Queen Anne's County, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- AG large-lot setbacks
- Front 50 feet, side 50/100 feet, rear 50 feet
- AG sliding-scale, 20 acres or less
- Front 40 feet, side 20 feet, rear 50 feet
- AG nonresidential
- 35 feet front, 100 feet from U.S. 50/301
- SR large-lot
- Front 40 feet, side 15/35 feet, rear 50 feet
- Accessory structure
- Three feet from any property line
- Conflict rule
- More restrictive requirement governs
Summary
In unincorporated Queen Anne's County, setbacks are set district by district. In the Agricultural District a large-lot subdivision lot needs 50 feet front, 50 feet minimum side with 100 feet total, and 50 feet rear, while sliding-scale lots of 20 acres or less drop to 40 feet front and 20 feet side. Where two setback requirements apply, the more restrictive governs.
E. Dimensional and bulk requirements. ... (1) Residential uses. ... (d) Minimum setbacks. [1] Single-family cluster: See § 18:1-36. [2] Large-lot subdivision: [a] Front: 50 feet. [b] Side (minimum/total): 50 feet/100 feet. [c] Rear: 50 feet. [3] Sliding-scale subdivision (if equal to or less than 20 acres): [a] Front: 40 feet. [b] Side: 20 feet. [c] Rear: 50 feet. [4] Sliding-scale subdivision (if over 20 acres): [a] Front: 50 feet. [b] Side: 50 feet. [c] Rear: 50 feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 18:1-14E sets the Agricultural (AG) District dimensional and bulk requirements. For residential lots, large-lot subdivision lots carry the 50-foot front, 50 feet minimum and 100 feet total side, and 50-foot rear setbacks quoted above. Sliding-scale lots of 20 acres or less carry 40 feet front, 20 feet side and 50 feet rear, and sliding-scale lots over 20 acres carry 50 feet on all three sides. Single-family cluster lots point to § 18:1-36. Nonresidential uses in the AG District use a different set: 35 feet front, 100 feet from U.S. Routes 50/301, 75 feet from an arterial, and 10 feet side and rear.
The Suburban Residential (SR) District in § 18:1-18E shows how the numbers tighten. Large-lot subdivision lots need 40 feet front, 15 feet minimum side with 35 feet total, and 50 feet rear. Nonresidential uses there need 35 feet front, 100 feet from U.S. Routes 50/301, 50 feet from an arterial, and 10 feet side and rear.
Section 18:1-13I sets the ground rules. The figures are required standards, not guarantees that a site reaches a given minimum. Where a buffer yard exceeds a minimum setback, the more restrictive applies, and where two setback requirements apply, the more restrictive governs. Where no dimensional requirement is given for a use or district, that requirement is presumed not to apply. Residential development on a lot of record is governed by the requirements for large-lot subdivisions. Nonresidential detached structures on a lot must sit at least 15 feet apart, with agricultural uses exempt.
Residential accessory structures follow § 18:1-45B instead: at least three feet from any property line, at least six feet from the closest point of the principal building, and in a side or rear yard.
Relief comes from the Board of Appeals. Section 18:1-121 limits variances to density, bulk or area requirements and requires findings of unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty peculiar to the property, and § 18:1-122A caps relief at the minimum needed.
Violations & Fines
Building inside a required setback without a permit, or beyond what a permit authorizes, is a civil zoning violation under § 18:1-212 with a preset fine not to exceed $500. Each day the violation continues is a separate violation, and an unpaid citation draws an additional fine equal to twice the original. The Planning Director enforces under § 18:1-208, and the County can also seek court action to restrain, correct or abate a violation under § 18:1-210.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the front setback in the Suburban Residential District?
How close to the property line can a shed go in unincorporated Queen Anne's County?
How far must a building sit from U.S. Routes 50/301?
What happens when two setback rules overlap?
Can I get a variance from a setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Queen Anne's County
Compare Queen Anne's County to another location·View the Maryland building setbacks & zoning overview
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