The Maryland Comptroller’s new report, “Housing & the Economy” (Oct. 2025), delivers a clear message: restrictive zoning and slow housing production are costing Maryland and its citizens income and opportunity.
The Comptroller’s Housing & the Economy report provides a sweeping, data-rich snapshot of Maryland’s housing challenges, and in doing so, offers implicit and explicit policy cues that align closely with the land use and zoning reforms that we regularly advocate for on behalf of our clients. Of note, Maryland currently faces a shortage of about 100,000 housing units. To meet future demand through 2045, the state needs roughly 590,000 new units, approximately 30,000 units per year. Yet over the past decade Maryland has averaged only approximately 18,000 annual permits. The states Maryland is losing population to (e.g. North Carolina, Texas, Florida) permit housing at much higher per-household rates. In addition, vacancy rates in Maryland (for both ownership and rental) are well below national averages, reflecting tightness in the marketplace. The imbalance between supply and demand is glaring. Any local plan or zoning regime that refuses to permit new housing, even moderate or infill development, stands on shaky ground given the statewide context.
Maryland’s housing shortage is not just a policy concern, it is an opportunity to shape the state’s economic future. The Comptroller’s report underscores what our team sees every day: high costs, restrictive zoning, and lengthy approvals are pushing residents and employers away. At McNamee Hosea we help clients turn these challenges into possibilities. Through strategic zoning flexibility, we guide higher-density, mixed-use, and infill projects that create vibrant, connected communities. Our experience with streamlining approvals reduces risk and saves valuable time, while our insight into fee structures ensures that infrastructure investments are both fair and feasible. By advancing by-right redevelopment and unlocking underused properties, we help local governments and developers deliver the housing Maryland needs, and the growth its economy deserves.
