PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — After a lengthy process, the Calvert Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) passed the revisions to Chapter 7 of the Calvert County Code – Animals that were proposed in 2025 at the March 17 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
The revisions were discussed at length in past meetings and were posted for the mandatory 30-day period to receive public comment. Officials said they received three comments on the revisions during this period.
Commissioner Catherine Grasso added that they were able to contact two of the people who submitted comments to answer their questions. They could not reach the third person because they submitted their comment anonymously.
First proposed in August 2025, the new code is meant to add updated language to a county code that hasn’t changed in 17 years. The new code has added definitions for hunting and working dogs and certain livestock animals, and added regulations about licensure for certain types of animals. According to a memo submitted by Director of Public Safety Dave McDowell, the department believes this update adequately serves the need to modernize the ordinance, clarify accountability and align local regulations with current animal welfare standards and enforcement practices.
Deputy Director of Animal Services April Coleman assured the county commissioners that changes were made that would benefit the safety of the animals. She also added that several revisions were made to align with state law.
“Most of it is promoting more accountability for things that are already in place,” Coleman said. “We’re taking away a lot of gray areas. We’re giving a clearer guideline of citizens when it comes to expectations, especially when it comes to weather and housing.”
One example Coleman gave was that the code now allows for a 3-year animal license. Since some rabies vaccines are good for three years, citizens can get the rabies vaccine and license at the same time, and renew them at the same time, rather than working on different timelines.
Read the full ordinance online.
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