101 local rules on file · Pop. 4,257 · Anne Arundel County
Showing ordinances that apply to Riva, MD
Riva is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 4,257 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Because Riva is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Anne Arundel County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Anne Arundel County may have different rules.
Anne Arundel County requires an electrical permit for hot tubs and, for tubs 24+ inches deep, the same barrier rules as pools under IRC Appendix G — unless the unit has an ASTM F1346 safety cover.
Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections & Permits requires building permit for pools. COMAR 26.04.02 applies to community pools. Critical Area pools need additional environmental review.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Anne Arundel County ordinances.
Above-ground pools in Anne Arundel County holding more than 24 inches of water require a building permit and 48-inch barrier. Pool wall may count as barrier if 48 inches tall with lockable access. HOAs frequently prohibit above-ground pools.
Anne Arundel County treats foundation tiny houses under IRC Appendix Q (min. 70 sq ft habitable room) and under the Maryland HB 20 (2024) statewide ADU mandate. Tiny houses on wheels are RVs and cannot be used as permanent dwellings except in licensed RV parks.
Carports in Anne Arundel County require a building permit and are subject to Article 18 accessory-structure setbacks. Detached carports must typically be set back 5 feet from side/rear lines; attached carports follow the primary dwelling setbacks.
Anne Arundel County updated its ADU rules in 2023 to allow ADUs in most residential districts without additional parking requirements. ADUs require a building permit and must not exceed 800 sq ft or 50% of the primary dwelling. No parking requirement for most ADUs.
Anne Arundel County requires building permits for sheds over 144 sq ft. Sheds must meet zoning setbacks (typically 5 feet from rear and side lines). Not permitted in front yards. HOA approval typically required in organized communities.
Anne Arundel County allows garage conversions to habitable space with a building permit. Conversions creating a separate dwelling unit are classified as ADUs. Off-street parking replacement may be required if parking was part of zoning compliance.
Anne Arundel County prohibits intentional feeding of deer under Article 12 and enforces a Maryland DNR-aligned ban on feeding black bears. Waterfowl feeding is discouraged along the Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries due to Tundra swan and Canada goose nuisance.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 18 zoning allows chickens in RA (Rural Agricultural) and on lots 40,000+ sq ft in R1/R2 zones. No roosters in residential zones. Annapolis city limits: prohibited.
Anne Arundel County has no breed-specific legislation. Maryland law (HB 421, 2014) prohibits county breed bans. Dangerous dog designations are based on individual animal behavior. HOA communities may independently restrict breeds.
Anne Arundel County requires dogs to be under control at all times in public. Tethering outdoors requires a 10-foot leash and direct supervision except for one 15-minute daily period. Tethering prohibited in extreme temperatures.
Anne Arundel County allows beekeeping in agricultural and some residential zones. Maryland Dept of Agriculture hive registration required. Article 18-4-104 governs animal keeping with county zoning. No specific hive number cap in county code.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 12, Title 4 prohibits wild, exotic, and vicious animals as pets. Skunks, raccoons, and opossums are specifically prohibited. Ferrets, small rodents, birds, fish, and non-poisonous reptiles are permitted.
Anne Arundel County is not in a mapped high-wildfire-hazard area under Maryland DNR Forest Service assessments. Defensible-space rules are not codified locally; open-burn permits and seasonal outdoor burn restrictions apply under MDE and DNR regulations.
Anne Arundel County Fire Marshal enforces vegetation clearance near structures. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (1,000 ft buffer) has special vegetation management rules that limit clearing.
Anne Arundel County recreational fire pits must be contained in a UL-listed appliance, attended at all times, and positioned 15 feet from structures. Only clean natural wood is permitted. No burning trash, treated wood, or yard debris.
Consumer fireworks are banned statewide under Maryland Code, Public Safety §10-101. Anne Arundel County enforces the state ban. Only gold-label sparklers without chlorates/perchlorates are legal. Display fireworks require State Fire Marshal permits.
Anne Arundel County permits small recreational fires (1 cubic yard or less of clean wood) and cooking fires without a license. Large-scale burning requires a county license from the Health Department. Leaf burning is prohibited year-round.
Anne Arundel County actively promotes native and Bay-friendly plantings through its Watershed Protection program and Critical Area buffer plantings. Maryland RP §2-118 limits HOA bans on low-impact landscaping. Turf grass replacement is incentivized near the Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland permits residential rainwater harvesting without restriction. Anne Arundel County encourages rain barrels for stormwater management; rebate program periodically offered.
Anne Arundel County permits residential artificial turf but counts it as impervious surface in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, which can trigger mitigation. Drainage plans are required when turf replaces lawn on slopes or near tidal waters.
