Annapolis, MD Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Dept. of Planning and Zoning
- Slip density cap
- 1 slip per 25 ft waterfront
- Mooring alone
- No permit required
- 5+ slip facilities
- Board of Port Wardens review
Summary
Building a pier, dock, mooring pile or other permanent waterway structure in Annapolis requires a City building permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning before any work begins; private docks are further capped at one slip per 25 feet of waterfront owned.
A City building permit issued by the Department of Planning and Zoning is required to rebuild, modify, construct or enlarge any structure intended to be installed permanently in the waterways. An application for a building permit, under either Section 15.20.030 or 15.20.040, shall be filed and obtained in accordance with the procedures of the Department of Planning and Zoning before any work is initiated. For purposes of this section, a mooring is not a structure for which a building permit is required.
(Ord. O-26-03 § 1 (part): Ord. O-31-02 § 1 (part): prior code § 10-16)
(Ord. No. O-12-16 Amended, § I, 5-23-2016)
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
Anyone who wants to rebuild, modify, construct or enlarge a pier, pile, bulkhead or other structure permanently installed in Annapolis's waterways must first get a City building permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning, filed under the rebuilding/repair track at Section 15.20.030 or the new-construction track at Section 15.20.040. Applications for boatyards, marinas and piers with five or more slips also go before the Board of Port Wardens for approval after a public hearing with mailed notice to nearby owners. A mooring alone, without an attached structure, needs no permit. Private docks are capped at one slip per 25 feet of waterfront owned, minimum one slip on shorter lots, subject to Critical Area limits.
Violations & Fines
Building, rebuilding or enlarging a pier, dock or other waterway structure without an approved City permit violates Chapter 15.20 and can bring an enforcement order, required removal, and denial of future permits until the work is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a private dock in Annapolis?
How many boat slips can I have at a private dock?
Does a mooring buoy alone need a building permit?
Sources & Official References
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