Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays. The Zoning Division of the Office of Planning and Zoning is charged with the regulation and interpretation of the Anne Arundel County Zoning Ordinance. The County Zoning Ordinance, which is a part of the Anne Arundel County Code, governs the use and development of individual property within Anne Arundel County. While the first comprehensive Zoning Ordinance was adopted in Anne Arundel County on July 1, 1952, it has been subsequently amended many times by the Anne Arundel County Council. The review and revision of the County Zoning Ordinance is an ongoing project within the Zoning Division. |
Zoning has two parts: A code outlining land use regulations and a series of zoning maps that apply the regulations to properties within the County. The Zoning Ordinance contains eight residential districts, four commercial districts, three industrial districts, five maritime districts, four mixed use districts, seven districts in the Odenton Growth Management Area District, four overlay districts, and three special districts. The bulk regulations contained in the Zoning Ordinance regulate such areas as setbacks, height, lot area, lot width, density, parking, screening, signs and the uses allowes within the industrial districts.
The Zoning Ordinance is a “permissive” use ordinance; only the land uses specifically listed in the Code are allowed within the specific district. Uses not listed are not allowed. Within this context, the Ordinance lists three types of uses: - Permitted: a use permitted by right, subject to the general bulk regulations of the district
- Conditional: a use allowed by right, but subject to specific conditions, that must be addressed in addition to the general bulk regulations;
- Special Exception: a use that is allowed within a district, but subject to specific conditions. The applicant must demonstrate compliance with the conditions during a public hearing before the County Administrative Hearings Officer.
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