Howard County Government

09/04/2026

REMINDER: Howard County Government offices, Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Center's animal shelter, Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services 50+ centers, and the Alpha Ridge Landfill, as well as local Maryland courts in Howard County, are closed this Monday, September 7th in observance of the Labor Day holiday. As there will be no Monday curbside trash, recycling, yard trim, or food scrap collection on Labor Day, the County’s holiday "slide” schedule will be in effect next week.

Howard County Recreation and Parks' Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill Activity Rooms, Gary J. Arthur Community Center, Capitoline Center, Kiwanis-Wallas Hall, Robinson Nature Center, Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, and County historic sites will also be closed on Labor Day. However, County parks and the North Laurel Community Center (NLCC) and Roger Carter Community Center (RCCC) will be open on the 7th; please note, the NLCC and RCCC will close early at 5:00 p.m., with center pools closing at 4:30 p.m. Additionally, the Meadowbrook Athletic Complex will be open, but for planned programs only.

The Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland - RTA will operate on a “Sunday” schedule on the 7th. For more information on RTA, call 1-800-270-9553 or visit www.transitrta.com. All Howard County parking regulations and fees will be in effect on Labor Day.

The 9-1-1 Center, Howard County Police Department, and Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services remain staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, please call 410-313-2200.

County operations will resume on Tuesday, September 8th at regular business hours.

09/04/2026

Don't forget! The Department of Public Works' Bureau of Environmental Services' holiday "slide" schedule will be in effect next week, as there will be NO Monday curbside trash, recycling, yard trim, or food scrap collections on Labor Day, September 7th. Instead, Monday's collections will be picked up on Tuesday, Tuesday on Wednesday, Wednesday on Thursday, and so forth.

To learn more about the holiday "slide" schedule, visit the Bureau's "Holiday/Inclement Weather Trash & Recycling Schedule" website at www.howardcountymd.gov/holidayschedule; for questions, contact the Bureau at 410-313-6444 or email [email protected].

About Certain holidays impact curbside collection and landfill operations. When inclement weather is in the forecast, the Bureau of Environmental Services monitors the weather and road conditions to make a swift decision regarding Alpha Ridge Landfill operations and curbside collections. Stay in the...

09/04/2026

Next Friday, September 11th, Howard County Government will honor and pay tribute to the 2,977 victims (including four Howard County residents) who lost their lives 25 years ago during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. As we vow to always remember, never forget, we invite you to join Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and command members from Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Howard County Police Department, and Howard County Sheriff's Office for a remembrance ceremony. The ceremony will begin promptly at 8:46 a.m. in the Garden of Hope, located across from the white amphitheater in Howard County Recreation and Parks' Centennial Park South at 10000 MD 108 in Ellicott City.

09/03/2026

Please join us in CONGRATULATING Howard County Police Department's Academy Class 52, who recently graduated! To the 15 graduates, congrats on this momentous achievement and thank you for your commitment to protect and serve the residents and visitors of Howard County and beyond.

09/03/2026

As Howard County Recreation and Parks continues to update its Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan (LPPRP), the department is inviting county residents age 50 and older to join its staff and consultants for a virtual focus group on Tuesday, September 15th from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. During the hour, participants will discuss their favorite County parks and programs, what works well, and what could be better. To register to participate in this virtual event, visit Recreation & Parks’ Zoom “HoCo P+P Focus Group - 50+” sign-up webpage at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/pUXC-pfFQY-mtT15yB5R-Q #/registration.

If you are unable to join our Recreation & Parks team on the 15th, be sure to visit the department’s “Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plans (LPPRP)” webpage at www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/land-preservation-parks-and-recreation-plans-lpprp/, where you’ll find a short online "Howard County 2027 Preserve + Play Plan Community Survey" to share your feedback.

09/02/2026

WEATHER UPDATE: The US National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington has CANCELLED the SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for Howard County, that was originally in effect until 5:00 p.m. today, September 2nd.

WEATHER ALERT: The US National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH for Howard County, in effect until 5:00 p.m. this evening, September 2nd. Threat of isolated hail up to ping pong size, scattered wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour, and frequent lightning possible.

