Anne Arundel County, MD Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Department of Inspections and Permits
- Small-project exemption
- Under 5,000 sq ft disturbed
- Application review
- Written report within 30 days
- Critical Area violation
- Class A civil offense, up to $10,000
- Standard fine elsewhere
- Class C, $500 first offense
Summary
A grading permit from the Department of Inspections and Permits is required before clearing or grading any site in Anne Arundel County, unless the disturbed area is under 5,000 square feet.
(a) Approval required. Except as provided in subsection (b), a person may not: (1) grade without a grading permit issued by the Department;...(b) Exceptions. Approval is not required for clearing or grading associated with:...(5) disturbing less than 5,000 square feet of land unless prohibited by subsection (a)(2) of this section or other applicable State or federal law.
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 Code § 16-3-201 bars grading, clearing, or logging without a grading permit from the Department of Inspections and Permits, and separately bars clearing or grading in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffer without an approved plan. Projects disturbing under 5,000 square feet skip the full permit, though agricultural buildings disturbing between 5,000 square feet and one acre still need a standard grading plan approved by the Soil Conservation District. The Department must issue a written report on an application within 30 days under § 16-3-203. This applies countywide, including unincorporated Glen Burnie, Severna Park, and Pasadena; Annapolis and Highland Beach run their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Grading without a permit is a civil offense under § 16-5-105: a Class A offense in the Critical Area (fines up to $10,000), Class C elsewhere ($500 first offense); the Department can also issue a stop-work order under § 16-5-103.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade a small residential lot in Glen Burnie?
Does Glen Burnie or Severna Park have its own grading ordinance?
What happens if I grade in the Critical Area without approval?
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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