Maryland’s New Flood Risk Disclosure: A Major Change for Calvert County Home Sales

By Dawn Riley, Associate Broker, Realtor, Master Certified Negotiator and Pricing Strategy Advisor | Published August 4, 2026

Maryland is creating a statewide flood-risk disclosure for residential sales. The statute takes effect October 1, 2026, but seller delivery of the new form begins July 1, 2027.

The date distinction matters

HB 200 becomes law October 1, 2026 so the Maryland Department of the Environment can develop and maintain the form. The transaction requirement begins July 1, 2027. Treating October 1 as the seller compliance date would be inaccurate.

What sellers will provide

Before entering the contract, a covered seller must provide the completed State flood-risk disclosure and a FEMA elevation certificate if one is available. The form addresses mapped flood risk and known flood history.

Why Calvert County needs special attention

Calvert County has Chesapeake Bay, Patuxent River, creek, bluff and low-lying properties. Flood-zone status is only one part of risk. Drainage, tidal exposure, access roads, erosion, insurance availability and prior water events can matter even outside a mapped high-risk zone.

What buyers should investigate

Buyers should review the disclosure, FEMA information, insurance quotes, elevation documentation, permits and observable drainage. A disclosure is a starting point, not an engineering report or insurance guarantee.

What sellers should do before listing

Gather surveys, elevation certificates, permits, insurance claim information and records of drainage or shoreline work. Answer only what the form asks, but answer accurately. Known facts should not be minimized because the property is outside a particular FEMA designation.

The bottom line

This law deserves attention, but it should not be overstated. My role is to identify the issue early, verify the controlling information and strategically position my client with clear deadlines and documented facts.