Anne Arundel Council approves cottage‑home ordinance to expand shared‑equity homeownership

The Anne Arundel County Council on Feb. 17 passed Bill 92‑25, an ordinance authorizing cottage‑home development and provisions to support shared‑equity homeownership, a policy backers said will expand opportunities for lower‑cost single‑family ownership in the county.

Sponsor Councilmember Smith framed the bill as a targeted tool to increase supply of smaller, less expensive homes and to pair those homes with stewardship mechanisms so affordability “runs with the land.” The administration said the measure is aligned with recommendations in Plan 2040 and called it “an additional tool in the toolbox.”

Members of the public and local nonprofits urged passage. Carol Brooks, president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (Anne Arundel County chapter), called shared‑equity models “one of the most stable and responsible housing models” and said they protect long‑term public investments by preventing flipping and conversion to short‑term rentals. Rachel Strum, an affordable housing finance professional, told the council stewarded homeownership models demonstrate lower foreclosure rates and long‑term durability across market cycles.

Council recorded 4 votes in favor, 1 opposed and 2 absent; the bill passed as amended. The council scheduled further related land‑use bills for subsequent sessions where needed.

The measure does not itself provide every implementation detail: sponsors and administration said future refinements and stewardship mechanisms (for example, community land trusts or ACDS oversight) will be developed as projects move forward. The council set March 2, 2026 as a target date for related regional zoning items that intersect with the housing agenda.