Search Howard County Residents Directory
The Howard County residents directory gives you tools to search court records, property maps, tax data, and permit files in one of Maryland's most well-organized counties. Howard County has about 332,000 residents and its county seat is Ellicott City. The county runs several online portals that make it easy to look up public records without visiting an office. This page covers the main databases and government offices you can use when searching for public records in Howard County.
Howard County Overview
Howard County Residents Directory GIS Maps
Howard County's Interactive GIS at data.howardcountymd.gov is one of the most powerful mapping tools in the state. It offers 14 different search types. You can search by owner name, tax ID, plat number, tax map and parcel, street intersection, and even by longitude and latitude. The tool also covers utility infrastructure like manholes, water valves, water mains, and hydrants.
The screenshot below shows the Howard County Interactive GIS interface. It has tools for measuring length and area, selecting features, drawing on the map, and toggling data layers on and off.
One of the best features for the Howard County residents directory is the historical aerial photo collection. The GIS tool has aerial images going back to 1943. Available years include 1943, 1952, 1963, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2013, 2017, 2022, and 2025. This is useful for property research, environmental reviews, and seeing how a neighborhood has changed over time. No other county in Maryland offers this depth of aerial history through a free online tool.
Howard County Tax Payment Portal
Howard County switched to a new tax payment system in December 2024. The portal at payments.municipay.com lets you view tax bills, pay online, check payment history, and set up email or text notifications for upcoming bills. The screenshot below shows the search page for Howard County tax payments.
For property assessments, you can also use the SDAT property search at sdat.dat.maryland.gov. Howard County uses county code 14 in the state system. SDAT shows ownership info, assessed values, sales history, and deed references. These records are public under GP Section 4-201 of the Maryland Public Information Act.
Howard County Permit Records
The ePermits portal at dilp.howardcountymd.gov is where you search for building permits, trade permits, fire permits, licenses, and enforcement cases in Howard County. You can track permit status, schedule inspections, view violation records, and handle license renewals through this system. The screenshot below shows the Citizen Access portal homepage.
This tool is part of the broader Howard County residents directory for building and property information. If you are buying a home or checking on work done at a property, the permit search will show you what was filed, what was approved, and what inspections were completed. The system is free to search and available around the clock.
Court and Land Records in Howard County
The Howard County Circuit Court is at 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 1900 in Ellicott City. The clerk is Wayne A. Robey. Call 410-313-2111 for general info. The land records office is at 410-313-5850. Recording hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and public access continues until 4:30 PM.
Recording fees in Howard County start at $20 for most instruments of nine pages or fewer, plus a $40 surcharge. Principal residence documents cost $20 regardless of length. Non-residence documents of 10 or more pages jump to $75 plus the surcharge. Releases under nine pages are $10 plus $40. The recordation tax in Howard County is $2.50 per $500 of consideration. The state transfer tax is 0.5% and the county transfer tax is 1.25%. You can search land records for free on mdlandrec.net with a registered account.
All Howard County court cases are searchable at casesearch.courts.state.md.us for free. Marriage licenses cost $50 in Howard County. Only one party needs to appear, but you need ID for both. The 48-hour waiting period applies and the license is valid for six months. Civil ceremonies cost $25 by appointment. Under GP Section 4-362, you can seek judicial enforcement if a records request is denied.
Howard County Police Records
The Howard County Police Department is at 3410 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. Call 410-313-3200 for general info or email therecordssection@howardcountymd.gov for records requests. Accident reports are available online through CrashDocs or BuyCrash.com. You need the driver's name, date, and report number to pull one up.
Howard County police started using body worn cameras in August 2022. All sworn officers wear them. Footage is kept for at least three years. You can request footage through a PIA submission, but processing takes an average of three hours per request so expect some wait time. The Sheriff's Office at 8360 Court Avenue in Ellicott City handles its own records separately. Standard reports cost $10. Older reports from more than two years back cost $19.80. Payment is by check or money order only. GP Section 4-301 exempts certain police records from public release, including active investigation files and juvenile records.
Note: Howard County Sheriff's Office report fees increase from $10 to $19.80 for records older than two years.
Columbia Association Records
Columbia is the largest community in Howard County and has its own association that maintains covenant records. The Columbia Association manages 10 village associations. They keep records on covenants, restrictions, open spaces, pathways, and village centers. If you are buying property in Columbia, you need a Letter of Compliance from the village office to confirm the property meets all covenant rules. These letters are required for real estate closings.
The 10 Columbia villages are Dorsey's Search, Hickory Ridge, Kings Contrivance, Long Reach, Oakland Mills, Owen Brown, River Hill, Town Center, Wilde Lake, and Harper's Choice. Each village has its own office. The Howard County Historical Society at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City also holds maps, deeds, marriage licenses, voter records, and photographs. Their online catalog is at howardcounty.pastperfectonline.com.
Cities in Howard County
Howard County communities use county systems for public records. Select a city to find residents directory resources for that area.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Howard County. Use the SDAT property search to verify which county handles records for a specific address.