Harford County Local Guide

Your Guide to Settling In

View Your Guide to Settling Into Harford County (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)A helpful, print friendly checklist for your move by LizyTylerCo · www.lizytylerco.com

• Request USPS mail forwarding online or at a Post Office, and confirm the start date.
• Update your address with important accounts and contacts, including banks, insurers, your employer and relevant agencies.
• Update applicable Maryland license or ID and vehicle addresses. Moving from another state? Follow the new resident process.
• If eligible, register or update your voter address and confirm the change.
• Confirm electric and water or sewer providers for your exact address and arrange account transfers. Check internet availability before scheduling installation.
• Confirm trash and recycling arrangements with your municipality, landlord, HOA or licensed hauler. Save the schedule and drop off rules.
• Register for HarfordCoMD Alerts or update your saved addresses and contact information.

Use the steps that apply to your move. Confirm jurisdiction, provider coverage and any landlord or community arrangements with official sources.

Settling in sources reviewed 10/17/2026

Find the Right Office

Confirm whether the property lies in Aberdeen, Bel Air, Havre de Grace or an unincorporated part of Harford County. A postal address does not establish municipal boundaries.

Municipal planning, permits, taxes, water and waste arrangements can differ from county services. Start with the city or town office when the property is inside its limits, and ask how municipal approval coordinates with any county review.

• County and Municipal Government Links
• Aberdeen Department Directory
• Bel Air Zoning and Development
• Havre de Grace Departments

Set Up Utilities and Care for Septic Systems

Confirm electric, gas, water and sewer providers from the exact address and existing service records. County water and sewer service does not cover every property, and the two services should be verified separately.

Water within Bel Air’s municipal limits is provided by Maryland American Water. Aberdeen and Havre de Grace have municipal service contacts, while rural properties may use private wells and septic systems. Do not choose a provider from a postal town name alone.

Request available well and septic information from Harford County Health Department and ask about testing, repairs and approvals before changing the property.

• County Water and Sewer
• Water Within Bel Air
• Aberdeen Utility Contacts
• Havre de Grace Utility Contacts
• Well and Septic Questions

Internet Access

Check broadband availability at the exact address and unit, then confirm installation directly with the provider. County broadband planning documents describe broader efforts, not a guarantee of service to an individual home.

Ask about installation timing, total monthly costs, equipment and upload speeds. Harford County Public Library offers public technology and wireless access, and some borrowing resources have separate availability and eligibility rules.

• FCC Broadband Map
• County Broadband Planning
• Library Locations and Technology

Recycling and Household Waste

The county licenses private residential haulers but does not operate or manage their collection routes. If you are in a municipality, check its collection arrangements before contracting separately, and confirm any landlord or HOA service.

Save the correct collection schedule and ask about bins, bulky items and recycling preparation. The Harford Waste Disposal Center on Scarboro Road offers household waste and recycling drop off under current material and fee rules.

• Licensed Residential Haulers
• Harford Waste Disposal Center
• Aberdeen Collection Information
• Havre de Grace Waste Contacts
• Bel Air Collection Notices

Find Property Records and Tax Bills

Use Maryland SDAT’s property search to locate assessment information and save the property account identifier. Harford County Treasury handles county tax questions and provides access to bill information.

Check for separate municipal charges if the property is inside city or town limits. Recorded deeds and land records are separate from assessment information, and neither a tax listing nor a permit record resolves every boundary or ownership question.

• Maryland Property Search
• Harford County Treasury
• County Bill Search
• Maryland Land Records Guide

Find Tax Information and Relief

Maryland’s Homestead and Homeowners’ credits serve different purposes and have separate eligibility requirements. Review the state program instructions rather than assuming either credit transfers automatically after a move.

Harford County maintains a separate list of real property tax credits. Ask Treasury about current qualifications, applications and deadlines, and confirm any approved adjustment on your bill.

• Maryland Homestead Credit
• Maryland Homeowners’ Credit
• Harford County Tax Credits

Plan a Renovation

Gather a survey or plat, permit history and well or septic records before finalizing a design. Confirm the responsible municipal or county zoning office and ask about setbacks, historic protections and environmental constraints.

For properties using private wells or septic systems, involve the Health Department before planning additions or site changes. Keep HOA or condominium approvals separate from government permits.

• County Project and Permit Guidance
• Environmental Health Services

Put your goals, priorities, questions and next steps in one place.View Home Project Planning Sheet (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)To keep completed entries, save a copy with your changes using the PDF viewer’s controls.

Understand Permits and Inspections

Harford County’s permit guidance covers construction, alterations, demolition, regulated equipment and changes of use. The county ePermit Center provides the online starting point for county applications and records.

Properties in a municipality may need to start with the city or town permitting office. Confirm building and trade requirements, contractor qualifications and inspection responsibilities before work begins, then retain final approvals.

• County Permit Requirements
• County ePermit Center
• Havre de Grace Permitting Contacts
• Bel Air Project Guidance

Repair and Housing Assistance

For repairs, accessibility improvements or mortgage concerns, start with Maryland DHCD’s homeowner resources and ask which programs serve your address. Eligibility, available funding and loan terms vary.

If a mortgage payment is becoming difficult, contact the servicer early and use official foreclosure prevention counseling resources. For utility help, review the Office of Home Energy Programs. Assistance is not automatic.

• Maryland Homeowner Resources
• Foreclosure Prevention
• Home Energy Assistance

Check a Contractor

Use the Maryland Home Improvement Commission’s official resources to verify a home improvement contractor’s current license and business identity. Confirm any separate trade licensing and permit responsibilities with the relevant office.

Ask for a clear written scope, payment schedule, insurance information and responsibility for changes. Keep agreements, receipts and final inspection approvals together. A license number on an advertisement is not a substitute for checking its status.

• Maryland Home Improvement Commission

Keep useful questions and conversation notes together as you compare your options.View Questions Before Hiring a Contractor (PDF) ↗ (opens in a new tab)