Nov. 1, 2017 - Before you cut down trees on your own property or build a shed or deck, you need to be aware of Chesapeake Bay regulations. Protection zones extend 200 feet from certain wetlands and waterways -- sometimes even things you don’t think of as waterways, like ditches that flow into the bay.

For the record, it’s the property owners’ responsibility to know if their land falls into one of the three protection zones … whether they’ve owned the property for decades or are buying new.

City staff can advise you on how best to achieve your goals for your property – whether it’s how to improve your view without cutting down trees or bushes, or what and where you can build and stay within the law.

These buffer zones are important because the natural vegetation that grows there helps filter out pollutants, control erosion and retain some of the water before it flows into the bay.