Anne Arundel County, MD Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Setback (private pier)
- 15 feet from lot line
- Max pier length
- 300 feet
- Mooring cap
- 4 boats over 16 ft
- Permitting agency
- Dept. of Inspections and Permits
- Permit requires
- Riparian rights certification
Summary
Private piers and boat docks in Anne Arundel County must sit at least 15 feet from side lot lines, extend no more than 300 feet, and limit mooring to four boats over 16 feet.
(b) Setbacks. A pier or mooring piling shall be located at least 15 feet from a lot line extended for a private pier or at least 25 feet from a lot line extended for all other piers. ... (e) Restrictions on mooring or docking. No person may use a private pier or mooring piling for the mooring or docking of watercraft other than the owner or occupant of the lot from which the pier extends... No more than four watercraft exceeding 16 feet in length may be moored or docked at a private pier or mooring piling.
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
The Office of Planning and Zoning sets pier and mooring-piling locations under Anne Arundel County Code Section 18-2-404, requiring at least 15 feet of setback from a private pier's lot lines (25 feet for other piers) and capping length at half the distance to the waterway's center line, half the distance to a cove's center point, or 300 feet, whichever is shortest. Only the lot owner, agreement holders, or guests staying under 30 days may moor there, and no more than four watercraft over 16 feet may dock at once. Building a pier also requires a Department of Inspections and Permits permit certifying the applicant's riparian rights.
Violations & Fines
Constructing or replacing a pier without a building permit, or exceeding the approved permit's scope, is a Class B civil offense under the county's Construction Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a boat dock be from my neighbor's property line?
Can I let a friend dock their boat at my private pier?
Do I need a permit to build a residential pier?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland environmental rules overview
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