Showing ordinances that apply to Arden on the Severn, MD
Arden on the Severn is an unincorporated community (population 1,881) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Because Arden on the Severn is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Anne Arundel County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The holiday displays rules below are the ones that govern your area.
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.
Holiday decorations on private residential property in Anne Arundel County are treated as temporary, noncommercial displays that are exempt from sign permits under Article 18. Displays may not encroach on the public right-of-way, obstruct sight distances at driveways and intersections, or block required walkways and accessible routes. Electrical components must be UL-listed for outdoor use, GFCI-protected, and installed to the 2020 NEC as adopted by the county. Inflatables must be secured against wind; the peninsulas along the Severn, Magothy, Rhode, and South Rivers can see coastal gusts that require additional tie-downs. Within the Annapolis Historic District, the city's Historic Preservation Commission applies design guidelines that may restrict fixed holiday attachments to contributing structures. Sound-emitting displays are subject to county noise limits (55 dBA nighttime in residential zones) under Article 11. HOA covenants commonly add display-window rules in Crofton, Piney Orchard, and Two Rivers.
Sight-triangle or sidewalk obstruction: code enforcement warning and removal order. Electrical hazards: correction order from Inspections & Permits, fines up to $500. Noise violations (caroling audio, animated displays): citation under Article 11 noise code up to $500.
See how Arden on the Severn's holiday displays rules stack up against other locations.
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