Baltimore County Council Seeks to Change Seal Stars to Nine

Baltimore County Council members are voting on Bill No. 109-26, a proposal that would alter the county seal for the first time in nearly 70 years. The bill aims to change the number of stars displayed on the emblem from seven to nine. This update aligns the visual identity of the county with its newly expanded legislative structure.

The current seal was designed in 1957 by Towson resident Adelaide M. Haspert. It features the Calvert and Crossland Coats of Arms alongside seven stars. Each star represented one of the seven councilmanic districts at the time. The design has remained unchanged since the county adopted the seal under the 1956 charter.

The need for an update stems from a change in the size of the council. In the November 2024 general election, voters approved expanding the council from seven to nine members. That decision came with an estimated $12 million cost for renovations to council offices and chambers. The new nine-district map takes effect for the 2026 and 2030 elections. The council and administration have spent the past two years adjusting code provisions, revising board memberships, and completing administrative work to accommodate the larger body.

Bill No. 109-26 cites Section 1007 of the County Charter, which allows the council to alter the seal at its pleasure. The bill text describes the adoption of a nine-star seal as a fitting capstone to the preparation process. It also frames the change as a welcome for the first nine-member council in Baltimore County history. The bill specifically updates Section 1-1-102 to state that the seal must have nine stars representing the nine districts.

The council must reach a majority vote to pass the measure. If five members vote yes, the new seal will take effect on Dec. 7, 2026. The change is purely symbolic but marks the completion of the transition to a nine-member governing body. The updated emblem will appear on official county documents and attested by the county executive, the secretary to the executive, and the secretary of the council.