Pop. 38,862 · Anne Arundel County
Severna Park STR hosts must pay Anne Arundel County's 8% occupancy tax on rent plus Maryland's 6% state sales tax. Hosts must maintain good standing with no overdue taxes, fines, or fees owed to the county. Platform disclosure of all hosting sites is required within 10 days of changes.
Severna Park is an unincorporated CDP in Anne Arundel County, so the County's Title 13A (Short-Term Residential Rentals) controls. Title 13A defines a short-term rental as accommodation of transient guests for no more than 120 consecutive days in a calendar year and requires County registration; it does not impose a fixed county-wide per-bedroom occupancy cap, but the County's adopted property maintenance and building codes still set minimum habitable space and bedroom-occupancy thresholds.
Anne Arundel County Code Title 13A, which governs short-term rentals in unincorporated Severna Park, does not impose a specific dollar minimum of liability insurance on hosts at the county level. Hosts are still strongly advised to confirm coverage through their hosting platform and a private short-term rental or commercial-liability policy because standard homeowner's HO-3 policies typically exclude transient rental activity.
Carports in Severna Park are accessory structures under Anne Arundel County Code §18-2-204. They generally must be set back at least 5 feet from any lot line, may not encroach into any setback from a right-of-way, must comply with the underlying zoning district bulk regulations, and require a residential building permit from the County Department of Inspections and Permits.
Garage conversions to ADUs are permitted in Anne Arundel County under Bill 6-23. Building permits and inspections are required. Setbacks follow accessory structure rules for the zoning district. Impact fees are waived for ADU conversions.
Anne Arundel County allows ADUs in all residential districts except R22 under Bill 6-23. Detached ADUs are limited to 800 sq ft or 50% of main dwelling. No additional parking is required. Impact fees are waived. Short-term rental of an ADU requires the owner to live on site.
Residential accessory structures in Anne Arundel County including sheds and garages may require building permits. Setbacks vary by zoning district. Structures must be on the same parcel as the principal dwelling. Severna Park HOA communities may require architectural review approval.
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.
Anne Arundel County follows Maryland statewide water conservation guidelines. The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act is especially relevant to Severna Park due to proximity to the Severn River and Magothy River. A 100-foot buffer from tidal wetlands is required with native plantings.
In the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (1,000 feet from tidal waters), all tree removal in Severna Park requires an approved Vegetation Management Plan regardless of tree size. This includes dead trees and invasive species. Replacement with native plants is mandatory. Penalties include civil and criminal prosecution.
Anne Arundel County Code Article 13, Title 6 prohibits grass or weeds 12 inches or higher. The Weeded Lot program runs mid-April to mid-October. Non-compliant properties are cut by county contractors at the owner's expense, with unpaid invoices resulting in a tax lien.
Contracted tree work in Anne Arundel County must be performed by a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert. Many Severna Park properties near the Severn River and Magothy River fall within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, requiring a Vegetation Management Plan for any tree or vegetation removal.
Severna Park enforces weed abatement. MD Agriculture Art. §9-401 covers noxious weeds. County health departments handle residential complaints.
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.
Maryland law requires large food waste generators statewide to divert organics from landfills through reduction, donation, or composting when an organics recycling facility exists within thirty miles.
Maryland does not require neighbors to share fence costs. Fences should be installed on or within your property line. Boundary disputes are resolved through civil court. In Severna Park HOA communities, the association's CC&Rs may contain additional fence placement or approval requirements.
In Anne Arundel County, fences 6 feet or under generally do not require a permit unless on a corner lot, waterfront property, or associated with a pool. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit. Barbed wire is allowed on top of chain link fences at least 6 feet high.
Anne Arundel County requires fence permits for fences over 6 feet, corner lots, waterfront properties, and pool barriers. Severna Park waterfront properties near the Severn River or Magothy River will likely need permits due to Critical Area regulations. Standard fences under 6 feet on interior lots do not need a permit.
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.
Above-ground pools over 48 inches tall are exempt from additional barrier fencing in Anne Arundel County if the ladder is detachable. Pools under 48 inches require full barrier compliance. Spas with safety covers are exempt from barrier requirements.
Anne Arundel County requires a 48-inch minimum barrier completely surrounding residential pools. Gates must be self-closing, self-latching, and lockable. Door alarms (UL 2017 listed) are required when dwelling walls serve as part of the barrier, with deactivation switches at 54 inches or higher.
Building permits are required for pool construction in Anne Arundel County. Plans must be submitted to the Permit Center. Barrier violations are investigated by the Dept. of Health within 10 business days of a complaint. Ground clearance under barriers must not exceed 2 inches.
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.
Under Anne Arundel County Code Section 12-4-903, it is unlawful to permit an animal to disturb the quiet of a person or neighborhood. Continual barking, howling, or whining causing unreasonable disturbance is a public nuisance. Dogs must bark for 5 consecutive minutes to qualify for a complaint.
Severna Park is unincorporated and follows Anne Arundel County noise regulations under County Code Section 9-1-706 and Maryland COMAR 26.02.03. Residential receiving properties are limited to 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime. Audio devices at unreasonably loud volume are prohibited at any time in residential districts.
Severna Park follows Anne Arundel County and Maryland state noise standards for construction. The standard 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime residential limits apply. Maryland exempts certain construction activities from noise limits but blasting is restricted to daytime hours only.
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.
Aircraft noise in Maryland is preempted by federal law under the Federal Aviation Act and 14 CFR Part 36. Neither the state nor municipalities may regulate flight operations or in-flight noise emissions, though airport proprietors retain limited authority.
Maryland regulates industrial noise statewide under COMAR 26.02.03 with district-based decibel ceilings. Industrial operations may not exceed 75 dBA at the property line continuously, with stricter limits when adjoining residential zones.
