Anne Arundel County, MD Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Anne Arundel County, MD, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Administering agency
- Dept. of Inspections and Permits
- Filing deadline
- At least 90 days ahead
- Governing law
- County Code Title 11-11
- Permit triggers on
- Exclusive use of public streets/property
- Violation fine
- $125 to $1,000 (Class D)
Summary
Anne Arundel County has no separate film permit. Commercial filming that needs exclusive use of public streets, rights-of-way, county waters, or other public property counts as a special event and requires a permit from Inspections and Permits before shooting starts.
“Special event” means an activity ... that does not have regularity or permanence throughout the year ... for which: 1. specific and exclusive use of public streets, alleys, rights-of-way, county waters, or other public property is required ... A person who organizes a special event shall obtain a permit under this title.
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 county code has no filming-specific ordinance. Instead, § 11-11-101 defines a "special event" as any activity, which covers a film or television shoot, for which exclusive use of public streets, alleys, rights-of-way, county waters, or other public property is required, or that needs county services beyond normal operations. § 11-11-102 requires the organizer to obtain a Special Event Permit before filming under those conditions; applications go to the Department of Inspections and Permits at least 90 calendar days ahead under § 11-11-103(a)(2). Shoots confined to Recreation and Parks property fall under that department's own permit instead, per § 11-11-105(b)(6).
Violations & Fines
Filming without the required Special Event Permit is a Class D civil offense under § 11-1-105(b): $125 for a first violation, $500 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or later violation under § 9-2-101(f)(4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Anne Arundel County have a separate film permit?
How far ahead must a film shoot apply?
What if the shoot is entirely inside a private studio?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland filming & production overview
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