Anne Arundel County, MD Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Max ADUs per lot
- 1
- Max ADU size
- Lesser of 800 sq ft or 50% of home
- Short-term rental condition
- Owner-occupied only
- Grandfather date
- ADUs in use before May 27, 2023
- First-violation fine
- $125–$500 civil citation
Summary
Anne Arundel County allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot, but the ADU or the principal home may be rented short-term only while the owner lives on site.
(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.
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 County Code § 18-10-124, a lot may have only one accessory dwelling unit, capped at the lesser of 800 square feet or 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area, with its own entrance and street address (designated "Unit B"). Either the principal single-family home or the ADU may be used for short-term residential rentals, as defined in Article 11, only if the principal dwelling or ADU is owner-occupied. ADUs lawfully in use before May 27, 2023 are grandfathered from the size, entrance, address, and rental rules unless later altered or expanded. This governs unincorporated communities countywide, including Glen Burnie and Severna Park; Annapolis and Highland Beach are separately incorporated and not covered.
Violations & Fines
Zoning Enforcement (Office of Planning and Zoning) investigates complaints and can issue an administrative order plus a civil citation under § 18-17-203: $125 for a first violation, $500 for a second, $1,000 for any later violation, or up to $500/day in a civil injunction action under § 18-17-204.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out my Anne Arundel County ADU on Airbnb?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
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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