State and county leaders examine how Maryland can make permitting more predictable and efficient while supporting responsible growth.

Counties face growing pressure to move housing, commercial development, and critical infrastructure projects through the permitting process more efficiently, while still navigating complex regulatory requirements, public processes, and community priorities. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Benjamin Brooks moderated a discussion with state and county planning leaders on improving coordination, increasing predictability, and finding practical ways to make permitting work more effectively for applicants, governments, and communities.

Senator @BenBrooksSr is moderating “Moving at the Speed of Need,” a conversation on permitting as one of the most important—and most scrutinized—points in Maryland’s development process. #MACoCon https://t.co/1f2BvhybSI

— Dominic J. Butchko (@DomButchko_MACo) August 14, 2026

• Rebecca Flora, Secretary, Maryland Department of Planning spoke about her work leading that state’s permitting council and the need for better regulations, including a more expedient regulatory review process.
• Brennan Tarleton, Director, Department of Planning & Zoning, Talbot County gave the perspective of a small county, including challenges but also opportunities. With the growth of more advanced tools, smaller jurisdictions are learning how to streamline and automate previously lengthy review processes.
• Pete Gutwald, Director of Permits Approvals and Inspections, Baltimore County spoke about the perspective from a large jurisdiction, detailing the challenges for large jurisdictions with an abundance of scenarios to evaluate as well as how to more effectively use existing resources.

For counties, effective permitting requires balancing timely and predictable review with the regulatory, infrastructure, and community considerations necessary to support responsible development.