Occupancy Limits: Pasadena vs Severna Park
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Pasadena, MD and Severna Park, MD?
Pasadena and Severna Park have similar restriction levels.
Pasadena, MD
Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County caps STR occupancy at 2 adults per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed 10 total guests, under the 2022 short-term rental ordinance (Bill 66-21, Article 11). Annapolis has a stricter cap in its STR license program.
View full Pasadena rules →Severna Park, MD
Anne Arundel County
Severna Park is an unincorporated CDP in Anne Arundel County, so the County's Title 13A (Short-Term Residential Rentals) controls. Title 13A defines a short-term rental as accommodation of transient guests for no more than 120 consecutive days in a calendar year and requires County registration; it does not impose a fixed county-wide per-bedroom occupancy cap, but the County's adopted property maintenance and building codes still set minimum habitable space and bedroom-occupancy thresholds.
View full Severna Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Pasadena | Severna Park |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | 2 per bedroom + 2 | - |
| Hard Cap | 10 overnight guests | - |
| Code | AA Bill 66-21 / Art. 11 | - |
| Septic Homes | Health Dept limits apply | - |
| Daytime Visitors | ≤2× overnight, out by 10 PM | - |
| Governing Code | - | Anne Arundel Co. Code Title 13A |
| Per-Bedroom Cap | - | Not specified county-wide in Title 13A |
| Stay Length Limit | - | 120 consecutive days/calendar year |
| Properties Per Host | - | Maximum 2 |
| Registration Fee | - | $100 (2-year term) |
| County Occupancy Tax | - | 8% (stays ≤120 nights) |
| State Sales/Use Tax | - | 6% (MD Tax-Gen §11-101) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Pasadena FAQ
Who enforces occupancy limits rules in Anne Arundel County?
Anne Arundel County's code enforcement division is responsible for short term-rentals ordinances. You can report violations or request information through the Anne Arundel County government website or by calling the main municipal line.
What are typical penalties for violating occupancy limits rules?
Most Anne Arundel County short term-rentals violations start with a written warning followed by escalating civil fines for repeat offenses. Specific dollar amounts and any criminal-misdemeanor exposure depend on the section of code; consult Anne Arundel County's municipal code or staff for the current penalty schedule.
Severna Park FAQ
How many guests can stay in a Severna Park short-term rental?
Anne Arundel County's Title 13A does not set a fixed county-wide 'persons per bedroom' cap for short-term rentals. Practical limits come from the County-adopted property maintenance and building codes (minimum habitable square footage per occupant) and from smoke-alarm and life-safety requirements. The 120-consecutive-day calendar-year limit on transient stays still applies.
Do Annapolis's short-term rental rules apply to Severna Park?
No. Severna Park is an unincorporated census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, outside the City of Annapolis. Annapolis Code Chapter 17.44 (including its 2-per-bedroom occupancy cap, posted-notice rule, and 10% blockface density cap from Ordinance O-17-25) applies only inside Annapolis city limits. Severna Park hosts follow Anne Arundel County Title 13A instead.
How long can a short-term rental guest stay in Severna Park?
Up to 120 consecutive days in a single calendar year per Anne Arundel County Title 13A. Stays beyond that point fall outside the short-term rental definition and would generally require a longer-term lease. The County 8% use-or-occupancy tax applies for the entire qualifying short-term stay.
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