Anne Arundel County, MD Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Core standard
- clean, sanitary, fit for occupancy
- Adopted code
- 2003 International Property Maintenance Code
- Enforcing agency
- Health Officer / Health Department
- Penalty
- $25/day per unit after notice
- Offense class
- Class D civil offense
Summary
Landlords may not occupy or lease a dwelling unless it is clean, sanitary, and fit for human occupancy under the County's Property Maintenance Code, enforced by the Health Officer with civil fines.
An owner or other person may not occupy or lease to another person a dwelling or dwelling unit unless it and the premises are clean, sanitary, fit for human occupancy, and in compliance with this title and other applicable State and County law.
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
Anne Arundel County Code § 15-4-103 bars an owner from leasing any dwelling or dwelling unit unless it and the premises are clean, sanitary, and fit for human occupancy. The County has adopted the 2003 International Property Maintenance Code by reference (§ 15-4-201) as the substantive standard, and the Health Officer enforces it, including entry to inspect rental dwellings under § 15-1-104. Because most of the county, including Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, Odenton and Crofton, is unincorporated, this county code is the only habitability law covering rentals there; Annapolis and Highland Beach have their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Failing to correct a cited Property Maintenance Code violation after notice is a Class D civil offense punishable by a $25-per-day fine; in a multiple dwelling, a separate fine applies per dwelling unit per day (§ 15-5-102(j)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover rentals in Glen Burnie or Severna Park?
What can a tenant do if a rental isn't habitable?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland rental property rules overview
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