Governor Moore Signed New Housing Executive Orders

The initiatives aim to accelerate state permitting and repurpose surplus land for development.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Residential

Isometric editorial illustration showing neat wooden residential framing modules and structural components arranged in an orderly grid, representing housing development initiatives. — Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed executive orders on Tuesday to accelerate state housing development by streamlining permitting and repurposing surplus land. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should state governments actively intervene to accelerate local housing development and permitting processes?

Governor Wes Moore has signed two executive orders to address Maryland's housing shortage and high costs. The actions establish a new housing incubator and a council tasked with identifying funding and regulatory reforms.

Why it matters

By cutting red tape and leveraging state assets, Maryland seeks to boost residential inventory and lower costs for residents across the state.

The state has identified over 300 acres of surplus land for potential housing. Additionally, the State Housing Ombudsman has already supported 50 unique development projects.

The players

Wes Moore

Wes Moore is the Governor of Maryland who is currently implementing new executive actions to reform the state's housing sector.

Department of Housing and Community Development

This state agency is responsible for overseeing the reviews of multifamily housing project applications in Maryland.

Maryland Department of the Environment

This state regulatory body is responsible for processing environmental permits required for new construction.

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

This agency manages road-related permits and has recently improved its on-time processing rates.

The details

The orders create a Housing Innovation Incubator and an advisory council to streamline the development process. Furthermore, the state created a Modular Workforce Partnership to focus on training and apprenticeship opportunities.

October 1, 2026: Governor Moore signed two new housing executive orders.
March 2026: The state created the State Housing Ombudsman position.
September 2025: The governor signed the Housing Starts Here executive order.

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Culture Shift

These actions follow the framework of the Maryland Housing Starts Here executive order to address systemic inventory shortages. The shift reflects a broader policy trend toward using government land assets to combat housing unaffordability.

Residents may see an increase in housing supply as the state accelerates permitting and repurposes surplus land. This initiative could potentially lower long-term housing costs by reducing development timelines for new projects.

The takeaway

The state is prioritizing regulatory efficiency to tackle the ongoing housing affordability crisis. These measures indicate a long-term commitment to reducing administrative bottlenecks for developers.