On October 23, 2018, the Prince George’s County Council adopted a new Zoning Ordinance and new Subdivision Regulations for Prince George’s County. As part of the implementation of these new laws, a new Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Zone (NCOZ) is being prepared for those properties in the City of Mount Rainier currently classified in the R-55 (One-Family Detached Residential), R-35 (One-Family Semidetached, and Two-Family Detached, Residential), and R-20 (One-Family Triple-Attached Residential) Zones.

The purpose of the NCOZ is to protect and preserve the unique development features and character of established neighborhoods throughout the County, and to promote new development that is compatible with the existing neighborhood character. Minimum criteria for the designation of an NCOZ are established in the new Zoning Ordinance; these will be addressed in a Mount Rainier neighborhood study that specifies the development context. The Mount Rainier NCOZ will also include development standards specific to Mount Rainier’s single-family residential neighborhoods; should the Mount Rainier NCOZ be approved, the standards will regulate development, redevelopment, and building alterations in the zone.