REMEMBER, when thunder roars, go indoors! Thunderstorms can produce deadly lightning capable of striking up to 10 miles away. So, if you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm, even if it’s not raining where you are. For more information about lightning safety, visit the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS)'s website at www.weather.gov/safety/lightning.

Howard County Recreation and Parks is also reminding park goers that its eight regional parks (Blandair, Centennial, Cedar Lane, Rockburn, Savage, Schooley Mill, Troy, and Western) are equipped with an outdoor lightning alert system. Anytime a system senses lightning within 10 miles of its designated park, the system's horn and light go off for 15-seconds, notifying park visitors that all in-park activities, including games and practices, must immediately cease and shelter sought (whether within a structure with a roof and four walls or a vehicle). Once lightning is no longer a threat, the horn will sound in three five-second bursts to alert visitors that activities may resume.

While Howard County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) continues to monitor today's weather, OEM is reminding residents of the importance of staying weather aware. You can do so by making sure emergency alerts are activated on your mobile device (visit Ready's "Emergency Alerts" website at www.ready.gov/alerts to learn how) and by subscribing to weather alerts through NWS's website at www.weather.gov/enterprise. Of course, you can also tune to your local television or radio news station for up-to-date forecast as well.

09/02/2026

Just a quick reminder that the Labor Day holiday is one of the six holidays that affects curbside trash, recycling, yard trim, and food scrap collections in Howard County. As a result, the County's holiday slide schedule will be in effect next week as there will be no Monday curbside collections on September 7th, with Monday pickup sliding to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday, and so forth.

For questions and/or more information about the County's holiday slide schedule, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/holidayschedule or contact the Bureau of Environmental Services at 410-313-6444 or email [email protected].

About Certain holidays impact curbside collection and landfill operations. When inclement weather is in the forecast, the Bureau of Environmental Services monitors the weather and road conditions to make a swift decision regarding Alpha Ridge Landfill operations and curbside collections. Stay in the...

09/02/2026

PLEASE REMEMBER, if you come across a fallen tree in the roadway that is impeding the flow of traffic, please call 9-1-1. The same goes for downed power lines. If you see a downed power line, sparking or not, leave the area immediately and then call 9-1-1.

Howard County Police Department is also reminding motorists that Maryland State Law REQUIRES all drivers to “Stop, Yield, and then Proceed with Caution” when they encounter a non-functioning traffic signal. Drivers must first stop completely at a clearly marked stop line or before entering a crosswalk or intersection. After stopping, the driver must yield to any vehicle already in the intersection or pedestrian in the crosswalk. Only after it is safe may the driver enter and continue through the intersection with caution. If you come across an non-functioning traffic signal without police presence, please call 9-1-1.

09/02/2026

WEATHER ALERT: In addition to the two previous SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS for Howard County, both in effect until 1:30 p.m., the US National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington has just issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for southeastern Howard County, in effect until 2:00 p.m. today, September 2nd. At 1:12 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Sparrows Point to near Fairland, moving southeast at 45 miles per hour.

With these storms, comes damaging wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour which will cause some trees and large branches to fall, possibly injuring those outdoors and damaging homes and vehicles. Roadways may also become blocked by downed trees and localized power outages are possible. Additionally, unsecured light objects may become projectiles. If you are in the storm's path, please move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building IMMEDIATELY.

Again, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

09/02/2026

WEATHER ALERT: In addition to the SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for northeastern Howard County, the US National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington has ALSO issued another SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for Howard County, in effect until 1:30 p.m. today, September 2nd. At 12:46 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Braddock Heights to seven miles north of Mount Airy to Gamber, moving south at 45 miles per hour.

With these storms, comes damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour which will cause some trees and large branches to fall, possibly injuring those outdoors and damaging homes and vehicles. Roadways may also become blocked by downed trees and localized power outages are possible. Additionally, unsecured light objects may become projectiles. If you are in the storm's path, please move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building IMMEDIATELY.

Again, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.