Unofficial November 3, 2026 election results show Baltimore County Question A leading with 72.17% for and 27.83% against. The State Board of Elections page was last refreshed November 6, 2026, at 8:36 p.m. These results remain unofficial.
Question A is titled the Baltimore County Farmland Preservation Act and addresses changes to the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line, or URDL.
Unlike measures that directly fund housing construction, this amendment changes how certain land-use decisions are approved.
What the Amendment Provides
Baltimore County uses an Urban-Rural Demarcation Line, commonly called the URDL, to separate urban areas from rural areas.
This boundary plays an important role in the county's long-term land-use planning.
The ballot explanation describes an increase from five votes to six on a nine-member County Council for Planning Board recommended URDL changes.
The official amendment text also requires the affirmative vote of the council member or members whose districts contain the proposed change. It states the threshold as a majority plus one of the total council membership. Confirm the operative charter text and effective date with the county before relying on a particular approval process.
Other planning and zoning decisions will continue to use the existing simple-majority approval process.
Why Does This Matter to Homeowners
The URDL helps shape where urban-scale development and infrastructure expansion may occur.
Making the boundary more difficult to change could help maintain the existing rural character of communities outside it.
The higher threshold may support continuity in land-use planning, while also reducing flexibility for boundary changes that could accommodate development or infrastructure needs. These are potential policy tradeoffs, not documented market effects.
However, the amendment does not guarantee that nearby land will remain undeveloped.
Could This Affect Home Prices
Potentially, although the relationship is complicated.
When development opportunities are limited, the available housing supply may grow more slowly than it otherwise would.
Over time, limited supply can contribute to upward pressure on prices if buyer demand remains strong.
On the other hand, preservation of rural landscapes can be part of what attracts buyers to certain areas.
Neither outcome is guaranteed, and the amendment alone does not establish that property values will increase.
What Does This Mean for Landowners and Developers
Owners of potentially developable land should pay particular attention.
If a future development proposal depends on changing the URDL, obtaining approval may become more difficult.
However, the measure does not automatically rezone properties, prohibit all development outside the URDL, or eliminate existing development rights.
Any property-specific development potential still needs to be evaluated using current zoning, land-use regulations, infrastructure availability, and applicable restrictions.
What Consumers Can Do Next
The unofficial vote favors a higher approval threshold, including affected district representation, for changes to the boundary separating urban and rural areas.
For homeowners, buyers, and landowners, the decision reinforces the importance of understanding a property's location, zoning, and surrounding development potential.
When purchasing acreage, farmland, or a home near undeveloped property, it's important to distinguish between land that is currently vacant and land that is legally protected from development.
The Bird Team with Red Cedar Real Estate helps buyers and sellers understand the characteristics that influence property values, including location, land use, property condition, and surrounding development.
Official sources checked November 6, 2026:
Maryland State Board of Elections ballot language: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/ballot_questions.html
Unofficial local results: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/general_results/gen_qresults_2026_by_county_4.html
Official amendment text: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/Baltimore_County_Proposed_Charter_Amendment_Text.pdf