Queen Anne's County, MD Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Two County rules govern camping on public land. Section 20-7(B) says a person may not camp overnight in a public landing, and § 20-7(A) otherwise lets a person use a public landing 24 hours a day unless the Department of Parks and Recreation posts otherwise. Section 22-20(N) covers County parks: camping is authorized by permit only, in designated areas and within specific periods as indicated on the permit, and it is classed as a Class e offense. The Department of Parks and Recreation issues permits under § 22-18(C) on rules approved by the County Commissioners, and § 22-18(B) lets the Director close any park property to the public entirely or for certain uses, with closings posted in advance.

The same chapter bars storing material of any description on park property except by written authorization from the Director (§ 22-19(D)(3)), and requires garbage, junk, refuse and rubbish to go into trash receptacles (§ 22-19(D)(1)). Section 22-26 lets the Department seek restitution from an individual for costs of restoring, repairing, replacing or removing encroachments on parkland. Enforcement is by any County employee designated by resolution of the County Commissioners, plus the Department of Natural Resources, the Queen Anne's County Sheriff, the Maryland State Police and other designated agencies under § 22-24.

Fines under § 22-25 are capped at $500 for a first violation and $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense, each day a violation continues can be a separate offense, and the Director can suspend park privileges in addition to fines. At public landings, § 20-19 sets civil fines not exceeding $500 per violation, each day separate. These rules cover County landings and parks in unincorporated Queen Anne's County and Kent Island, not town property in Centreville or Queenstown.