Severna Park street parking follows Anne Arundel County Code Article 12. There are no paid parking meters in this unincorporated area. Standard traffic regulations apply. Many Severna Park communities have HOA-specific parking rules that may be more restrictive than county code.
Driveways in Severna Park must comply with Anne Arundel County zoning and building codes. Inoperable, wrecked, or untagged vehicles on residential lots are zoning violations. Many Severna Park HOA communities have additional driveway use restrictions.
Anne Arundel County's oversized vehicle ordinance does not specifically restrict recreational vehicles. RVs designed as temporary living quarters are exempt from the 10,000 lb GVWR restriction on residential lots. Portable storage containers are limited to 60 days. Individual HOAs may impose stricter RV parking rules.
Under Anne Arundel County Code Section 18-17-103, vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR may not be parked on residentially zoned lots except for temporary service. The same restriction applies on public roads for vehicles used for commercial purposes.
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 dogs to be leashed and under control when off the owner's property. Animals at large are prohibited. Tethering is restricted to one 15-minute period per day without supervision, and is prohibited below 32 degrees F or above 90 degrees F.
Beekeeping is allowed in Severna Park under Maryland state regulations. Colonies must be registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture within 30 days. Registration is free. Best practices include maintaining a water source within 200 feet of hives and at least 50 feet from tethered animals.
Anne Arundel County has no breed-specific bans. Maryland's 2014 legislation (Ch. 247) eliminated breed-specific liability statewide. Dangerous dog determinations are behavior-based and apply equally to all breeds.
Anne Arundel County prohibits keeping wild, exotic, or vicious animals as pets or for display. This applies to all unincorporated areas including Severna Park. Violators may be subject to fines and animal seizure.
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.
Maryland Criminal Law Sections 10-604 through 10-606 prohibit aggravated and general animal cruelty statewide, including failure to provide nutritious food, proper drink, air, space, shelter, and protection that constitutes hoarding.
Backyard fire pits are allowed in Severna Park under Anne Arundel County regulations without a license. Recreational fires must use 1 cubic yard or less of clean, natural wood. Trash, tires, treated lumber, and roofing material are prohibited. Cooking fires are also allowed without a license.
Possession and discharge of fireworks is illegal in Anne Arundel County without permits from the State Fire Marshal and county Fire Marshal. Only hand-held sparklers (non-chlorate), party poppers, snap caps, and ground-based sparkling devices are legal without a permit.
Recreational fires in Severna Park are allowed under Anne Arundel County Code without a license, limited to 1 cubic yard of clean natural wood. Leaf burning is prohibited. Larger burns require a county license and must occur between September 1 and May 31.
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.
Maryland regulates propane and liquefied petroleum gas storage statewide through the Office of the State Fire Marshal under COMAR 29.06.02, adopting NFPA 58 standards. Container size limits, setback distances, and installation rules apply uniformly to residential and commercial sites.
Anne Arundel County allows home occupations in all zoning districts as a conditional use under Article 18-10-134. A Zoning Certificate of Use is required. Approved uses include salons, offices, pet care, and child care for up to 12 children. Processing takes approximately 4 weeks.
Home occupations in Severna Park must not change the residential character of the property or neighborhood. The ZCU review includes a site inspection. HOA rules may impose stricter limitations on business activity in residential communities.
Anne Arundel County regulates signage through Article 18, Title 3 of the zoning ordinance. Home occupations in residential zones are typically limited in exterior signage. HOA communities in Severna Park may impose additional sign restrictions through their CC&Rs.
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.
Severna Park 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.
Severna Park has FEMA-mapped flood zones, particularly near the Severn River and Magothy River waterfront areas. The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act applies to properties within 1,000 feet of tidal waters. Anne Arundel County participates in the NFIP. Flood insurance is required for properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas.
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 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 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.
Maryland sets a statewide minimum wage under Labor and Employment Article 3-413 but allows charter counties like Montgomery and Howard to set higher local wages.
Maryland requires earned sick and safe leave statewide and is implementing the Family and Medical Leave Insurance program for paid family leave.
Maryland has no statewide predictive scheduling law but allows local jurisdictions to enact fair workweek rules; Montgomery County is studying such rules.
Maryland issues Wear and Carry Permits through the State Police and prohibits concealed carry in many sensitive locations across the state.
Maryland preempts most local firearms regulation but allows charter counties and Baltimore City to regulate the discharge of firearms within their jurisdiction.
Maryland generally prohibits the open carry of handguns in public without a Wear and Carry Permit, with very narrow exceptions for property and travel.
Maryland prohibits carrying or transporting a handgun in a vehicle without a Wear and Carry Permit, with narrow statutory exceptions for unloaded transport.
Maryland uses agricultural land preservation districts and county zoning to protect farmland, supplemented by state programs and the Right to Farm law.
Maryland Agriculture Article 5-403 protects established farms from nuisance lawsuits when operations follow generally accepted agricultural practices.
The Maryland Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2024 prohibits retailers from providing thin plastic carryout bags at the point of sale statewide.
Maryland was the first state to ban expanded polystyrene foam food service products statewide, prohibiting their sale and use at food service businesses.
Maryland encourages but does not statewide ban plastic straws; many local jurisdictions require restaurants to provide straws and utensils only on request.
Maryland prohibits the sale of any tobacco or electronic smoking device to anyone under age 21 under Health-General Article 16.7A.
Maryland restricts flavored cigarettes federally and is considering broader flavored vape restrictions; some counties have enacted local flavor bans.
Maryland requires retailers selling electronic smoking devices to obtain a state Other Tobacco Products license and to follow strict youth-access protections.