Anne Arundel County, MD Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- ADUs per lot
- One maximum
- Short-term rental use
- Requires owner-occupancy
- Grandfathered ADUs
- Exempt if pre-May 27, 2023
- Zoning fine range
- $125–$1,000 per violation
Summary
Anne Arundel County allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot and only requires owner-occupancy of the principal home or the ADU when either unit is used for a short-term rental; ADUs used as ordinary long-term housing carry no occupancy requirement.
(7) The principal single-family detached dwelling or accessory dwelling unit may be used for short-term residential rentals, as defined in Article 11 of this Code, if the principal single-family detached dwelling or accessory dwelling unit is owner-occupied. (8) An accessory dwelling unit in use and in compliance with the provisions of this section prior to May 27, 2023 is not subject to subsections (4), (5), (6), or (7), unless the accessory dwelling unit is altered or expanded after May 27, 2023.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Anne Arundel County Code § 18-10-124(7), the principal single-family detached dwelling or an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be used for short-term residential rentals only if the principal dwelling or the ADU is owner-occupied. The county does not otherwise require the owner to live on site. ADUs already in place and compliant before May 27, 2023 are grandfathered out of the owner-occupancy, separate-entrance, and street-address rules unless the ADU is altered or expanded after that date. Only one ADU is allowed per lot, and it cannot be a mobile or manufactured home.
Violations & Fines
Using an ADU or principal home for short-term rental without owner-occupancy is a zoning violation. The Office of Planning and Zoning can issue an administrative order, and civil fines under § 18-17-203 run $125 to $1,000 per violation, or $500 to $1,000 in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Anne Arundel County require ADU owners to live on-site?
What if my ADU predates the 2023 rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland accessory structures overview
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