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Annapolis, MD Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Floor-area cap
25% of dwelling floor area
Employees
1 nonresident employee max
Residency
Operator must live on site
Retail sales
No resale of purchased goods
Parking
No front-yard parking allowed

Summary

Annapolis limits home-based businesses to 25% of a dwelling's floor area, one non-resident employee, and a fixed list of permitted occupations, banning retail resale of purchased goods and any exterior sign of commercial use.

A. Area. The total floor area utilized for the occupation, including both indoor and outdoor areas, shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total floor area of the dwelling unit. B. Operators. Operators of a home occupation must use the principal building on the zoning lot as their primary residence. C. Employees. Not more than one nonresident of the zoning lot may be employed in a home occupation.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Annapolis Zoning Code § 21.64.330 caps a home occupation at 25% of the dwelling's total floor area (indoor and outdoor combined) and requires the operator to live in the home as their primary residence. Only one non-resident employee is permitted. Permitted occupations include arts and crafts studios, business/professional offices, computer services, dressmaking and tailoring, photography studios, small-appliance and similar repair services, and tutoring; beauty parlors with more than one chair (outside the R3/R4-Revitalization districts), catering, furniture refinishing, manufacturing, and vehicle repair or sales are barred outright. Resale of goods in the same form purchased is prohibited, and no exterior sign of commercial use, outdoor storage, extra parking, noise, dust, or fumes, is permitted.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the 25% floor-area cap, hiring more than one outside employee, or running a prohibited occupation is a zoning violation; the City can order the use discontinued under Title 21 zoning enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a home business from any Annapolis dwelling?
Only if you live there as your primary residence, use no more than 25% of the floor area, employ at most one outside worker, and pick from the code's permitted list: beauty parlors, catering and manufacturing are barred.
Can I sell retail goods out of my Annapolis home occupation?
No. Section 21.64.330(F) bars selling goods on the premises in the same form in which the operator purchased them; only items or services actually produced there can be sold.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Annapolis

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsSignage RulesSome RestrictionsHome DaycareSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSignificant Restrictions

All Annapolis rules

How Annapolis compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Annapolis to another location·View the Maryland home business overview

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