<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-05-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000860546</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OFC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001143567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PICKETT C TAYLOR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6711 COLUMBIA GATEWAY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21093</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Profit Interest Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3986</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3986</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7418</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Profit Interest Unit will convert automatically into one share of beneficial interest, designated as a unit (an &quot;OP Unit&quot;), in Corporate Office Properties, L.P. when such Profit Interest Unit becomes vested and upon equalization of its capital account balance. OP Units are redeemable for cash, or, at the option of Corporate Office Properties Trust, exchangeable for common shares of Corporate Office Properties Trust, currently on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents Profit Interest Units issued pursuant to the Corporate Office Properties Trust 2017 Omnibus Equity and Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Profit Interest Units will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, provided that the reporting person remains a trustee on such date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Profit Interest Units do not expire once vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Issued as compensation for service on the Board of Trustees.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David L. Finch, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
