The Anne Arundel County Government consists of Departments and Offices as well as Boards & Commissions and other entities. These entities work together to serve our Citizen's needs.
With almost 54,000 businesses, Anne Arundel County is a major hub of commerce and development. With a $35 billion economy, low taxes, a vast multi-modal transportation system, highly skilled workforce and excellent educational institutions, Anne Arundel County is the premier location to do business.
A variance is a modification of specific requirements contained in the Anne Arundel County Zoning Ordinance relating to the location and/or size of a structure or use.
If you are proposing work that does not comply with the Zoning Code, you may apply for a zoning variance. A variance is an authorization to meet less than the full zoning requirement. Zoning variances are not granted automatically. A property owner must apply for a zoning variance with the Office of Planning and Zoning. After receiving the application, the Office of Administrative Hearings will schedule a public hearing, receive testimony and decide whether to grant or deny the request.
A pre-file with the Zoning Division is required for any of the following:
new Single Family Dwelling
disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more
located in an environmentally sensitive area
located within the Critical Area or in a Bog Protection Area.
Call the Office at (410) 222-7437 for questions regarding the necessity of a pre-file or to make arrangements for an analyst to accept a pre-file.
After pre-file comments are received or if a pre-file is not necessary the appropriate documents may be compiled for the variance submission.
The variance application can be downloaded and completed (utilizing Adobe Reader or similar product) and then printed or printed and completed by hand. See the variance instructions for other documentation necessary.
Variance application submissions, including fees, can be submitted by mail to:
Office of Planning and Zoning
Zoning Division
2664 Riva Road MS 6301
Annapolis, MD 21401
or dropped off in the OPZ Drop Box at the OPZ Customer Express Station, 2664 Riva Road as outlined below:
Securely wrap or place submittal information in a large envelope.
Checks for fees may be included with the submission. NO CASH can be accepted. Secure or place in the envelope with the plans and other documentation. If placed in a separate envelope within the larger envelope, clearly label the payment envelope on the outside (Identify what it is for - type of application and property address or tax ID).
Mark submissions for the "Zoning Division".
For a submittal with several packages, clearly mark each part with the type of application and property address or tax ID and labeled "Package 1 of ___, 2 of ___, " etc.
The Drop Box will only be accessible between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday when the County is open. The Drop Box will NOT be accessible outside of these hours.
See related information for details about the variance process.
Filing fee for a single-family residential detached dwelling or use
$180.00
Filing fee for any other use
$480.00
Sign fee
$35.00 for each
Sign fee $35 for each sign that is required to be posted on the property. For sites with frontage on more than one road or on the water, additional signs are required for each road and water frontage.
Filing fee and sign fee may be combined in one check made payable to Anne Arundel County.
