Baltimore City Announces Interactive Map Highlighting Housing Options And Opportunities Act Impact
BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, November 28, 2025) — Today, The City of Baltimore with Mayor Brandon M. Scott launched a Housing Options And Opportunities Interactive Map to help residents visualize how proposed zoning changes will impact Baltimore City neighborhoods. Residents can use this tool to see how the bill, if passed, could possibly impact their block and surrounding areas. The map can be viewed online here.
“This legislation is about lowering housing costs and giving homeowners the flexibility to make reasonable, safe upgrades to their property if they choose to,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “We’re specifically focused on areas where it is nearly impossible to build multifamily housing due to outdated, strict zoning codes. This interactive map gives residents a clear look at the potential changes that would be allowed under this bill, so our communities can engage in this conversation with transparency and confidence.”
Users can easily search their address or explore their neighborhood on the map to see what properties in their vicinity meet the bill’s requirement for adding additional units. The map's findings also show several impacts of the bill:
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Most Homes Will Not be Affected: The vast majority of Baltimore homes are under 1,500 square feet and would see no impact under the bill.
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Duplex Options for Some Homes: Properties around 1,500 - 2,250 sq. ft., could be converted into duplexes — but only if the homeowner chooses to pursue the conversion.
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Minority of Homes Can Add 3-4 Additional Units: Only the largest homes would qualify to be converted into 3 (2,250 sq. ft.+) or 4 (3,000 sq. ft. +) units, representing a small fraction of Baltimore's homes.
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Multifamily Homes Aren't New: The map highlights pre-existing multifamily homes that most city blocks already have, showing that duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are not new to Baltimore's neighborhoods.
In May, Mayor Scott introduced the Housing Options and Opportunity Act to lower housing costs and expand housing opportunities. The bill proposes modest changes to Baltimore’s zoning code that would encourage more duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. In most of Baltimore, it is illegal to build small multifamily housing like duplexes and triplexes. In many of the areas where it is legal to build multifamily housing, homeowners have to go through the lengthy and expensive conversion process. This bill would streamline this process, giving homeowners more flexibility with their properties.
The bill is currently being heard by the Land Use and Transportation Committee. The bill was studied and positively recommended by the Department of Housing and Community Development, Planning Department, Zoning Board, Finance Department, and Law Department.
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