Local governments - particularly those defense communities that border or in close proximity to an installation - play a significant role in supporting military installation sustainability through specific strategies, tools, best practices, and dialogue that promote compatible community development. Localities can further provide infrastructure, programs, and services necessary to support military installation operations, mission assurance, and resilience. Military installation sustainability is achieved when communities and military installations balance complementary and competing needs and interests. Local governments, in partnership with an installation, can promote this balance by analyzing and identifying actions necessary to foster, protect, and enhance military operations, mission assurance, and resilience through compatible community development and by providing shared infrastructure and services beyond an installation's fence line.

An overview of planning tools, local ordinance development guidance, best practices, and strategies for outreach and communication is presented throughout this section to provide an understanding of the role local governments can play in identifying and addressing shared issues that affect community and economic development, as well as military installation operations and mission assurance.

Local Government Planning and Tools to Support Compatibility:
Learn more about the tools available to Maryland localities to guide compatible community development in support of continued military operations.

Local Ordinance Development Guidance:
Learn how to develop different types of ordinances to help guide and manage compatible community development near military installations and in military operational areas.

Best Practices:
Learn more about best practices Maryland local governments and other defense communities across the country have implemented to address military-community compatibility issues.

Outreach and Communication for Planning Coordination:
Learn more about how communication and coordination between a military installation and the surrounding community can promote compatible community development, public health and safety, and prevent disruption to military operations.

Compatibility Review Mapping Tool:
Learn more about the military operations, impacts, and how they may geospatially intersect with Maryland's defense communities. This mapping tool allows users to explore whether a community, property, or proposed project lies within features such as military training routes or other special use airspace, is near accident potential zones, or may be subject to noise generated by military operations. Statewide data layers have also been included to illustrate how military installations intersect with growth and incentive areas, infrastructure and land use elements, and other resilience and conservation features.