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Anne Arundel County, MD Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

FEMA flood zone rules in Anne Arundel County, MD, also called floodplain regulations or special flood hazard area (SFHA) rules, determine flood insurance requirements and elevation standards for new construction.

Key Facts

Basements: Prohibited in floodplain district
Floodway building: Residential, manufactured homes, fill barred
Elevation standard: 100-year flood plus 1 ft freeboard
Enforcing agency: Dept. of Inspections and Permits
Governing law: County Code Article 16, Title 2

FEMA Flood Zone Lookup

FEMA assigns every parcel in the U.S. a flood-hazard designation on its Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Zones starting with A or V are high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas where federally backed mortgages require NFIP flood insurance. Zone X indicates moderate-to-minimal risk, where insurance is optional but often recommended. Your specific zone determines insurance cost, build elevation, and permit requirements in Anne Arundel County, MD.

Zone	What it means	NFIP required?
A	High-risk flood area; 1% annual chance flood, no detailed analysis.	Yes
AE	High-risk; same as A but with established Base Flood Elevations.	Yes
AH	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft), usually ponding.	Yes
AO	High-risk shallow flooding (1-3 ft) with sheet flow on sloping terrain.	Yes
V	High-risk coastal zone subject to wave action (no BFE).	Yes
VE	High-risk coastal zone with wave action and established BFEs.	Yes
X (shaded)	Moderate risk; between the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood.	Recommended
X	Minimal risk; outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain.	No

Look up Anne Arundel County, MD on the FEMA flood map

FEMA maps update periodically; verify zone before buying flood insurance or building.

Summary

Anne Arundel County bans basements, floodway construction, and fill placement in mapped flood hazard areas, and requires new structures to be elevated to the flood protection elevation under County Code Article 16.

City-specific rules exist: Annapolis has its own flood zones rules that differ from Anne Arundel County's county-level regulations. If you live in Annapolis, check the city-specific page instead.

Development may not occur in the floodplain if an alternative location for the development exists. ... Basements are prohibited. ... All residential development, manufactured homes and the placement of fill are prohibited in a floodway.

Source: AA County Floodplain ManagementView official code

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 floodplain district covers all land in the 100-year flood zone identified by FEMA's Flood Insurance Study for Anne Arundel County, split into subdistricts (Zones A, AE, AH/AO, VE, X). Anyone seeking a building, grading, or subdivision permit in Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, or any other unincorporated community must show new structures avoid the floodplain where an alternative site exists. Lowest floors must sit at the flood protection elevation (the 100-year flood level plus one foot of freeboard), basements are banned outright, and floodways additionally bar all residential development, manufactured homes, and fill placement. The Department of Inspections and Permits reviews applications and may allow floodproofing in place of elevation for nonresidential buildings.

Violations & Fines

Building in the floodplain district without required elevation, floodproofing certification, or permit review violates Article 16; the Department of Inspections and Permits can declare the structure unsafe and must notify FEMA and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a basement in a flood zone in Anne Arundel County?

No. County Code § 16-2-202(b) prohibits basements on any lot within the floodplain district, regardless of elevation or floodproofing measures used elsewhere on the structure.

Does this floodplain rule apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?

Yes. Glen Burnie, Severna Park, and every other unincorporated community are governed directly by this county title; there is no separate municipal floodplain code for them.

Sources & Official References

[1]Anne Arundel County Code, Article 16, Title 2 — Floodplain Management

Other rules in Anne Arundel County

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Boat Dock PermitsSome Restrictions Erosion ControlSome Restrictions Flood Elevation RequirementsSome Restrictions Stormwater ManagementSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesLight Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Anne Arundel County rules

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Flood Zones in Cities Across Anne Arundel County

Annapolis, MD