Queen Anne’s County Officials Review Sewer Capacity, Development Moratorium

Queen Anne’s County leaders are continuing to evaluate how future growth will be managed as sewer capacity becomes increasingly limited.

During their April 14 meeting, the County Commissioners received an update on the county’s building moratorium, Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan, and a proposed sewer allocation policy.

The temporary moratorium, put in place in August 2025, pauses larger residential developments — typically those with more than seven homes — to allow time for officials to address limited sewer capacity. The moratorium is set to expire in August 2026.

County officials say there is currently no practical way to significantly expand sewer treatment capacity, shifting the focus to how existing capacity is used. The county has about 150,000 gallons per day of remaining capacity.

Leaders say that once that capacity is used, it cannot be replaced, largely due to federal environmental regulations tied to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

As a result, a task force made up of multiple county departments is recommending a new approach to managing growth. Proposed changes include an annual cap on residential sewer allocations starting in 2027, a quarterly application process, and prioritizing projects that address failing septic systems, public health concerns, and redevelopment within existing communities.

Officials say the proposed limits would apply only to residential development, and the county remains open to new business growth.

Commissioners raised questions about how projects would be evaluated and expressed concerns about creating a process where some developments move forward while others do not. There were also concerns about the workload a new application system could place on staff.

Leaders also discussed how growth could shift to incorporated towns, where county development rules do not fully apply, potentially raising additional concerns such as school capacity.

County staff will continue refining the plan before it moves to public hearings and potential adoption later this year.