Annapolis's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Annapolis, Maryland, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Height Limits
Annapolis caps street-facing fences at four feet in its Neighborhood Conservation districts, requires a Planning and Zoning permit for any fence citywide, and bars fences from blocking the sight-visibility triangle at intersections.
Key details: Street-facing cap (NC districts): 4 feet. Admin height allowance: up to 4 feet more. Decorative gate bonus: 2 feet. Sight-visibility triangle clearance: 2.5–12 feet at intersections. Permit issuer: Dept. of Planning and Zoning.
Erecting a fence without a permit, or over height, violates §§ 17.34.010 and 21.60.070 and is a municipal infraction carrying a civil fine set by City Council resolution; each day the violation continues is a separate offense (§ 17.34.030).
Neighbor Fence Rules
Annapolis lets you build a fence or wall right up to the property line but not over it. Placement responsibility falls entirely on the owner, and boundary disputes are strictly between neighbors: the City won't get involved.
Key details: Placement limit: Up to, not over, the line. Responsibility: Owner confirms correct placement. Disputes: Between abutting owners only. City liability: None for line disputes. Permit needed: Yes, under § 17.34.010.
Building over the line invites a private boundary dispute with the neighbor, not a City citation: the Code expressly bars any remedy against the City. Separately, installing a fence without the required § 17.34.010 permit can still draw code enforcement action.
Material Restrictions
Annapolis requires fence and wall materials to match the character of the surrounding neighborhood and bans barbed wire outright, except at correctional facilities and utility installations.
Key details: Barbed wire: Prohibited except jails, utilities. Design standard: Must match neighborhood character. Historic district: HPC approval required for materials. Permit: Required under § 17.34.010.
Installing barbed wire on a residential or commercial fence violates § 21.60.070(B)(8) and can trigger a code enforcement notice; fences with mismatched materials in the historic district risk HPC denial or a stop-work order.
Retaining Walls
When the City orders supplemental inspections on a grading permit, retaining wall construction must be directed and certified adequate by a professional engineer before work is signed off.
Key details: Trigger: Director orders supplemental testing. Who certifies: A professional engineer. Underlying permit: Ch. 17.08 grading permit. Small-disturbance exemption: Under 5,000 sq ft (2,000 waterfront). Appeals: Building Board of Appeals, 15 days.
Failing to obtain a required grading permit or bypassing ordered engineer certification triggers a stop-work order under § 17.08.260, permit suspension or revocation under § 17.08.120, and municipal-infraction fines set by City Council resolution, with each day a separate offense.
Fence Permit Requirements
Annapolis requires a Department of Planning and Zoning permit before erecting, altering, replacing, or removing more than 400 feet of an existing fence or wall, with a scaled site drawing and construction details due at application.
Key details: Permit issuer: Dept. of Planning and Zoning. Triggers permit: New, altered, replaced fence/wall. Removal threshold: Over 400 feet needs a permit. Work must start: Within 30 days of issuance. Work must finish: Within 120 days of issuance.
Building, altering, or removing a fence without the required permit, or missing the 30-day start or 120-day completion deadlines, is a municipal infraction under § 17.34.030: a civil fine, with each day the violation continues a separate offense.
The Bottom Line
Annapolis's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Annapolis is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Annapolis's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.