Building Setbacks & Zoning in Queen Anne's County, MD (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Queen Anne's County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
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.
Queen Anne's County Yard Setback Minimums by District
Some RestrictionsQueen Anne's County Code § 18:1-14
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 ...
Structure Height Limits
In unincorporated Queen Anne's County, § 18:1-45D caps a building on a residential lot of less than two acres at 20 feet. On lots greater than two acres and less than five acres the cap is the greater of 20 feet or the height of the principal building. District tables set principal dwelling heights, such as 40 feet in the AG District and 35 feet in the SR District for large-lot subdivisions.
Queen Anne's County Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsQueen Anne's County Code § 18:1-45
D. Height restrictions. ... (1) A building on a residential lot less than two acres may not exceed 20 feet in height. (2) A building on a residential lot greater than two acres and less than five acres may not exceed the greater of 20 feet in height or the height of the principal building.
Lot Coverage Limits
In limited development areas of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area in unincorporated Queen Anne's County, impervious surfaces are limited to 15% of the gross site area proposed for development under § 14:1-38D(8). Small lots of record from December 1, 1985 or earlier get 25%, 31.25% or a flat 5,445 square feet depending on lot size.
Queen Anne's County Critical Area Impervious Surface Limits
Some RestrictionsQueen Anne's County Code § 14:1-38
D. Site performance standards. ... Development and redevelopment requiring project approvals within the LDA shall be subject to the following conditions and restrictions: ... (8) Impervious surfaces shall be limited to 15% of the gross site area proposed for development, except as follows: (a) If a parcel or lot 1/2 acre or less in size was a lot of record on or before December 1, 1985, then ma...
All Queen Anne's County ordinances
See every category we cover for Queen Anne's County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Queen Anne's County Ordinance Hub →