Anne Arundel County, MD Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 25 acres (contiguous)
- Freeway setback
- 100 feet
- Front lot line setback
- 50 feet
- Side/rear setback
- 30 feet
- Max outside storage
- 15% of lot coverage
Summary
Data storage centers in the BWI/Fort Meade Growth Area need 25+ acres and must meet setbacks up to 100 feet from freeways under § 18-10-123.
Data storage centers in the BWI/Fort Meade Growth Area shall comply with all of the following requirements. (1) The facility shall be located on a lot or contiguous lots that total at least 25 acres. ... (3) A variance may not be granted that reduces the minimum setback requirements specified in subsection (2). (4) The lot or contiguous lots on which the data center is located may not include residential dwelling units. (5) Outside storage is permitted as an accessory use, provided no more than 15% of the total allowed lot coverage is used for outside storage.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Anne Arundel County confines new data storage centers to the BWI/Fort Meade Growth Area and requires a lot or contiguous lots totaling at least 25 acres with no residential dwelling units on site. Minimum setbacks for principal structures run from 30 feet on side and rear lot lines up to 100 feet from a freeway, and no variance may reduce them. Outside storage is capped at 15% of allowed lot coverage as an accessory use.
Violations & Fines
Facilities must meet the bulk chart in § 18-10-123(2) and locate within the mapped BWI/Fort Meade Growth Area; noncompliant siting or setback reductions are not eligible for a variance under subsection (3), and enforcement runs through the County's standard zoning permit and inspection process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Anne Arundel County can a data storage center be built?
Can a data center get a setback variance in Anne Arundel County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
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