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Maryland · Chesapeake Bay · Washington-Baltimore Metro · ~#105 Most Populous County in the US
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Home to Annapolis - Maryland's capital, the US Naval Academy, and the sailing heart of the Chesapeake Bay. Property tax, courts, public records, probate, and senior services for Anne Arundel County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Anne Arundel County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – ensures County government and the public are prepared for emergencies; coordinates response with County, State, and Federal partners; publishes an annual report and quarterly newsletter.
Sheriff: Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office – 8 Church Circle, Suite 400, Annapolis, MD 21401 | (410) 222-1571 | Email: [email protected]; Sheriff Everett L. Sesker (in office since December 5, 2022; former Executive Director, Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission); the office was organized in 1650 – one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States – with John Norwood serving as the first Sheriff (originally paid in pounds of tobacco); became an elected position in 1776 under Maryland’s first constitution. Divisions include Administration, Security Operations (Courthouse), and Field Operations (Civil Process, Warrant Control, Sheriff’s Dispatch at (410) 222-1570).
Notes: For an active emergency, call 911.
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-50, US-301, and I-97 serve Annapolis, the county seat and Maryland’s state capital.
Notes: Anne Arundel County, with roughly 588 square miles and over 550,000 residents, is home to Annapolis, the U.S. Naval Academy, Fort Meade, the National Security Agency (NSA), and Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport – situated roughly 20 minutes from Washington, D.C. and bordering Baltimore.
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Anne Arundel County Courthouse – 8 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Notes: Annapolis is genuinely home to the United States Naval Academy, founded in 1845, and has served as the capital of Maryland since 1694 – making it one of the longest continuously serving state capitals in the nation. Annapolis briefly served as the capital of the entire United States under the Articles of Confederation in 1783-84, and it was in the Maryland State House there that George Washington resigned his military commission in December 1783.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Anne Arundel County Veterans Affairs – confirm current contact via aacounty.org.
Libraries
LIBRARIES
Anne Arundel County Public Library – confirm current address/phone via aacpl.net.
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: The U.S. Naval Academy, historic downtown Annapolis, and the Chesapeake Bay waterfront are the county’s premier attractions.
Notes: The genuine Naval Academy and Maryland State House connections – including George Washington’s 1783 resignation of his military commission there – are among the most nationally significant local facts covered anywhere in this project.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
Appraisal/Parcel Search: Anne Arundel County GIS/Mapping – confirm current contact via aacounty.org.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control – provides adoption, reunification, and complaint response services countywide; confirm current phone via aacounty.org.
SPCA of Anne Arundel County – 1815 Bay Ridge Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403 | (410) 268-4388 (main) | (410) 268-8027 (shelter); founded 1920, originally formed to address stray dogs overwhelming Annapolis’s Eastport neighborhood – the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the county, marking over 100 years of service; operated dog licensing and enforcement, including an ambulance fleet for injured animals, from 1936-1966; today a no-kill shelter offering adoption, spay/neuter, and vaccination clinics.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Anne Arundel County – confirm current contact via aacounty.org.
NOTES: Anne Arundel County is the second county in the first batch of the Maryland v2 A+ sourced redo. The genuine Naval Academy and Maryland State House connections – including George Washington’s 1783 resignation of his military commission there – are among the most nationally significant local facts covered anywhere in this project. All contact information above was sourced via web search as of early August 2026 and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit, deadline-sensitive filing, or emergency-adjacent decision.
About Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County is Maryland’s fourth most populous county and one of its most distinctive – a 588-square-mile county wrapping around the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, encompassing the entire peninsula between the Severn and South rivers. Annapolis, the county seat, is the state capital and the home of the United States Naval Academy – one of the nation’s premier military academies, founded 1845. Annapolis is also one of the most architecturally intact 18th-century American cities, with a downtown historic district of Colonial-era brick buildings, a State House that predates the US Constitution, and a working harbor that made it the sailing and boating capital of the Chesapeake for centuries.
