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Annapolis, MD Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Protest window
30 days from billing date
Leak threshold
3x average of prior 8 readings
Adjustment fee
$40, refunded if City erred
Repeat leaks
one-time adjustment only
Appeal
Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, 30 days

Summary

Annapolis requires customers to fix broken water or sewer lines after City notice, or forfeit a high-bill leak adjustment on their water charges.

The customer must first file a protest within 30 days of the billing date; ... the water consumption for the protested period must be at least three times the average of the eight prior water consumptions... No adjustments shall be allowed, in whole or in part, if it is determined that the claimed excessive charge has occurred as a result of... Failure of the user to repair or correct any broken or malfunctioning water or sewer equipment or facilities or water or sewer line on the property or premises of the user, after receipt of notice from the City to do so.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

Under Annapolis City Code § 16.08.080, a customer disputing an unusually high water bill must file a written protest with the Department of Finance within 30 days of the billing date, and the disputed usage must run at least three times the average of the prior eight readings to qualify. But if the spike traces to a broken or malfunctioning water or sewer line on the customer's own property that the customer failed to repair after the City gave notice to do so, the Director of Public Works must deny the adjustment outright: the fix is mandatory, not optional, once notice issues.

Violations & Fines

Ignoring a City repair notice forfeits any bill adjustment for that period; the full high-usage charge stands, and no future adjustment is allowed for the same recurring leak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Annapolis require me to report a water leak?
The code doesn't set a standalone reporting duty, but under § 16.08.080 you must repair a leak once the City notifies you of one, or you lose eligibility for a high-bill adjustment.
How much can a leak adjustment reduce my Annapolis water bill?
The City resets the disputed period's charge to the average of your prior eight billing periods, and only once per recurring problem: repeat high usage from the same uncorrected leak isn't adjusted again.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Annapolis

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All Annapolis rules

Compare Annapolis to another location·View the Maryland water use rules overview

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