Queen Anne's County, MD Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Chapter 26 of the Queen Anne's County Code, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on 4-3-1998 by Ord. No. 98-02, lists the places where parking is off limits. Section 26-2 has subsections A through X. Subsection A says a person may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in front of a public driveway. Subsection B bars a vehicle on a sidewalk. Subsection K bars standing or parking in front of a private driveway without the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises, so blocking your own driveway is allowed but blocking a neighbor's is not. Subsection L sets a 15 foot buffer around a fire hydrant, subsection M sets 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, and subsection W bars parking in front of a curb ramp. Subsection X bars standing or parking in any area marked "Fire Lane" or otherwise designated exclusively for the parking of fire or emergency equipment.

Other distances in § 26-2 include 30 feet on the approach to a flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal at the side of a roadway (N), 20 feet from a fire station driveway entrance and, if signposted, within 75 feet opposite it (O), and 50 feet from the nearest rail at a railroad grade crossing (S). Subsection Q bars parking on the roadway side of another vehicle parked at the curb, and subsection T reserves marked spaces for handicapped individuals. Terms in the chapter take the meanings given in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (§ 26-1).

Enforcement runs through citations. Under § 26-4 A, any police officer, including any Deputy Sheriff or member of the Maryland State Police, can issue a citation, and the County Commissioners can designate other individuals by resolution. An unattended vehicle gets the citation attached in a conspicuous place. In the driver's absence the registered owner is presumed to be the person receiving the citation, and proof that the registered owner's vehicle was parked in violation is a prima facie presumption that the owner parked it.

Towing is a separate consequence. Under § 26-3 any vehicle parked in violation of the chapter is subject to impoundment and towing by any law enforcement agency or personnel, and the owner is responsible for all reasonable costs and expenses of impoundment, towing and/or storage.

The chapter applies in unincorporated Queen Anne's County, including Kent Island. Centreville, Queenstown, and the other incorporated towns have their own codes.