Quick answer: Greenbelt homeowners should plan for a layered ADU approval process. Prince George’s County controls the core zoning framework and County building permit, while the City of Greenbelt requires its own building permit whenever a County building permit is required. If the ADU will be rented, Greenbelt also requires rental licensing and annual inspection. Some properties in and around historic Greenbelt are additionally covered by the Greenbelt Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone (NCOZ).
As of September 18, 2026, Prince George’s County’s ADU legislation is still moving through the County Council. That means proposed County standards should not be treated as final until enacted.
Prince George’s County still controls the core ADU zoning rules
The main County zoning proposal is CB-074-2026. It would add ADU definitions, identify where ADUs are permitted and establish zoning standards consistent with Maryland’s statewide ADU law.
A separate County bill, CB-092-2026, addresses non-zoning issues such as rental requirements, short-term rentals, impervious surface, woodland/tree-canopy requirements and individual sewage disposal systems.
The County has also introduced CR-095-2026 to address a potential gap between Maryland’s October 1 local-law deadline and the effective date of County ADU legislation.
For the Countywide picture, read our Prince George’s County ADU rules guide.
Why Greenbelt’s NCO Zone makes this city different
Parts of Greenbelt are covered by the Greenbelt Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone. The Prince George’s County Planning Department says the overlay includes the historic Greenbelt co-op residential community, Roosevelt Center, the library, Community Center, forest preserve, Buddy Attick Lake Park and nearby houses and apartments.
The NCO Zone is intended to preserve Greenbelt’s distinctive development pattern and regulate development, redevelopment and building alterations. Its standards are located in County Zoning Ordinance § 27-4403(a)(5)(A).
This matters for ADUs because CB-074-2026 lists § 27-4403 among the code sections being amended. Homeowners in the Greenbelt NCOZ should therefore check the final enacted ADU ordinance rather than assuming the normal County residential standards will apply unchanged.
The County’s broader NCO Zone guidance explains that these overlays use neighborhood-specific standards to protect established community character.
Greenbelt requires a City building permit when the County requires one
The City’s Building & Construction Permits page states that construction projects requiring a building permit from Prince George’s County must also be permitted by the City of Greenbelt.
For an ADU project, that generally means:
- Confirm the parcel is eligible under the final Prince George’s County ADU rules.
- Check whether the property is inside the Greenbelt NCOZ or another special planning area.
- Prepare the site plan and construction drawings for County review.
- Obtain the required Prince George’s County permit.
- Obtain the corresponding City of Greenbelt permit.
- Complete construction and required inspections.
- If the ADU will be rented, complete Greenbelt’s rental-license and inspection process.
For the broader approval sequence, see our Maryland ADU permits-to-completion guide.
Rental ADUs need a Greenbelt rental license and annual inspection
Greenbelt’s Rental Property Licensing & Inspections page says all rental housing in the City must be licensed and inspected annually.
For an ADU, zoning approval and building permits therefore do not automatically authorize rental occupancy. A homeowner planning to lease the ADU should confirm the City rental-license process, inspection requirements and any County ADU-specific rental restrictions before signing a tenant.
See our Maryland ADU rental and short-term-rental guide for the broader statewide context.
Short-term rental plans may face an additional restriction
Greenbelt currently requires a Prince George’s County short-term rental license followed by a City of Greenbelt rental license, and the City inspects short-term rentals. The current process is explained on Greenbelt’s Short-Term Rentals page.
However, pending County bill CB-092-2026 specifically addresses a prohibition on short-term rental of ADUs. Until final action is complete, homeowners should not assume an ADU can be used for Airbnb or similar stays merely because the property could otherwise qualify for Greenbelt’s current short-term-rental licensing process.
Lot coverage, impervious surface and trees deserve extra attention
Detached ADUs can add roof area, walkways, parking surfaces and utility work. That makes lot coverage and impervious surface especially important in Greenbelt, where neighborhood-conservation goals and tree/landscape conditions can matter.
CB-092-2026 specifically includes proposed ADU provisions involving impervious surface and woodland/tree-canopy requirements. Those are still pending, but they are a useful warning not to judge feasibility only from square footage and setbacks.
Use our Maryland ADU lot-coverage guide alongside the setback guide and height guide.
Greenbelt ADU homeowner checklist
- Confirm the address is inside Greenbelt. Use our Maryland ADU Jurisdiction Finder as a starting point.
- Confirm the final County ADU law. CB-074, CB-092 and CR-095 remain part of the September 2026 transition.
- Check the Greenbelt NCOZ map. Historic-core properties can have neighborhood-specific development standards.
- Check setbacks, height and lot coverage separately.
- Obtain the County permit first.
- Then obtain the City of Greenbelt permit.
- If renting, obtain the City rental license and complete annual inspection.
- If considering short-term rental, verify the final County ADU restriction before investing in that model.
Bottom line
Greenbelt is not a page we should collapse into a generic Prince George’s County article. The City adds its own permit and rental-inspection requirements, while the Greenbelt NCO Zone creates a neighborhood-specific development layer for much of the historic core.
As of September 18, 2026, the final County ADU package is still in motion. Verify the enacted versions of CB-074-2026, CB-092-2026 and any deadline-gap measure before treating proposed standards as permit rules.
Sources checked September 18, 2026: Maryland Land Use § 4-504; Prince George’s County CB-074-2026, CB-092-2026 and CR-095-2026; Prince George’s County Planning Department Greenbelt NCOZ guidance; City of Greenbelt Building & Construction Permits; City of Greenbelt Rental Property Licensing & Inspections; City of Greenbelt Short-Term Rentals. This page is for planning information and is not legal, zoning or architectural advice.
What to do next
Start by finding the office that reviews your property. A mailing city or a county guide does not establish your parcel’s authority.
- Find Who Reviews My Property.
- Obtain your parcel identifier, survey, floor plans and utility records.
- Ask the reviewing office which current rules, supporting documents and approvals apply.
- Continue to your planning workspace.
Enable JavaScript to prepare a downloadable next-step brief. Planning guidance is not permit approval.