Renovation permits in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

What needs a permit

The county's Do I need a permit? page says:

• Interior renovations need a permit, including moving or removing walls, load-bearing or not.
• Finishing a basement needs a permit, and so does basement waterproofing with drains or sump pumps.
• Replacing a deck, its railings, or its structural members needs a permit. Replacing deck boards only does not.
• Fences need a permit if they are over 6 feet high, on a corner lot, or on a waterfront lot.
• Retaining walls over 24 inches need a permit.
• Replacing shingles only needs no permit; new sheathing or trusses do.

Plumbing permits are required for adding or relocating fixtures and piping, and mechanical permits for heating, ductwork, or cooling. The county's trade permits page says licensed electricians, plumbers, and mechanics apply for them.

The Critical Area changes the rules

Properties near the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal waters may be in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, and several of the county's exemptions depend on it:

• Sheds need a permit if they are over 10 feet tall or over 150 square feet, if they are within 3 feet of the house, or if the property is in the Critical Area at any size.
• Gazebos up to 10 feet tall and 150 square feet are exempt only outside the Critical Area.
• A detached deck under 200 square feet and under 3 feet high may be exempt, but only outside the Critical Area and the Bog Contribution Drainage Area.

Depending on the project, the county may also ask for a Critical Area worksheet or a standard grading plan application.

Applying and fees

• Since December 1, 2025, new applications (apartment projects excepted) must be filed online in the county's Land Use Navigator.
• If you are not the owner and not a licensed contractor, architect, or engineer, you need a letter of authorization. A contractor whose MHIC license has not been used in the county emails it to the Permit Center first.
• Fees (effective October 1, 2024) include a $43 non-refundable application fee and a minimum permit fee of $86, rising with the value of the work to $242 at $25,000 plus 1% of the value above that.
• A permit expires if no work starts within one year of issuance.

In July 2021 the county suspended walk-through permits for sheds, decks, and fences until further notice, and we found no notice that they have resumed. The Permit Center is at 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, 410-222-7730.

Inspections

Schedule inspections in the Land Use Navigator. The county says a permit must be active for 24 hours before you can request the first inspection. Under the fee schedule, a $150 re-inspection fee applies to inspections not canceled 24 hours ahead.

Homes in Annapolis

The City of Annapolis issues its own building permits through its online permit services. All exterior projects in the Annapolis Historic District need a certificate of approval, even when the work does not need a building permit.

Contractors and MHIC

Home improvement contractors are licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), and home builders register with the Maryland Attorney General's office. Our contractor checklist shows how to check an MHIC license. To plan an Anne Arundel project with us, start a project.