# Maryland HB 1137: Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act) Maryland HB 1137, Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Nick Allen (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 726) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1137-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland HB 1137 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act) - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-11 - Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 726 - Sponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Local Government - Generally, Housing and Community Development, Baltimore City, Commercial Property, Community Development, Construction, Contracts -see also- Procurement, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., Deeds, Easements, Evaluations and Reviews, Homeowner Associations, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Low-Income, Parking, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Real Estate -see also- Agents and Brokers, Real Property, Reports, Residential Property -see also- Apartments; Condominiums, Rules and Regulations, Rural Areas, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Security Interests -see also- Liens, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Sunset, Urban Areas, Zoning and Planning - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (144 yes, 35 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Apartments allowed on commercial parcels in large counties: benefit, medium. Beginning June 1, 2026, counties with more than 150,000 people allow multifamily or mixed-use as a permitted use on parcels zoned commercial or recreational that have water and sewer service. This opens more sites for housing without a special approval process. This rule ends May 31, 2027. - Private covenants can't block housing: benefit, medium. Beginning June 1, 2026, if you have exclusive use of a property and follow all laws, private deed or HOA rules cannot unreasonably block residential or mixed‑use construction. Rules that greatly raise costs or ban multifamily count as unreasonable. This does not apply to properties listed in or eli… - Affordable unit rules and definitions: mixed, medium. Beginning June 1, 2026, a county cannot make a permitted development include a higher share of affordable units than it already requires in residential zones. The law defines affordable as housing costs at or below 30% of income. It defines an affordable unit as for households at or below 60% of HU… - Fewer zoning hurdles, some local limits: mixed, medium. Beginning June 1, 2026, in counties with more than 150,000 people, permitted multifamily or mixed-use projects face fewer local rules. Counties cannot set lower density, larger setbacks, lot size or coverage limits, or require private open space or most paving. Counties also cannot set minimum off‑… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Nick Allen (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-03-23 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 101 | 35 | 2 | ## Actions (14) - 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 726 - 2026-04-08: Returned Passed (House) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate) - 2026-04-03: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (101-35) (House) - 2026-03-21: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-03-21: Favorable with Amendments {103524/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-03-21: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-03-03: Hearing 3/05 at 1:30 p.m. (House) - 2026-03-03: Hearing canceled (House) - 2026-02-17: Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-02-11: First Reading Economic Matters (House) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_726_hb1137t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-03-21: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1137t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-02-11: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1137f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_726_hb1137t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1137t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1137f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1137-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).