Representative photoLocal guides for Anne Arundel County homeowners
The rules, grants and design choices that change remodeling plans here, explained in plain English and linked to the official sources.
All guides
Chesapeake Bay shoreline, Bowleys Quarters, MDRenovating or adding on in a flood zone in Anne Arundel County
Before you price a big remodel near the water, find out whether the 50% rule applies. It decides whether you can renovate the house as it is, or whether the whole house has to be raised.
Janes Island, MarylandBuilding or adding on near the water: the Critical Area explained
If your home is within 1,000 feet of tidal water, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area rules shape what you can build. Here is how lot coverage, the buffer and planting requirements work, and how to design around them.
Representative photoRemodeling ideas for Anne Arundel County's most common house types
Most of the county's homes fall into a handful of types, and each one has a remodel that pays off and a trap to avoid. Find yours below, then see what local rules apply where you live.
Representative photoMaterials that hold up near the Chesapeake
Salt air, humidity, summer heat and freeze-thaw winters are hard on houses near the Bay. Choosing the right decking, fasteners, siding and windows up front saves years of maintenance.
Representative photoSeptic upgrades and Bay Restoration Fund grants in Anne Arundel County
If your home is on septic, two things shape your project: whether a nitrogen-reducing (BAT) system is required, and whether the state's Bay Restoration Fund will pay for it. Here is how both work, and what it means for an addition.
Representative photoDeck permits in Anne Arundel County
Most decks in Anne Arundel County need a building permit. Here is when you need one, what the county checks, what it costs and how the waterfront and historic-district rules change things.
Representative photoIn-law suites and accessory dwelling units in Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on most single-family lots, inside the house, over a garage or in a separate building. The rules are being updated in fall 2026, so here is what applies now and what to confirm.
Representative photoEnergy rebates for Maryland home remodels in 2026
A remodel is the cheapest time to insulate, air-seal and switch to a heat pump. Here is what still pays for it in Anne Arundel County as of October 2026, and what has ended.
Downtown AnnapolisRenovating a home in the Annapolis historic district
Historic Annapolis has some of the country's finest colonial architecture, and rules to protect it. Here is what needs approval, what the design guidelines expect, and the tax credits that help pay for doing it right.
Historic AnnapolisRemodeling permits in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis
Which office issues your permit, how the Land Use Navigator works, and the Critical Area and historic-district basics.
Representative photoHow to hire a home improvement contractor in Maryland
Ten checks before you sign, from the MHIC license to the one-third deposit cap.