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.

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.

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).

Curb Color Rules

Annapolis City Code § 12.20.020 makes it unlawful and a misdemeanor for a driver to park adjacent to a curb marked by a red line. The vehicle is subject to towing under § 12.20.210, and the fine set for a red-lined curb is $300.00.

Key details: Fine: $300.00. Fine set by: Resolution of the City Council. Enforcement: Towing under § 12.20.210. Also covers: Bus stop zones, fire hydrants (15 ft). Classification: Misdemeanor.

Parking adjacent to a red-lined curb is unlawful and a misdemeanor under § 12.20.020. The vehicle is subject to towing pursuant to § 12.20.210, and the person violating the section is, upon conviction, subject to a fine established by resolution of the City Council. The fine schedule sets that fine at $300.00.

Towing & Impound Rights

Annapolis tow operators can bill only the standard towing and storage fees the City Council approves each year. Every applicant for a towing license must file a statement with the city clerk promising to charge those fees, and a company that bills anything else violates Chapter 7.52 and risks losing its license.

Key details: Who sets the rates: City Council approves standard towing and storage fees annually. Fee rule: Towing company shall charge only fees approved by the City Council. Licensee bond: $25,000 filed with the city clerk. Scofflaw vehicle: Three or more unsatisfied parking citations, 30 days after the third. Response time: 20 minutes before police move to next company.

A person who violates Chapter 7.52, including by charging a fee the City Council has not approved, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine set by annual resolution of the City Council, recoverable with costs. The City Council can also revoke or suspend the license of any towing company that breaks the chapter, its rules, or the terms of its towing agreement with the City. Towing without a license or contract is separately prohibited under Section 7.52.030.

RV & Boat Parking

Annapolis makes it a misdemeanor to park any trailer on a public street, lane or alley, attached or not. Boat trailers need a city permit for launching facilities, and motor homes over 80 inches wide or 246 inches long cannot sit on a public street for more than 48 consecutive hours. Violators face fines and towing.

Key details: Trailers on streets: Misdemeanor, attached or detached. Municipal lot limit: Attached rigs over 19 feet combined are banned. Boat trailer permit: Harbormaster, city residents only, Jan 1 to Dec 31. Boat trailer fee: Set annually by Council; no proration or refund. Motor home size trigger: Over 80 inches wide or 246 inches long.

Parking a trailer on a public street, parking a boat trailer in the permit zones without a permit, and blocking an authorized emergency vehicle are each misdemeanors. Fines are set by annual City Council resolution. A trailer parked in violation of § 12.20.110 can be towed under § 12.20.210 on the order of a police officer, parking enforcement officer or authorized agent. An oversized motor home left past 48 hours is a misdemeanor on conviction, with the fine set by resolution.

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

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.