Moving to Annapolis, MD?

Annapolis prohibits unreasonably loud noise under City Code §11.12.020. Residential quiet hours run 10 PM to 7 AM under Maryland state dBA standards (55 dBA nighttime). Police respond to after-hours complaints.

Annapolis permits construction noise 7 AM to 10 PM under Maryland state standards. Construction sounds may not exceed 90 dBA at the property line. Historic District work requires additional coordination.

Annapolis prohibits dogs from continuously barking or making noise that causes unreasonable disturbance. Complaints handled by city police and animal control. Owner responsibility established under Code Title 8.

Annapolis Code Chapter 17.44 does not set an explicit liability insurance dollar minimum for short-term rentals at the city level; the city's licensing focus is on a Maryland Sales & Use Tax license, a local property manager (if the owner is non-resident), occupancy and life-safety standards, and remittance of the Anne Arundel County use-or-occupancy tax. Hosts should still verify coverage through their hosting platform and a private STR or commercial-liability policy.

Annapolis Code Chapter 17.44 caps short-term rental occupancy at two individuals per bedroom (excluding small children) and limits short-term residential rentals to no more than 120 consecutive days in a calendar year. The owner must post an occupancy notice on the back of the main entrance door.

Annapolis requires STR operators to register through the city's Citizen Self-Service portal. The City Council passed a 10% per-block density cap on non-owner-occupied STRs. Owner-occupied rentals are exempt from the cap.

Annapolis STR guests are subject to the same noise ordinance as permanent residents. Quiet hours 10 PM–7 AM. Hosts are responsible for guest compliance and can lose their registration for repeated noise complaints.

Annapolis STRs owe 8% Anne Arundel County occupancy tax (increased July 1, 2023) plus 6% Maryland state sales tax. Total effective rate approximately 14%. Registration must include a Maryland sales tax license number.

Annapolis STR guests must comply with residential permit parking zones near the Historic District, Naval Academy, and State House. No additional dedicated parking is required by STR registration rules, but congestion is a common complaint.

Annapolis fire pits must be UL-listed appliances with a 15-foot setback from all structures. Attended at all times. No burning of trash, leaves, or yard debris. Dense Historic District lots require extra care given proximity to neighbors.

Consumer fireworks are banned statewide under Maryland Code, Public Safety §10-101. Annapolis Code reinforces the ban. Only sparklers not containing chlorates or perchlorates (gold-label) are legal. Violation can result in a $250+ fine.

Annapolis allows small recreational fires for personal use or cooking in UL-listed appliances with a 15-foot setback from structures. Burning trash, leaves, and debris is prohibited. Bonfires require a Fire Marshal permit.

Annapolis requires driveways to connect to the street through approved curb cuts. Historic District driveway alterations require Historic Preservation Commission review. Blocking sidewalks or obstructing sight lines is prohibited.

Annapolis has metered parking (2-hour limit) throughout downtown and extensive residential permit parking zones near the Historic District, Naval Academy, and State House. Boat Show and special event restrictions activate seasonally.

Annapolis is a major boating hub. RV and boat trailer parking on city streets is limited. Residential storage of boats and trailers behind the front building line is generally permitted. Marina storage is widely available.

Annapolis restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones overnight. Vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVW may not be parked in residential areas except for active loading/unloading. Historic District streets prohibit large trucks.

Annapolis follows Maryland's common-law fence rules. The finished side must face neighbors. Boundary fence disputes are civil matters. Maryland's spite fence statute (RP §14-120) prohibits fences built solely to annoy.

Annapolis Chapter 17.34 requires a building permit for all fence installations. Historic District fences additionally require Historic Preservation Commission approval before a permit is issued.

Annapolis Code §21.60.070 limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards. Historic District fences require Historic Preservation Commission review. Finished side must face outward.

Annapolis does not have a specific municipal beekeeping ordinance. Maryland Dept of Agriculture requires hive registration. Zoning and property size constraints apply. City encourages urban agriculture as consistent with Chesapeake Bay goals.

Annapolis follows Anne Arundel County animal code prohibiting wild, exotic, and vicious animals as pets. Skunks, raccoons, and opossums are specifically prohibited. Small rodents, rabbits, ferrets, birds, fish, and non-poisonous reptiles are permitted.

Annapolis requires dogs to be on leash in all public areas including waterfront parks, City Dock, and Truxtun Park. Dogs must be under the direct control of their owner at all times. Off-leash areas are limited.

Annapolis has no municipal breed-specific legislation (BSL). Maryland law prohibits county and municipal breed bans following the 2014 Court of Appeals ruling. All dogs are governed by individual behavior under the dangerous dog designation process.

Annapolis participates in the Anne Arundel County water system. Outdoor irrigation restrictions activate during drought or water emergency declarations. Chesapeake Bay-friendly landscaping with native plants and rain gardens is strongly encouraged.

Annapolis requires a permit to remove trees over 8 inches DBH on city property and in the Historic District. Street trees are city property and may not be trimmed without city approval. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffer trees have heightened protections.

Annapolis enforces weed abatement. MD Agriculture Art. §9-401 covers noxious weeds. County health departments handle residential complaints.

Tree removal in Annapolis requires permits for trees in the Historic District or Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffer. Dead or hazardous trees may be removed with notice to the city. Replacement planting required in critical areas.

Annapolis enforces a maximum grass height of 12 inches for residential properties. Properties in violation receive a notice and must cut within 10 days. The city will cut the grass and bill the owner if not remediated.

Annapolis prohibits all external signage for home occupations in residential zones. Historic District sign rules are among the strictest in Maryland — all signs in the district require Historic Preservation Commission approval.

Annapolis permits home occupations in residential zones as accessory uses. Business must be conducted entirely indoors, occupy no more than 25% of floor area, have no signage, no customer traffic, and no employees at the residence.

Annapolis home occupation rules prohibit customer or client traffic to the residence. No appointments, walk-in customers, or regular deliveries beyond normal residential scale. Violations reported by neighbors can result in revocation.

Annapolis pool safety rules include anti-entrapment VGB-compliant drain covers, required depth markings, and prohibition on use during electrical storms. Annual inspection for permitted pools. Bay waterfront pool drainage must comply with Critical Area rules.

Annapolis follows Maryland's pool barrier law requiring fences at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Building permits required. Chesapeake Bay waterfront pools must address stormwater compliance.

Above-ground pools in Annapolis require the same 48-inch barrier fencing as in-ground pools. Steps and ladders must be removable or lockable when the pool is unattended. Building permit required for pools over 24 inches deep.

Annapolis treats carports as accessory structures under Title 21 (Planning and Zoning), Chapter 21.64. They must comply with the underlying district setbacks, height, and lot coverage in Chapter 21.50 (Bulk Regulations Tables) and require a building permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning before construction.

Annapolis requires building permits for sheds over 144 square feet. Sheds must meet setback requirements and may not be placed in front yards. Historic District sheds require Historic Preservation Commission review.

Annapolis allows ADUs through a special exception process. ADUs limited to 700 sq ft or 50% of primary dwelling, whichever is less. Historic District ADUs require HPC design review. Owner occupancy of primary or ADU required.

Annapolis allows garage conversions to habitable space with a building permit. Historic District conversions require Historic Preservation Commission review. Conversions that create a separate dwelling unit are treated as ADUs requiring a special exception.

Annapolis has significant flood exposure as a tidal capital city on the Chesapeake Bay. Properties in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) require flood insurance and must meet floodplain development rules. Nuisance flooding ('sunny day flooding') affects City Dock regularly.

Annapolis enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours.