A zoning change approved Tuesday night by the Baltimore County Council could pave the way for U.S. Lacrosse to move to the county.

The bill, unanimously approved by the seven-member council, allows for amateur athletic associations to build facilities that include offices, classrooms and athletic fields in areas zoned for light manufacturing.

Arnold Jablon, director of the county Department of Permits Approvals and Inspections, said the change was meant to help facilitate a possible move by U.S. Lacrosse to a location in north-central Baltimore County. The lacrosse association might also move its national Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Jablon said officials from the association came to the county looking for relocation options.

"There was nothing in the county law that allowed it," Jablon said of the facility the association wants to build. "If it's not expressly allowed in county law then it's prohibited."

Jablon said he decided to propose a zoning change for land zoned for light manufacturing "because it would have the least impact on residential areas. No one cares about lights in a manufacturing area."

The changes approved Tuesday allow amateur athletic associations to build such facilities in light manufacturing zoned areas by right. Churches and strip clubs are also allowed to build in those areas by right.

The law will go into effect Sept. 14, provided County Executive Kevin Kamenetz signs it into law.

Currently, the governing body of men's and women's lacrosse in the United States is located in Baltimore City on West University Parkway on the grounds of Johns Hopkins University.

Attempts to reach officials at US Lacrosse were not immediately successful.