Anne Arundel County, MD Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- RA District density
- 1 dwelling per 20 acres
- RA minimum lot size
- 40,000 square feet
- County ag district minimum
- 50 contiguous acres
- Nuisance defense limit
- excludes negligent operations
Summary
County Code § 17-10-301 shields farms from private nuisance suits, and the RA – Rural Agricultural zoning district caps density at one dwelling per 20 acres to keep unincorporated farmland from being subdivided into house lots.
If it is alleged in a private action that an agricultural operation interferes with the use and enjoyment of private property, because that action constitutes a private nuisance, the person charged in the action shall not be liable if the agricultural operation: (1) is being conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices and conforms to federal, State, and County law; or (2) commenced prior to the use of the property by the person alleged to have suffered injury as a result of the operation.
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 § 17-10-301 protects a farm from private nuisance suits if it follows generally accepted agricultural practices and complies with federal, State, and County law, or if it began operating before the neighboring use existed, a defense that does not apply if the operation was negligent or willfully injurious. Zoning reinforces this: the RA – Rural Agricultural District (§ 18-4-301) caps density at one dwelling per 20 acres, with limited added units only on larger residue acreage, sets a 40,000-square-foot minimum lot, and § 17-10-203 requires 50 contiguous acres to form a County agricultural preservation district, keeping farmland intact across unincorporated communities like Glen Burnie, Odenton, and Crofton, which have no zoning code of their own.
Violations & Fines
The nuisance defense doesn't cover negligent or willfully injurious farming operations, and RA District density above one dwelling per 20 acres or lot coverage past 25% still triggers zoning enforcement by the Office of Planning and Zoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Anne Arundel County have a right-to-farm law?
Can farmland in the RA zoning district be subdivided freely?
Does this apply in Glen Burnie or Odenton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland right to farm overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.