Anne Arundel County, MD Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Restricted hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Where it applies
- Anywhere heard in a residential district
- First-offense fine
- $50 civil fine (Class E offense)
- Distance presumption
- Audible at 50 feet = violation
- Enforcing agency
- Anne Arundel County Police Department
Summary
Anne Arundel County bans running a generator or other machine at an unreasonably loud volume between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it can be heard in a residential district, under the county noise ordinance.
A person may not, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., use, operate, or permit the use or operation of a musical instrument or a machine, tool, or similar device at an unreasonably loud volume that can be heard in a residential district. ... There is a rebuttable presumption that sound generated by a device listed in subsection (c) that can be heard at a distance of 50 feet from the device constitutes a violation under this section.
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
County Code § 9-1-707(c)(2) prohibits running a generator, tool, or similar machine at an unreasonably loud volume between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if it can be heard in a residential district, this covers portable and standby generators along with power tools and other equipment. A rebuttable presumption applies: sound from the device audible 50 feet away is presumed to violate the law. The rule applies countywide, including unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie and Severna Park, since the county code is their only local law; Annapolis and Highland Beach have their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
First-offense civil fine of $50, rising to $100 for a second violation and $500 for a third; police may cite without a prior warning under § 9-2-101.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a generator overnight in Anne Arundel County?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
How is a violation proven?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland noise from specific sources overview
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