When is a buffer management plan required in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area?
Any disturbance in the 100-foot or expanded buffer will require a buffer management plan approved by the Office of Planning and Zoning. Disturbance includes cutting or removing vegetation and grading or filling activity. In addition to a buffer management plan, a property owner may need approval from the Department of Inspections and Permits. This approval comes in the form of a grading permit. For disturbances under 5,000 square feet, a property owner may seek approval of a more simplified, standard grading plan (also known as standard lot sheet) instead of a grading permit.
