The Critical Area Commission first came into existence as the result of the Critical Area Act, which was passed in 1984. It was developed to protect the resources of The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries from the effects of the region's growing population. The law set a criteria for the critical area and created the Commission to oversee land use programs targeted towards that area.
The Critical Area Commision is made up of 29 voting members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor. Today some of the commission's main duties include: overseeing and approving projects carried out by the state involving state-owned land in the critical area and examining and approving any changes to a designated Critcal Area Program.