Governor Moore Signs Executive Order to Increase Housing Production and Make Housing More Affordable Across Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today signed an executive order to increase housing production across the state. The order improves the use of state-owned land to create more efficient development, reduce state permitting timelines, and bring more homes to market faster in an effort to tackle housing affordability and promote the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to addressing Maryland’s 96,000 unit housing shortage across the state.

“When we talk about housing that’s more affordable, we’re not just talking about building shelter; we’re talking about building a legacy,” said Gov. Moore. “That’s why we need to move faster to build new homes, move faster to make housing more affordable, and move faster to create a housing market that is more competitive. That’s the vision of this executive order, and our success will be felt for generations to come.”

The “Housing Starts Here” executive order:

• Directs the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of General Services, to identify specific state-owned properties for transit-oriented development, paving the way for more homes for Maryland families to be built through improving the use of state-owned land.

• Promotes government efficiency by reducing state permitting timelines, bringing more homes to market faster while improving the transparency of jurisdictional housing production.

• Creates a new state housing ombudsman to act as a liaison between the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and other state agencies, local governments, developers, local communities, and other stakeholders to assist in the permitting process—ensuring development projects continue without delay.

• Directs the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to work with local jurisdictions to create housing production targets for the state, each county, and each municipality with planning/zoning authority. The production targets are to be published in January 2026 and updated every five years.

• Establishes annual Maryland Housing Leadership Awards to recognize jurisdictions that make progress on their housing development goals. The awards give jurisdictions bonus points that increase their competitiveness when applying for funding programs through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

“More housing is the key to a more affordable Maryland,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “Governor Moore’s executive order will spur housing growth and means more people can live, work and raise their families in our great towns and cities.”

“The Housing Starts Here Executive Order reflects our belief that housing affordability is foundational to economic mobility and opportunity. From affordable rentals to first-time homeownership, from supportive housing to rehabilitation programs, we are addressing every stage of the housing continuum,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “In Howard County, we believe that affordable and attainable housing is a policy priority. With strong partnerships and shared commitment, we can create a future where every Marylander has the stability and opportunity to thrive. I thank Governor Moore and Secretary Day for their steadfast leadership in ensuring everyone can call Maryland home.”

The signing of this executive order builds off of the Moore-Miller Administration’s 2024 legislative housing package, which made housing more affordable and accessible for Marylanders by removing unnecessary barriers to housing construction; strengthening state financing tools for housing construction and community development investments; and creating the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to better protect renters.

Today’s executive order also comes less than two months after Governor Moore announced $50 million in grant awards to support vacant property reduction efforts in Baltimore City through the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative and Reinvest Baltimore. Reinvest Baltimore, established by the governor in 2024, emphasizes speed and scale in vacancy reduction through targeted investments, aiming to move at least 5,000 vacant properties in Baltimore City into homeownership or other positive outcomes through Fiscal Year 2029.

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CONTACT:
Allison Foster, Director of Communications – allison.foster@maryland.gov