e)(6)(A); Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
ConditionalAll other funeral and mortuary uses Requires Special Exception approval (Sec. 27-3604) — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: Special Exception standards: Sec. 27-5400.
AllowedContractor's office Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
AllowedOffice, general business and professional Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c).
AllowedAll other personal service uses Permitted by right — Table 27-5101(c). Standards: 27-5102(e)(7).
"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?
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