Beyond Annapolis, the county’s geography is defined by its extraordinary access to the water – hundreds of miles of Bay and river shoreline, with communities like Arnold, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crofton, Odenton, and Glen Burnie making up the bulk of the suburban population. The county is also home to Fort Meade, one of the largest US Army installations in the country and the host of the National Security Agency (NSA) – the nation’s signals intelligence and cybersecurity agency. Fort Meade and its associated intelligence and defense contractor employment make Anne Arundel County one of the most security-clearance-concentrated counties in America.
County government is an elected County Executive and seven-member County Council, with separately elected officers for the State’s Attorney, Sheriff, Clerk of Circuit Court, Register of Wills, and Orphans’ Court Judges.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Maryland property tax assessment is administered by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not the county. The Anne Arundel County Supervisor of Assessments (SDAT’s local office) is at 45 Calvert Street, 3rd Floor, Annapolis (410-974-5709). Maryland uses a 3-year rolling reassessment cycle – roughly one-third of all properties are reassessed each year, meaning each individual property is reassessed approximately every three years.
The appeal process (three levels):
Level 1 – Supervisor of Assessments (informal): File within 45 days of the assessment notice or by June 1, whichever is later. Contact the Supervisor’s office at the address above to schedule an informal review. Present comparable sales, condition issues, or property record errors. If satisfied, the process ends here.
Level 2 – Property Tax Assessment Appeal Board (PTAAB): If unsatisfied with the Supervisor’s decision, appeal to the Anne Arundel County PTAAB – a three-member independent citizen board (with 2 alternates) that meets as needed at the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 in Council Chambers or Room 160. File within 30 days of the Supervisor’s decision.
Level 3 – Maryland Tax Court: If unsatisfied with the PTAAB decision, appeal to the Maryland Tax Court within 30 days. The Maryland Tax Court is a specialized administrative court; its decisions can be appealed to the Circuit Court.
Homestead Property Tax Credit: Maryland’s Homestead Credit caps the annual increase in the taxable assessment of a primary residence. Anne Arundel County’s Homestead Credit caps year-over-year assessment increases for homesteaded properties – protecting long-term owners from rapid spikes in taxable value even if market value rises sharply. This applies automatically to eligible properties; confirm through SDAT.
Tax bill mechanics: Anne Arundel County operates on a fiscal year basis (July 1–June 30). Tax bills are mailed in July and due September 30. The county’s property tax rate is approximately $0.924 per $100 of assessed value. Additional charges (Solid Waste, Stormwater, Bay Restoration fee, Special Community Benefit District taxes) may appear on bills depending on location.
Maryland estate tax: Maryland imposes an estate tax on estates above approximately $5 million (the threshold adjusts periodically). Maryland has no inheritance tax. For Anne Arundel County residents with significant assets – particularly waterfront property, NSA-community wealth, or Naval Academy area real estate – Maryland’s estate tax is an active planning consideration.
OWNWELL CTA: Anne Arundel follows SDAT’s 3-year rolling cycle – about 1/3 of properties reassessed annually. Appeal within 45 days of notice. Informal review → PTAAB → Maryland Tax Court. Homestead Credit caps annual taxable increases for primary residence owners. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Anne Arundel follows SDAT's 3-year rolling cycle - about 1/3 of properties reassessed annually. Appeal within 45 days of notice. Informal review → PTAAB → Maryland Tax Court. Homestead Credit caps annual taxable increases for primary residence owners. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court at 8 Church Circle, Annapolis (410-222-1425) handles all civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Anne Arundel County Register of Wills at 8 Church Circle, Annapolis (410-222-1430) administers probate – wills, estates, guardianships – and the Orphans’ Court (three elected judges) exercises supervision over estate administration. The Anne Arundel County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains all land records – deeds, mortgages, and recorded documents (410-222-1425). Land records are searchable through Maryland Land Records online (mdlandrec.net).
Maryland probate is governed by the Maryland Estates and Trusts Article. Maryland has an estate tax above ~$5 million but no inheritance tax. Maryland recognizes Transfer on Death deeds for real property.
