Anne Arundel County, MD Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)
Construction hours in Anne Arundel County, MD, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Presumption distance
- Audible 50 feet from device
- First offense fine
- $50 civil fine
- Enforcement
- No warning required before citation
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county, not Annapolis or Highland Beach
Summary
Anne Arundel County bans operating a machine, tool, or similar device at unreasonably loud volume in a residential district between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., covering most construction equipment noise.
(c) Prohibitions. A person may not: ... (2) 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.
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
Under County Code § 9-1-707(c)(2), operating a machine, tool, or similar device, including construction equipment, at an unreasonably loud volume audible in a residential district is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sound heard 50 feet from the device creates a rebuttable presumption of a violation. The rule applies countywide, including unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie and Severna Park; it exempts government functions, licensed public-service work, permitted activity, schools and nonprofits, and farming. Anne Arundel County Police enforce it; officers need not warn before citing.
Violations & Fines
A Class E civil offense: $50 first violation, $100 second, $500 third or later. Refusing an officer's order to stop is a misdemeanor, up to $500 and 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run construction equipment at night in Anne Arundel County?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Is daytime construction noise regulated too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
How Anne Arundel County compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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