Anne Arundel County, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 district cap
- 50% of gross lot area
- R2 district cap
- 60% of gross lot area
- R5 district cap
- 65% of gross lot area
- Critical Area lots
- Separate cap under § 17-8-402
- Enforced by
- Office of Planning and Zoning
Summary
Anne Arundel County caps building coverage at 50% of lot area in R1 zones, 60% in R2, and 65% in R5: the county-wide bulk regulations that apply everywhere outside Annapolis and Highland Beach.
Except as provided otherwise in this article, the following bulk regulations are applicable in an R1 District:
30,000 square Minimum lot size feet; or 15,000 for side by side duplex Maximum coverage by structures 50% of gross area
Minimum width at front building restriction line; for waterfront lots the 80 feet building restriction line is measured from the rear lot line Minimum width at front building restriction line for duplex if located on more than one lot; for waterfront lots the building restriction line is 40 feet measured from the rear lot line Minimum setbacks for principal structures:
Front lot line 35 feet Rear lot line 30 feet Side lot line 15 feet 0 foot shared
Side lot line for duplex dwellings on separate lots lot line, 15
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
Article 18's bulk-regulation tables cap 'Maximum coverage by structures' by residential zoning district: 50% of gross lot area in R1, 60% in R2, and 65% in R5, under §§ 18-4-501, 18-4-601, and 18-4-701. These limits govern directly in unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie, Severna Park, and Pasadena, which have no zoning code of their own. The Office of Planning and Zoning enforces the caps through building permit review, and a lot inside the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area faces a separate, often stricter, coverage table under § 17-8-402 regardless of its underlying zoning district.
Violations & Fines
Building beyond the zoning district's maximum lot coverage without approval can draw a stop-work order, permit denial, or a required correction from the Office of Planning and Zoning before occupancy is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Is the cap different near the Chesapeake Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland building setbacks & zoning overview
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