Getting Started

You have nothing to lose by taking the first step toward certification. The online certification program allows you to pursue a balanced sustainability program one policy, project, or plan at a time. Your town can start slowly and see how each small step yields meaningful gains.

Step 1: Pass a Resolution: Your municipality must pass a resolution that states its intent to pursue Sustainable Maryland certification to become a Register Sustainable Maryland community. Use the sample resolution as template for drafting your local resolution. The final resolution document must include a signature from the municipal clerk verifying the authenticity of the resolution and indicating the date of passage.

Step 2: Register: After the resolution is adopted, designate a primary contact to be the formal liasion and contact with Sustainable Maryland. Have them sign up for a portal account, complete the online registration form and upload the adopted municipal resolution. Your registration will be reviewed and in a few days, your primary contact will receive an email with information about how to access your account on the Sustainable Maryland website. 

Step 3: Review and Select Actions: Log in to your account to review and select actions. Each action has a complete toolkit that includes guidance about who should be involved, costs, resources, what to do and submission requirements. There is no time limit between adoption of the resolution and commencement of the certification process. Communities can implement certification actions at their own pace. The mandatory actions a good place to start because they are fundamental to a successful municipal sustainability program. 

Step 4: Create a Green Team and Action Plan: The two mandatory actions in Sustainable Maryland are to create a Green Team and Action Plan. Green Teams are instrumental in successful sustainability efforts. You can name your team whatever you want, but it has to be a commission/committee created by the governing body with the express purpose of coordinating your municipality’s sustainability efforts. Ideally the Green Team will have municipal officials and staff, as well as citizens representing all walks of life.

Step 5: Submit Application for Certification:  Once you identify your selected actions, review the requirements for each action and begin organizing and uploading your documentation. Upload your documents associated with completed actions on the secure website to meet submission requirements. The text submissions and documentation you submit will be viewable by the public once your town gets certified. Upon submission of your application, you will be locked out of editing actions that you submitted for while staff review your application. After review, it will be approved or rejected, and we will contact you with further information.