09/21/2026
We must pressure the County Council to reject this last minute Hail Mary by our outgoing County Executive, Steuart Pittman. This will change our county forever. Read details for examples.
We need verbal and written testimony.
Share to expose their plan.
The current administration just threw out a 239-page bill as a last-minute DC style Hail Mary to impede our quality of life here in Anne Arundel County. This is DC-style politics at its finest that will effect our small/home businesses, our agriculture/agritourism, food trucks, and more!
Please read the below for key highlights and ways for you to participate.
Dear Residents, Small/Home Business Owners, and Community Members,
I don't usually do this on this platform, however, Anne Arundel County’s proposed Bill 61-26, introduced by Ms. Hummer, Chair (by request of the County Executive)—a sweeping update to the entire Zoning Code (Article 18)—is scheduled for a public hearing on the amended bill this Monday, September 21, 2026. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Arundel Center (44 Calvert Street, Annapolis).
This comprehensive rewrite affects nearly every land use in the county. While billed as a modernization, key provisions create real, practical barriers for the business community, the agriculture community, food trucks, and related small enterprises that form the backbone of our local economy.
Key concerns for food trucks and mobile vendors
The bill adds a formal definition of “food truck” and new conditional-use requirements (proposed § 18-10-139) that would:
- Limit operations to no more than three days per calendar week
- Restrict hours to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- In residential districts, allow food trucks only on land owned by a homeowners’ association, religious facility, or school
- In mixed-use districts, prohibit operation within 100 feet of residential uses
- In open-space districts, require them to be accessory to an active recreational use
These rules would make it significantly harder for food trucks to operate flexibly, respond to customer demand, serve events, or sustain viable businesses. Many operators rely on more frequent or later hours and a wider range of locations to stay profitable.
Impacts on agriculture and agritourism
The bill revises definitions and standards for farming, agritourism, farm stands, farm stores, farmers’ markets, farm dual uses, and related activities. New or tightened conditions (including minimum lot sizes, construction-code compliance for buildings used in agritourism, and accessory-use limitations) risk adding regulatory hurdles for working farms that diversify income through value-added products, farm-to-table offerings, seasonal events, or limited commercial activities. Family farms already operate on thin margins; additional layers of zoning approval can discourage investment and growth.
Broader effects on the business community
As a county-wide overhaul of permitted, conditional, and special-exception uses, bulk regulations, parking, nonconforming uses, certificates of use, and enforcement provisions, Bill 61-26 will change the rules for countless commercial, industrial, and mixed-use properties. Businesses may face new restrictions on where and how they can operate, expanded application requirements, or uncertainty about existing uses. Small and independent operators—who lack the resources of large developers—are especially vulnerable to increased costs, delays, and reduced flexibility.
The public hearing on the amended version of the bill is your chance to be heard before the County Council votes. Testimony from food-truck owners, farmers, agritourism operators, small-business owners, and residents who support them is critical.
THREE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED!
1. Please plan to attend and testify on September 21.
Sign up in advance through the County Council’s meeting-participation process (details at aacounty.org/county-council). You can also submit written testimony. Online registration to testify closes at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. A final call for testimony will be made just prior to the conclusion of each public hearing held during the meeting. Please note, spoken testimony will be limited to 2 minutes per person for each opportunity to be heard.
Bring specific examples of how the proposed limits would affect your livelihood, your customers, or the local food and agricultural economy. The more concrete voices the Council hears, the stronger the case for meaningful revisions.
The full bill text is available here:
https://www.aacounty.org/sites/default/files/2026-07/bill-61-26.pdf
2. Contact ALL the Councilmembers and the County Executive at
County Executive Steuart Pittman: [email protected] - (410) 222-1821
District 1: Peter Smith (Vice Chair) - [email protected] - (410) 222-2411
District 2: Allison M. Pickard - [email protected] - (410) 222-2412
District 3: Nathan E. Volke - [email protected] - (410) 222-2413
District 4: Julie Hummer (Chair) - [email protected] - (410) 222-2414
District 5: Amanda Fiedler - [email protected] - (410) 222-2415
District 6: Lisa D. B. Rodvien - [email protected] - (410) 222-2406
District 7: Shannon Leadbetter - [email protected] - (410) 222-2417
3. Sign the change.org petition
Sign the petition and make your voice heard against Bill 61-26
https://www.change.org/p/stop-bill-61-26-before-the-upcoming-election
Make your voice heard! Our local food trucks, farms, and small businesses help define Anne Arundel County’s character and economy. Don’t let restrictive zoning changes undermine them without a fight.
See you on September 21!
Dawn Pulliam
