Anne Arundel County, MD Environmental Rules: Flood Elevation Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard required
- 1 ft above 100-year flood elevation
- Basements
- prohibited in floodplain district
- Violation class
- Class C civil offense
- First-offense fine
- $500, then $1,000 repeat
- Applies to
- new construction & substantial improvements
Summary
New construction and substantial improvements in Anne Arundel County's floodplain district must have the lowest floor elevated to the flood protection elevation, the 100-year flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard, and basements are banned outright.
All structures, new construction, substantial improvements, and new habitable space shall have the lowest floor elevated to the flood protection elevation, except that: (1) an expansion that increases the footprint of a structure is not required to have the lowest floor elevated to the flood protection elevation if the expansion is the minimum necessary to correct violations of State or County health, safety, or sanitary codes;
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
County Code § 16-2-202(c) requires the lowest floor of all new structures, substantial improvements, and new habitable space in the floodplain district to be raised to the "flood protection elevation," defined in § 16-1-101(45) as the 100-year flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard. Basements are prohibited in the floodplain district under § 16-2-202(b), and structures in a floodway or coastal high hazard area face additional bans on fill and manufactured homes under § 16-2-202(f)-(g). Nonresidential structures may floodproof to that elevation instead, with a FEMA certificate, under § 16-2-202(c)(3). The floodplain district covers areas shown on the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Anne Arundel County. This applies countywide, including unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie and Severna Park; Annapolis and Highland Beach administer their own floodplain rules.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Title 2 (floodplain management) is a Class C civil offense under § 16-5-105(d): $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second or later violation, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense under § 9-2-101(h). The Department of Inspections and Permits enforces via notice of violation or stop-work order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must a new house be built above flood level in Anne Arundel County?
Can I build a basement in Anne Arundel County's floodplain district?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
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