Annapolis, MD Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 max height
- 2.5 stories / 35 ft
- Real limit
- Lesser of table cap or block average
- Exception
- New construction behind existing ridgeline
- Governing section
- Annapolis City Code § 21.50.010
Summary
Single-family homes in Annapolis's R1 zoning district are capped at 2.5 stories and 35 feet, but a block-face averaging rule can pull the real limit lower than that table maximum.
Dwellings, single-family detached ... 2.5 stories not to exceed 35 feet ... 8 i. Except as provided in subsection (ii) of this note, no building shall exceed the lesser of either the maximum height in the bulk regulations table or the average height of all structures on the block face.
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's Bulk Regulations Table caps single-family detached dwellings in the R1 district at 2.5 stories, not to exceed 35 feet. A footnote to the height column then tightens that ceiling in practice: except for new construction set behind an existing structure's ridgeline, no building may exceed the lesser of the table maximum or the average height of every structure on the same block face, so a block of shorter houses pulls the true cap below 35 feet. Other residential and mixed-use districts carry their own bulk tables with comparable block-face footnotes.
Violations & Fines
Building above the R1 table maximum of 2.5 stories/35 feet, or above the block face's average height where that governs instead, puts the structure out of compliance with the Zoning Code and can require it to be altered or reduced to meet the applicable limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the height limit for a house in Annapolis's R1 district?
Can new construction ever use the full 35-foot limit on a block of shorter houses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Annapolis
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