Anne Arundel County activates outdoor irrigation restrictions during drought advisories. Odd/even watering schedules and daytime irrigation bans may apply. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area requires Bay-friendly native plantings within 1,000 feet of tidal waters.
Routine tree removal on standard residential lots in Anne Arundel County does not require a permit. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area trees and those on lots over 40,000 sq ft undergoing development require permits and replacement planting.
Anne Arundel County enforces a maximum grass height of 12 inches under its weed and grass ordinance. Property owners are notified and must cut within 10 days. County will mow and bill the owner for non-compliance.
Anne Arundel County's Forest Conservation Act requires tree permits for lots over 40,000 sq ft. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffer trees are protected. Specimen trees (30+ inches DBH) receive heightened review during development projects.
Anne Arundel County enforces weed abatement. MD Agriculture Art. §9-401 covers noxious weeds. County health departments handle residential complaints.
Anne Arundel County requires STR hosts to carry at least $500,000 in liability coverage and list the county as an additional insured or provide equivalent platform-provided coverage. Proof must accompany the license application and each renewal.
Anne Arundel County caps STR occupancy at 2 adults per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed 10 total guests, under the 2022 short-term rental ordinance (Bill 66-21, Article 11). Annapolis has a stricter cap in its STR license program.
Anne Arundel County STR guests are subject to the same noise ordinance (§9-1-706) as permanent residents. Quiet hours 10 PM–7 AM. Hosts bear responsibility for guest compliance. Repeat violations can result in registration suspension.
Anne Arundel County STRs owe 8% use or occupancy tax under §4-6-105 (increased from 7% effective July 1, 2023) plus 6% Maryland state sales tax. Hosting platforms remit the state portion under SB 530.
Anne Arundel County does not impose specific STR parking requirements beyond standard residential zoning rules. STR guests must comply with residential parking limits. HOA communities may have additional guest parking rules.
Anne Arundel County requires STR operators to register with the county. Registration fee is $100 for a two-year term (reduced by emergency ordinance). Up to two STR properties allowed per operator. Applies to stays of 120 consecutive days or less.
Anne Arundel County enforces the 2018 IRC Appendix G pool barrier standards as adopted by Maryland — 48-inch barrier, self-closing/self-latching gate with latch ≥54 inches, and less-than-4-inch openings. Barrier inspection is required before the pool is filled.
Anne Arundel County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet (measured from footing) or any wall supporting a surcharge. Walls in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area or in a floodplain face additional review and often require a Maryland-licensed PE seal.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 18 (Zoning) approves wood, vinyl, composite, masonry, wrought iron, chain-link. Annapolis Historic District requires HDC approval for fence materials.
Anne Arundel County limits fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards under Article 18 zoning regulations. Corner lot sight triangles must be maintained. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area properties have additional restrictions.
Anne Arundel County follows Maryland common law for boundary fences. No mandatory cost-sharing. Maryland's spite fence statute (RP §14-120) prohibits fences built solely to annoy neighbors. Finished side should face adjacent property.
Anne Arundel County requires a building permit for fences over 6 feet. Standard fences under 6 feet on non-corner, non-waterfront lots may be installed without a permit but must still comply with zoning height and setback rules.
Anne Arundel County has no gas leaf blower ban. Operation must comply with Article 11 noise limits. Hours typically 7 AM-9 PM weekdays, 9 AM-7 PM weekends in residential zones.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 11 regulates amplified sound. Special event permits required from Recreation & Parks or Licensing. Annapolis has separate noise permit process for waterfront events.
Anne Arundel County Code §9-1-706 and Bill 26-21 govern noise disturbances. State COMAR 26.02.03 sets 65 dBA daytime (7 AM–10 PM) and 55 dBA nighttime (10 PM–7 AM) limits at residential property lines. County police enforce.
Anne Arundel County Code §12-4-101(36) defines a dog that continuously barks, howls, or whines causing unreasonable annoyance to neighbors as a public nuisance. Animal Services Agency enforces.
Anne Arundel County construction noise is permitted 7 AM to 10 PM with a 90 dBA maximum. State COMAR 26.02.03 standards apply. County code enforcement handles complaints during business hours; police after hours.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 12 treats a vehicle as abandoned after 48 hours on a public street or 30 days on private property without consent. Inoperative/unregistered vehicles on residential property must be garaged or screened under Article 18.
Anne Arundel County does not have a countywide overnight parking ban. Annapolis restricts overnight parking in residential permit zones and prohibits on-street commercial vehicle parking from 7 PM to 7 AM (Annapolis §12.16).
Anne Arundel County requires electrical permits for Level 2 EV chargers and follows the 2018 IBC/IRC EV-ready provisions adopted statewide. Maryland RP §2-121 blocks HOAs from prohibiting owner-installed chargers. BGE offers a managed-charger rebate program.
