Anne Arundel County, MD Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt height
- Up to 2 feet, no surcharge
- Permit required above
- Over 2 feet, or surcharge/liquids
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Inspections and Permits
- Unpermitted work penalty
- $500 first offense (Class C)
- Governing provision
- Construction Code § 105.2.1.3
Summary
Retaining walls up to 2 feet tall are permit-exempt in Anne Arundel County; taller walls, or any wall holding back a surcharge or liquids, need a building permit first.
105.2.1.3 Retaining walls that are not over 2 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the lowest grade to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids.
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's Construction Code, the county's own Chapter 1 administrative amendments to the adopted International Building Code, codified via County Code § 15-1-105, exempts retaining walls under 2 feet from a building permit, but only if the wall doesn't support a surcharge load or impound Class I, II, or IIIA liquids (§ 105.2.1.3). Walls that exceed 2 feet, or trigger either exception, need a permit from the Department of Inspections and Permits before construction starts. This chapter governs the whole county's unincorporated area directly, including Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, and Odenton, none of which has a separate building code. Annapolis and Highland Beach are the only exceptions, with their own permitting.
Violations & Fines
Building a retaining wall without a required permit is a Class C civil offense under § 15-5-102(b): a $500 fine for the first violation, $1,000 for each one after that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Anne Arundel County?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
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