Land Use - Historic Preservation Commission - Right of Appeal

HB 1255 amends Maryland law to give local jurisdictions the option of allowing appeals from historic preservation commission decisions directly to their board of appeals, rather than only to the planning commission. This primarily affects property owners, developers, or community members who disagree with a historic preservation ruling and wish to challenge it. The bill adds a new provision (Section 8-308(B)) stating that local governments may authorize such appeals to the board of appeals, expanding existing appeal pathways. The change takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter the substantive requirements for preservation decisions.