ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Today, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order that reinstates any previously suspended effects of deadlines and due dates as of July 1, 2021. This action rescinds two prior executive orders that suspended the effects of certain deadlines and due dates administered by Howard County for the duration of the County's declared state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The County Executive signed the two prior executive orders after the Governor authorized local governments to suspend the effects of certain deadlines up to 30 days after the termination of the County's state of emergency.
In March 2021, the Governor rescinded the authority previously given to local governments and required effects of all deadlines and due dates be reinstated no later than June 30, 2021. In signing today's executive order, County Executive Ball has acted to comply with the Governor's directive and to provide approximately six weeks of notice that any previously suspended effects of deadlines or due dates would only continue through June 30, 2021. Howard County residents and businesses should be aware that effects of deadlines and due dates that were previously suspended by the County Executive are now reinstated as of July 1, 2021, as ordered by the Governor.
The new Howard County action impacts procedures across County agencies, including zoning, land use, permitting, and other matters. Any deadline or due date effect suspended pursuant to Howard County Executive Order 2020-03 and not previously reimplemented by departmental directive pursuant to Howard County Executive Order 2020-04 will become effective as of July 1, 2021 and the deadline will be considered expired as of that date. Timelines, on the other hand, were not tolled by virtue of the state and local executive orders.
Today’s Executive Order aims to provide as much time as possible for interested parties to act before deadlines resume on July 1, 2021.
Residents with questions should contact departments directly to understand the full extent of the suspension of deadlines. Contact information may be found online at www.howardcountymd.gov.