Anne Arundel County requires building permits for new driveways and curb cuts. Driveways must not block pedestrian access or sight triangles. Impervious surface limits apply in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
Anne Arundel County allows residential storage of RVs, boats, and trailers behind the front building line. Street storage is limited to 48 hours. Waterfront communities have seasonal overflow; HOAs frequently impose stricter storage rules.
Anne Arundel County follows Maryland Transportation Code §21-101 for street parking. Abandoned vehicles are towed after 48 hours. County police enforce. Residential permit parking exists in some high-demand communities near transit and employment centers.
Anne Arundel County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zoning districts. Vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVW may not be parked in residential areas overnight. Exceptions for active loading/unloading.
Anne Arundel County permits licensed family child care homes as of right under Article 18 home-occupation rules, consistent with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) licensing. Family child care is capped at 8 children; large family child care up to 12 needs additional review.
Maryland's cottage food law (Health-General §21-330.1) allows unlicensed home production of non-hazardous foods with annual sales up to $50,000. Anne Arundel County follows the state program; no county cottage food permit is required.
Anne Arundel County Article 18 permits home occupations as accessory uses in residential zones. Business must be entirely indoors, no employees at the residence, no customer traffic, and no external evidence of business beyond a single small sign.
Anne Arundel County home occupation rules limit customer or client traffic to that not exceeding a typical residence. Regular client visits are not permitted as a standard home occupation. Special exceptions exist for limited-client service businesses.
Anne Arundel County limits home occupation signage to one small identification sign (up to 2 sq ft). Signs may not be illuminated. External alterations advertising a business are prohibited in residential zones.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 18 zoning sets setbacks by district. R1: 40 ft front/15 ft side/40 ft rear typical. Critical Area adds 100 ft tidal buffer on top.
Anne Arundel County R1 lots limited to 35% impervious; R2 to 40%; R5 to 50%. Critical Area properties capped at 15% impervious (Resource Conservation Area) or 25% (LDA/IDA).
Anne Arundel County Code Article 18 limits residential height to 35 ft or 2.5 stories. Annapolis Historic District: 35 ft or match context. Naval Academy glide slope zones have FAA height limits.
Anne Arundel County enforces a juvenile curfew for minors under 17. Nighttime curfew hours typically run 11 PM to 6 AM on school nights with later weekend hours.
Anne Arundel County parks close at sunset unless posted otherwise. County Code Article 7-1-106 makes after-hours presence a trespassing violation. Lighted athletic fields extend to 10 PM.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 16 requires grading permit for 100+ cubic yards earth movement. Retaining walls over 4 ft need engineered plans. Drainage cannot be redirected to neighbors.
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (1,000 ft tidal buffer) is THE key rule for Anne Arundel County. Article 18 Sections apply. 100-ft buffer from mean high water. Three designations: RCA, LDA, IDA with strict development caps.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 16 enforces MD stormwater management regulations. MS4 Phase I permit. Bay Restoration Fund fee applies. Critical Area and flood plain trigger enhanced review.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 16-4 requires E&S plan for all disturbances over 5,000 sq ft. MDE 2011 Standards apply. Critical Area and steep slopes trigger enhanced controls.
Anne Arundel County has extensive FEMA flood zone areas along Chesapeake Bay, South River, Severn River, and Patuxent River shorelines. Properties in SFHA zones require flood insurance with federally backed mortgages. The county enforces a floodplain management ordinance for NFIP compliance.
Anne Arundel County Article 18 and Article 11 nuisance rules prohibit light trespass onto neighbors. 0.5 foot-candle maximum at property line in residential zones. Complaint-driven enforcement.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 18-11-107 requires full cut-off fixtures for exterior lighting. Critical Area and Annapolis Historic District have stricter standards. LED color temperature limited.
Anne Arundel County Article 12 (Property Maintenance Code, based on IPMC) addresses blight — peeling paint, broken windows, accumulated debris, overgrown yards. Notice gives 10–30 days to cure; abatement costs become a lien. Vacant and unsafe structures are separately regulated.
Anne Arundel County Article 12 requires vacant lot owners to control weeds/grass over 8 inches, remove trash, and abate trespass and dumping. Chesapeake Bay Critical Area lots must also maintain buffer vegetation. The county may mow and lien costs to the property.
Anne Arundel County Waste Management requires 65- or 95-gallon county-issued carts stored on the property (not in the right-of-way) and set out no earlier than 5 PM the day before collection, retrieved by 10 PM collection day.
Anne Arundel County generally does not mandate residential sidewalk snow clearing. City of Annapolis requires clearing within 24 hours under City Code Title 17. Liability remains for injuries.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 12 property maintenance requires tidy display during sales and cleanup within 24 hours. Unsold items not left at curb. Signs removed within 48 hours.
