Anne Arundel County, MD Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Nighttime equipment hours
- 10 p.m.–7 a.m. restricted
- Distance test
- Audible at 50 feet = violation
- Civil fine
- $50 to $500, Class E
- Misdemeanor exposure
- Up to $500, 30 days jail
- Enforcement
- No warning required before citation
Summary
Anne Arundel County bars machines, tools, and other equipment from running at an unreasonably loud volume audible in a residential district between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., with a 50-foot rebuttable-presumption test and on-the-spot civil citations.
(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. (d) Rebuttable presumption. 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 bars operating a machine, tool, or similar device, covering generators, HVAC compressors, and industrial or construction equipment, at an unreasonably loud volume audible in a residential district between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.; audio devices face the same limit at any hour. Sound heard 50 feet from the source is a rebuttable presumption of violation. County Police may cite on the spot, no warning required; the fine is a Class E civil offense, $50 first violation up to $500 for repeats under § 9-2-101, and ignoring a stop order is a misdemeanor with up to $500 and 30 days in jail. This governs unincorporated Glen Burnie and Severna Park, not Annapolis or Highland Beach.
Violations & Fines
County Police may cite without warning; a Class E civil fine runs $50 to $500 per violation, and refusing an officer's stop order is a misdemeanor carrying up to $500 and 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business run loud machinery at night in Anne Arundel County?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
Is there an exemption for licensed businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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