Annapolis, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard minimum
- 25 feet
- Interior side yard minimum
- 8 feet
- Corner side yard minimum
- 20 feet
- Rear yard minimum
- 30 feet
- Minimum lot size
- 7,000 sq ft / 60 ft wide
Summary
Annapolis's R1 single-family zoning district requires a 25-foot front yard, 8-foot interior side yards, 20-foot corner side yard, and 30-foot rear yard for single-family detached homes, per the City's bulk regulations table at Code § 21.50.010.
Dwellings, single-family detached 7,000 60 25 8 20 30 2.5 stories not to exceed 35 feet 30 ... Each side yard shall meet the minimum requirement set forth in the table, and the total of both side yards must equal at least twenty percent of the lot width.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Annapolis City Code § 21.50.010 sets the bulk regulations table for the R1 single-family zoning district. A single-family detached dwelling needs a 7,000-square-foot lot with 60 feet of width, and yards of 25 feet front, 8 feet interior side, 20 feet corner side, and 30 feet rear. Maximum height is 2.5 stories/35 feet (capped further by the average block-face height), and maximum lot coverage is 30%. A footnote requires both side yards combined to equal at least 20% of lot width, so narrow lots need more than the 8-foot minimum per side. Other zoning districts have their own tables elsewhere in Chapter 21.50.
Violations & Fines
Building outside these setbacks violates the Zoning Code: the Director of Planning and Zoning can issue a stop-work or corrective-measures order and revoke the permit, and under § 21.36.030 the violation is itself a misdemeanor, fined as set by the City Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum front setback for a house in Annapolis's R1 zone?
Can I build with only 8 feet on each side yard?
Do these setbacks apply outside the R1 district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Annapolis
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