Charles County, MD

OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY

The Office of the County Attorney is responsible for all legal affairs of the County Government.

Legal advice and representation regarding a wide range of County issues are provided for the County Commissioners, County Administrator, Department Directors, Treasurer, and all County agencies, boards and commissions. 

Significant areas of practice include: Land Use, Planning and Zoning; Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Corrections; Procurement and Contracts; Civil Litigation; Appellate Research, Writing and Advocacy; Drafting Legal Opinions, Legislation, Ordinances, Resolutions and Rules of Procedure; Administrative Law; Ethics, Public Information and Open Meetings; Health Care, Housing and Social Services Programs; Public Utilities, Water and Sewer Infrastructure, Financing, Construction and Operation; Transportation, Property Acquisition and highway planning and construction; Real Estate; Collections and Public Finance; Environmental Law and Constitutional Law.

RIGHT OF WAY AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION DIVISION

The Right of Way and Property Acquisition Division is responsible for managing and overseeing the acquisition and/or encumbrance of land and property necessary for public infrastructure projects which include road construction, utility installation, and other government developments. This department works to negotiate with property owners, acquire easements, and facilitate paperwork for legal compliance during the acquisition process.  The division also supports developer and private property owner projects by reviewing plats and plans to confirm that roads and infrastructure are conveyed per County policy and code. By coordinating these efforts, the department ensures that public and private projects can proceed smoothly, while maintaining County compliance with federal, state and local law and providing excellent customer service to all involved parties.