NSA and military estate planning: Anne Arundel County’s large community of federal employees (NSA, Fort Meade) and active military (Naval Academy) creates specific estate planning needs. Thrift Savings Plans (TSP), FERS pensions, Survivor Benefit Plans (SBP), SGLI, and federal security clearance considerations can all affect estate planning – keeping beneficiary designations current on all accounts is essential.
Senior Services: The Anne Arundel County Aging and Disabilities (410-222-4257) coordinates senior programming, home-delivered meals, transportation, SHIP Medicare counseling, Adult Protective Services, and connections to Maryland Medicaid long-term care programs. Maryland’s Community Options Waiver and Community First Choice provide in-home care for qualifying seniors.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Land Records & Court Filings)
8 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 222-1397
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Anne Arundel County Register of Wills (estate/probate case files – see Probate section above).
As the state capital, Annapolis hosts the Maryland State Archives directly, making this county an exceptionally strong genealogical research hub.
Local societies
No dedicated Anne Arundel County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories, though the statewide archives located here serve as an unusually strong local resource.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Anne Arundel County Register of Wills Circuit Courthouse, 8 Church Circle, Suite 403, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 222-1430 Anne Arundel County is home to Annapolis, the capital of Maryland.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Maryland is NOT a Uniform Probate Code state – it follows its own framework under the Maryland Estates and Trusts Article, administered through the Register of Wills rather than a traditional probate court in most cases.
Small Estate Administration – for a gross probate estate of $50,000 or less, or $100,000 or less if the surviving spouse is the sole heir or legatee. Filed as a Petition for Administration of a Small Estate. There is no filing fee for small estates opened on or after October 1, 2022. Small estates typically close in 2 to 4 months.
Modified Administration – available for Regular Estates when the residuary legatees consist of the personal representative and non-taxable recipients of property (spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings), the estate is solvent, and all consent. The personal representative must elect this within 3 months of appointment, files a verified Final Report within 10 months, and must complete final distribution within 12 months of appointment.
Regular Estate (Administrative Probate) – required when probate assets exceed $50,000 (or $100,000 with spouse as sole heir). Requires a formal Inventory (due within 3 months) and Account (first account due within 9 months, can be filed as early as 6 months), with a fee based on estate value.
Judicial Probate – conducted by the Orphans’ Court rather than administratively through the Register of Wills, required when the will’s validity is questioned, the will is damaged, or more than one qualified person petitions to serve as personal representative.
Step 2: filing for probate
File a Petition for Administration (Form 1103, plus Schedule B/Form 1137 as needed) with the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death.
The Register of Wills reviews the petition and, following the statutory order of priority, appoints a personal representative and issues Letters of Administration.
Notice to creditors is published by the Register in a newspaper; creditors have 6 months from the date of death (or 2 months after being mailed notice, whichever is later) to file a claim, or they’re barred from collecting.
The personal representative pays valid debts, files the required Inventory and/or Account (or Final Report under Modified Administration), pays any inheritance tax due, and distributes the remaining assets – the surviving spouse or domestic partner is entitled to a $10,000 family allowance, and $5,000 for each unmarried minor child.
What it costs
No filing fee for small estates opened on or after October 1, 2022.
Regular estates pay a probate fee based on the total gross estate value, per a published fee schedule.
Maryland imposes both a state estate tax (threshold around $5 million) and a separate inheritance tax.
Maryland does not require an attorney for probate, but complex or contested estates commonly benefit from one.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
44 Calvert St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 222-1145
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
170 Lawyer's Mall, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 222-1464
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Anne Arundel County Health Dept
(410) 222-7095
Dept of Social Services
(410) 269-4500
MD Medicaid
(800) 492-5231
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
umms.org/bwmc (Glen Burnie — quality regional hospital; Level II Trauma)
Anne Arundel Medical Center
aahs.org (Annapolis — quality regional hospital)
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Anne Arundel County Department of Health – confirm current phone via aacounty.org.
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Recommended for Maryland
Ownwell
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