| City of Annapolis | Anne Arundel County | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues permits | City Dept. of Planning and Zoning | County Inspections and Permits |
| Applying | City's online permit portal | Land Use Navigator |
| Building code | 2021 IRC / IBC | 2021 IRC / IBC |
| Non-structural window, door or siding replacement | No building permit (§17.05.020) | Not addressed on the county's list |
| Historic review of exterior changes | Historic District: Certificate of Approval | Only for inventoried properties |
| R2 house setbacks (front / rear / side) | 25 / 30 / 6 ft | 25 / 20 / 7 ft |
1. City or county?
Many homes with an "Annapolis" mailing address are outside city limits and get county permits; Arnold, Riva, Edgewater and Cape St. Claire are all county. Check whether your property is inside the city before you apply, because the City's Department of Planning and Zoning handles permits, inspections, zoning, Critical Area review and historic preservation inside city limits. For county addresses, see how to get a county permit.
2. What needs a city permit
Under City Code §17.05.010, a permit is required to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a structure, to change its use, and for electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work. The main residential exemption (§17.05.020) is non-structural replacement or repair of windows, doors or siding. The City has adopted the 2021 International Residential and Building Codes. Fees are based on the fair market value of the work, including labor and materials, at rates set by City Council resolution.
3. The Historic District
In the Historic District, every exterior change needs a Certificate of Approval from the Historic Preservation Commission (§21.56.040), even if the work is exempt from a building permit: windows, siding, roofing, fences, sheds and decks included. Staff can approve qualifying work administratively; larger changes go to a Commission hearing, and applications are due weeks ahead. A certificate expires if work hasn't started within 6 months. See our historic district guide.
4. Zoning and setbacks
City zoning is in Title 21 of the City Code. In R2, a single-family house needs a 25-foot front yard (or the established front yard on the block), 6-foot side yards that together equal at least 20% of the lot width, and a 30-foot rear yard, with a height limit of 2.5 stories and 35 feet. In R3, side yards are 5 feet. Confirm the zoning and any overlay for your lot.
5. Water and flooding
Much of the city is waterfront. The City runs its own Critical Area overlay (Chapter 21.54), with a shoreline buffer of at least 100 feet, and no permit is issued until the Planning and Zoning Director finds the project complies. The Director is also the floodplain administrator, and the City's floodplain rules (Chapter 17.11) apply to work in flood zones. See our flood-zone guide and Critical Area guide.