Anne Arundel County does not regulate residential holiday decorations through the sign code. Displays must not obstruct sight triangles, block sidewalks, or create noise/fire hazards. Annapolis historic district displays are subject to HPC guidelines.
Anne Arundel County allows political signs on private property without a permit under Article 18 (Zoning) sign regulations. Signs in state or county right-of-way are prohibited by MD Transportation §21-1116 and county code, and SHA routinely removes them.
Anne Arundel County permits temporary yard-sale signs on private property with owner consent. Placement on utility poles, street trees, and the state/county right-of-way is prohibited and signs are removed without notice by DPW and SHA.
Anne Arundel County has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Tenancies follow Maryland Real Property Code §8-401 et seq., which allows tenancy-at-will terminations with 60 days' written notice and failure-to-pay summary ejectment through District Court.
Anne Arundel County requires all rental dwelling units to be licensed under County Code Article 11, Title 2. Licenses are issued by Inspections & Permits, renewed every two years, and require a passing housing inspection.
Neither Maryland state law nor Anne Arundel County have adopted rent control. Landlords may raise rent with proper notice. Annapolis does not regulate rent amounts. Just-cause eviction not universal.
Maryland Real Property §2-119 bars HOAs from prohibiting rooftop solar. HOAs may impose reasonable aesthetic rules that do not significantly increase cost or decrease output. The law applies to Anne Arundel County HOAs in Crofton, Piney Orchard, Two Rivers, and Annapolis-area communities.
Anne Arundel County requires building and electrical permits for rooftop solar PV systems through Inspections & Permits. The county uses an expedited residential solar review and enforces 2020 NEC and 2018 IRC fire setbacks. BGE and SMECO handle interconnection under Maryland's net metering rules.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 7-8 requires peddler/solicitor license. Background check and photo ID badge required. Hours limited to 9 AM to 9 PM. Annapolis has separate licensing.
Anne Arundel County honors 'No Soliciting' signs posted at residences as legally enforceable. No formal county registry. Signs with state statute reference have strongest enforcement.
Anne Arundel County yard sales must occur during daylight hours, typically 8 AM to 7 PM. No overnight merchandise display. Must comply with Article 11 noise limits.
Anne Arundel County limits residential yard sales to 3 per calendar year per household to prevent commercial retail activity. Each sale 1-3 consecutive days. Excess triggers home business rules.
Anne Arundel County does not require a permit for residential yard sales. City of Annapolis similarly permissive. Sign ordinance restrictions apply. Frequency cap is the main rule.
Commercial operators require FAA Part 107 certificate. BWI and Naval Academy airspace mandate LAANC. Anne Arundel County film/survey permits for commercial use on county property.
FAA Part 107 and recreational rules apply. BWI Airport and US Naval Academy Class D airspace require LAANC. Anne Arundel County parks allow drones with permit; state parks ban recreational drones.
Anne Arundel County mandates single-stream recycling. Accepts paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics #1-#5 and #7. Contaminated carts tagged and skipped. Yard waste separate weekly program.
Anne Arundel County requires bins placed at curb by 6 AM, removed by end of collection day. Bins must be 3 ft from obstacles. Stored out of view from street between pickups.
Anne Arundel County offers free bulk pickup with 24-hour advance scheduling. Up to 3 cubic yards per pickup. Hazmat and construction debris excluded. Millersville Landfill for self-haul.
Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works provides weekly curbside trash and recycling to county residents. Annapolis operates its own municipal collection. Bins out by 6 AM.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 7 and Article 18 zone food truck operations. Annapolis requires private property or approved locations. Minimum distance from restaurants varies by jurisdiction.
Anne Arundel County Department of Health issues mobile food service permit. County commercial vehicle license required. Annapolis city has separate mobile vendor permit.
Anne Arundel County FCA requires afforestation/reforestation at ratios from 1:1 (1.5-inch caliper) to 3:1 for specimen trees. Fee-in-lieu paid to County Forest Conservation Fund.
Anne Arundel County designates Specimen Trees (30+ inch DBH) under Article 17. Annapolis has its own Tree City USA program with landmark designations. Removal requires extensive justification.
Anne Arundel County Forest Conservation Act (FCA) and Article 17 apply. Trees over 30 inches DBH on land 40,000+ sq ft trigger regulation. Critical Area buffer trees heavily protected.
Anne Arundel County zones cannabis dispensaries in C3, C4, and industrial districts with 500 ft buffer from schools and daycares. Bill 37-23 regulated adult-use retail locations post-state legalization.
Maryland Recreational Cannabis Act (2023) permits adults 21+ to grow up to 2 cannabis plants per household. Plants must be in locked, secure area not visible from public. Anne Arundel follows state law.