Howard County, Maryland Public Records

Howard County was created from parts of Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties in 1839. It is located in central Maryland, bordering both Baltimore and Washington D.C. The county seat is Ellicott City.

Howard County operates under a charter form of government. The County Executive provides direction on the implementation of County and budgetary policy, while overseeing the preparation of the annual operating and capital budget. The County Executive is elected by the voters of Howard County.

The County Council consists of five members, each of whom is elected to serve a four-year term. The County Council is responsible for adopting and amending the County Charter, approving the annual operating and capital budgets, approving the annual local income tax rate, and adopting laws and resolutions.

Howard County is home to many large business parks, including Columbia Business Park, Howard Technology Park, and Security Square Mall. It is also home to many organizations dedicated to business incubation and innovated, including the Howard County Economic Development Authority, the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship, and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation.

Howard County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all civil cases with claims of more than $30,000, all criminal cases where the offense carries a potential penalty of more than 90 days in jail, all juvenile cases, all probate matters, all appeals from District Court, and all domestic matters.