Parking Rules in Annapolis, MD

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Annapolis, Maryland, there are 10 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.

EV Charging

Annapolis reserves marked plug-in electric vehicle charging spaces exclusively for plug-in electric vehicles; parking a non-charging vehicle there draws a $100 fine and the vehicle can be towed under the city's towing ordinance.

Key details: Fine: $100 per violation. Governing section: Annapolis City Code § 12.20.090(B). Space marking: Green pavement markings required. Towing authority: § 12.20.210(A)(6).

Parking a non-qualifying vehicle in a marked charging space draws a $100 fine and the vehicle may be towed under § 12.20.210(A)(6).

Loading Zones

Annapolis lets a commercial vehicle stand curbside beside a parked car only between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. to load or unload, and only where no loading zone or open space exists within 100 feet.

Key details: Loading window: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. Max stop time: 10 minutes of inactivity. Buffer rule: no open space/zone within 100 ft. Penalty: misdemeanor, Council-set fine. Retail permit: one non-commercial vehicle permit per store.

Standing beside a parked vehicle outside 7 a.m.-11 a.m., blocking through traffic, exceeding 10 minutes, or ignoring an officer's order to move is a misdemeanor with a fine set by City Council resolution.

Abandoned Vehicles

Annapolis bans wrecked, junked, or dismantled vehicles on streets, public property, and private lots; owners may keep one unregistered or uninspected vehicle on their own property for only 30 days before removal is required.

Key details: Private-lot grace period: 30 days, one unregistered vehicle. Removal deadline after notice: 7 days. Public-property vehicles: subject to impoundment/tow. Penalty: municipal infraction, Council-set fine. Governing law: Annapolis City Code Ch. 12.44.

Keeping a wrecked/junked vehicle, or an unregistered one past 30 days, is a municipal infraction once 7 days' written notice to remove it has passed; vehicles left on streets or public property may be impounded and towed, with recovery costs becoming a lien.

Towing & Impound Rights

Annapolis sets its own towing ceiling rather than leaving it to Anne Arundel County. Section 7.52.120.B states that a licensed towing company "shall charge only fees approved by the City Council," and the Council's Fees Schedule fixes $150.00 to tow a car, van or pick-up, $175.00 for anything larger than a 3/4-ton load capacity, and $20.00 per day storage after the first 24 hours. An owner who disputes the tow or the charges can demand a hearing before the Chief of Police within 48 hours.

Key details: Who sets the rate ceiling: The Annapolis City Council, not Anne Arundel County. Section 7.52.120.B: a licensed towing company "shall charge only fees approved by the City Council.". Tow charge, car / van / pick-up: $150.00, day or night, with unlocking, linkage disconnection and dollies included. Tow charge, over 3/4-ton capacity: $175.00. Storage: $20.00 per day after the first 24 hours (motorcycle, car, van or pick-up). Release fee and lot hours: $7.00 weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; $20.00 at other times. Lots open for release weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to noon, holidays excepted..

Fines are set by annual Council resolution and printed in the Code's Fines Schedule. A towing company that breaks Chapter 7.52 commits a misdemeanor and pays $100.00 plus costs for both an initial and a repeat offense under Section 7.52.190, and the City Council may suspend or revoke its license. A parking place or lot that ignores the sign and release-response rules of Chapter 12.28 is fined $250.00 for a first offense and $500.00 for a repeat under Section 12.28.170. On the parking side, the tow-triggering violations carry their own fines: $200.00 for obstructing a driveway (12.20.010.B), $300.00 for parking at a red-lined curb, a bus stop zone or a fire hydrant (12.20.020.B), $500.00 for blocking a fire station driveway (12.20.075.B) or using a space reserved for a person with a disability (12.20.090.A), $150.00 for leaving a vehicle more than 48 hours or in a prohibited area (12.20.200.D), and $50.00 for a residential permit violation, rising to $70.00, $105.00 and $140.00 for the second, third and fourth or fifth in 12 months. Unpaid parking fines add $10.00 after 15 days and $15.00 after 23 days, plus notification to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, which may refuse to register or transfer the vehicle.

Curb Color Rules

Annapolis bars parking next to any curb marked with a red line, carrying a $300 fine and towing under City Code § 12.20.020.

Key details: Fine: $300.00. Enforcement: Towing under § 12.20.210. Also covers: Bus stop zones, fire hydrants (15 ft). Classification: Misdemeanor.

Misdemeanor; $300.00 fine plus towing under § 12.20.210 for parking adjacent to a red-lined curb.

Street Parking Limits

Annapolis requires vehicles to park facing the direction of travel, within twelve inches of the curb, and clear of driveways; violations draw fines set by City Council resolution and are subject to towing.

Key details: Wrong-way parking fine: $50 (§ 12.20.040). Max distance from curb: 12 inches; $50 fine. Blocking driveway fine: $200 (§ 12.20.010). Towing authority: § 12.20.210. Enforced by: Police, parking enforcement officers.

Wrong-way parking and parking more than twelve inches from the curb each carry a $50 fine; blocking a driveway carries a $200 fine under the City's parking fine schedule, and towing may follow.

Snow Removal Parking Rules

Parking is banned on designated snow emergency routes once the Director of Public Works declares Phase II or Phase III of the City's snow emergency plan, with towing authorized for vehicles left on those routes.

Key details: Phase II: Parking banned, towing authorized. Phase III: Streets closed except emergency vehicles. Phase I: Chains or snow tires required. Violation: Municipal infraction, fine by resolution. Governing sections: Annapolis City Code §§ 12.40.010–.060.

Parking on a snow emergency route during Phase II or III, or leaving a vehicle stalled or unattended there, is a municipal infraction with a fine set by City Council resolution: plus towing.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Annapolis bars parking any vehicle over 16,000 pounds GVWR, or wider than 80 inches, or longer than 276 inches, on streets in or around residential zoning districts.

Key details: Weight limit: 16,000 lbs GVWR max. Width limit: 80 inches max. Length limit: 276 inches (23 ft) max. Where it applies: Residential zoning districts. Fine: $100 plus damages.

Parking an oversized vehicle in a residential zone is a misdemeanor; the City's fine schedule sets a $100 penalty plus damages under § 12.20.100(C).

This is one of the stricter rules in Annapolis's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

RV & Boat Parking

Annapolis bans trailers, including boat trailers, from parking on any public street, lane or alley, and caps oversized motor homes at 48 consecutive hours in the same locations; boat trailer owners need a City permit to park near public launching facilities.

Key details: Trailer street parking: Banned citywide, misdemeanor. Motor home size trigger: >80in wide or >246in long. Motor home time limit: 48 consecutive hours max. Boat trailer permit: Required near launch areas. Enforcement: Fine plus towing, § 12.20.210.

Violating either section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine set by City Council resolution; a trailer or motor home parked in violation is also subject to towing under Annapolis City Code § 12.20.210.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Annapolis actively enforces its rv & boat parking requirements.

Preferential Parking Districts

Annapolis creates numbered Special Residential Parking Districts by City Council ordinance; only residents whose address is on a street listed inside that district may get a parking permit there.

Key details: Districts: 5 numbered districts (Nos. 1–5). Eligibility: Address must be a listed district street. Permit term: One year from issuance. Fee: Set by City Council resolution. Repeat violations: 4 in one year triggers towing.

Parking or displaying a permit contrary to the district rules is a misdemeanor; violators face a fine set by City Council resolution, and a vehicle racking up four violations within one year is subject to towing (§ 12.32.190).

The Bottom Line

Annapolis is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Annapolis, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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.