Property Maintenance in Annapolis, MD: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Annapolis or are thinking about moving there, property maintenance are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Annapolis has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of property maintenance, and some of them might surprise you.

Property Blight

Annapolis condemns dwellings as unfit for human habitation when they're hazardously damaged, unsanitary, or lack adequate light, ventilation, or sanitation, triggering vacate and boarding-up orders.

Key details: Who decides: Director of Planning and Zoning. Owner duty: Board up windows/doors once condemned. Unpaid boarding-up cost: Becomes a lien on the property. Occupying after placard: Misdemeanor. Demolition notice: Up to 90 days to demolish.

Continued occupancy of a placarded unit is a misdemeanor; failure to board up a condemned dwelling lets the City do it and lien the cost against the property; demolition costs are also a lien collectible like delinquent taxes.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Annapolis actively enforces its property blight requirements.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Annapolis property owners must clear sidewalk snow, sleet, or ice within three hours of it stopping, or by 11 a.m. the next morning for overnight snowfall, clearing at least four feet of width.

Key details: Deadline: 3 hours after snow/ice stops. Overnight snowfall deadline: 11:00 a.m. next morning. Clear width required: 4 feet or full sidewalk width. Enforcement: Director of Public Works can clear, bill owner. Effective: Ordinance O-6-25, July 14, 2025.

Failure to clear by deadline draws a notice of infraction; ignoring it lets the Director of Public Works clear the sidewalk and seek court-ordered reimbursement as a municipal infraction, per § 14.04.070.

The Bottom Line

Annapolis's property maintenance 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.

This guide is based on Annapolis's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.