---
title: "Deck Permits in Anne Arundel County: Rules & Fees | TBG"
description: "When a deck needs a permit in Anne Arundel County, what to submit, footing, guard and stair rules, the three inspections, fees and Critical Area rules."
url: https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/deck-permits-anne-arundel/
last_updated: 2026-10-13
---

[TBG](https://thebrettgroup.com/) / [Home Remodeling](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/) / Deck permit guide

Local guide · Anne Arundel County · October 2026

# Deck permits in Anne Arundel County

Most decks in Anne Arundel County need a building permit. Here is when you need one, what the county checks, what it costs and how the waterfront and historic-district rules change things.

Get matched with a builder who knows this

- **30 in**: Frost depth: minimum footing depth for attached decks
- **36 in**: Guard height where the deck is over 30 in above grade
- **3**: Inspections: footings, framing, final
- **$43**: Application fee, plus a fee based on cost

**The short version:** an attached deck always needs a permit, and so does replacing a deck, its railings or its structure. Replacing only the deck boards does not. A small, low, freestanding deck may not need one, but only away from the water. Plan on three inspections and build to the county's deck guide.

## 1. Do you need a permit?

**Attached decks** need a permit. A deck that touches the house or sits within 3 feet of it counts as attached. **Rebuilding** a deck, its railings or its framing needs a permit. **Replacing deck boards only** does not. A **freestanding deck under 200 square feet and under 3 feet high** may not need one, but only if the lot is outside the Critical Area and outside the Bog Contribution Drainage Area. When in doubt, ask the permit center before you build.

## 2. What to submit

File online through the county's **Land Use Navigator**. A deck application includes construction plans drawn to scale, a scaled site plan showing property lines, easements, rights of way and any well, septic system or grinder pump, a Standard Grading Plan, and a Critical Area worksheet if you are within 1,000 feet of tidal water. The county's [Deck Construction Guide](https://www.aacounty.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Deck_Guide.pdf) includes footing, post, beam and joist tables you can fill in and attach.

## 3. What inspectors check

The county builds to the 2021 International Residential Code. Highlights from its deck guide and code pages:

**Footings** at least 30 inches deep (the county's frost depth) for attached decks, on undisturbed soil. **Ledger** at least a treated 2x8, flashed, and fastened with half-inch lags or bolts (no nails); it can't hang on brick or stone veneer, a chimney, an overhang or a bay window, and the deck needs lateral-load hold-downs. **Guards** at least 36 inches high wherever the deck is more than 30 inches above grade, with no more than 4 inches between pickets. **Stairs** with risers no taller than 7¾ inches, treads at least 10 inches deep and handrails 34 to 38 inches high. Decks must be at least 30 feet from a well, and the county won't approve a deck for a future hot tub. Call Miss Utility (811 or 1-800-257-7777) before digging.

There are three inspections, **footings, framing and final**, scheduled through the Land Use Navigator or at (410) 222-4432.

## 4. What it costs

| Estimated cost of the work | Permit fee |
| --- | --- |
| Up to $3,000 | $86 |
| $3,001 to $5,000 | $103 |
| $5,001 to $10,000 | $147 |
| $10,001 to $15,000 | $164 |
| $15,001 to $20,000 | $198 |
| $20,001 to $25,000 | $242 |
| Over $25,000 | $242 + 1% of the amount over $25,000 |

Add a $43 non-refundable application fee. A missed inspection costs $150, and a permit expires if work doesn't start within a year.

## 5. Setbacks and the Critical Area

The county treats an attached deck as an addition to the house, so it must meet the setbacks for the house in your zoning district. Near the water, lot coverage matters too: **impermeable decks**, and the ground under stairs, count as lot coverage, while state law excludes a permeable deck. Ask the county how your deck design will be counted before you finalize it; our [Critical Area guide](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/building-near-the-water-critical-area/) explains the limits.

## 6. Inside Annapolis city limits

The City of Annapolis issues its own permits, and in the historic district every exterior project, even one exempt from a building permit, needs a Certificate of Approval from the Historic Preservation Commission. See our [Annapolis historic district guide](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/annapolis-historic-district-renovation/).

## Where this comes up most

[Arnold →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/arnold/) · [Severna Park →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/severna-park/) · [Crofton →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/crofton/) · [Gambrills →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/gambrills/) · [Pasadena →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/pasadena/) · [Cape St. Claire →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/cape-st-claire/)

## Projects we match

- [Decks & exteriors](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/decks-exteriors/anne-arundel/): Decks, porches, siding, windows and roofing.
- [Additions](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/additions/anne-arundel/): Bump-outs, second stories and in-law suites.
- [New custom homes](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/custom-homes/anne-arundel/): Build on your lot with a registered Maryland home builder.

## Common questions

### Do I need a permit for a deck in Anne Arundel County?

Yes for any attached deck and for rebuilding a deck, its railings or framing. A freestanding deck under 200 square feet and under 3 feet high may not need one, but only outside the Critical Area and the Bog Contribution Drainage Area. Replacing deck boards alone does not need a permit.

### How deep do deck footings need to be in Anne Arundel County?

At least 30 inches, the county's frost depth, for attached decks, on undisturbed soil.

### How much is a deck permit?

A $43 application fee plus a fee based on the cost of the work, for example $147 for a $5,001–$10,000 deck and $242 plus 1% of the amount over $25,000 for larger projects.

### When is a deck railing required?

A guard at least 36 inches high is required where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade, with no more than 4 inches between pickets.

### Do decks count toward Critical Area lot coverage?

Impermeable decks and the ground under stairs count; state law excludes permeable decks. Confirm how the county will count your design.

## Official sources

[AA County: Do I need a permit?](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/do-i-need-permit) · [AA County: Deck Construction Guide (PDF)](https://www.aacounty.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Deck_Guide.pdf) · [AA County: Residential code requirements](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/building-codes/residential-code-requirements) · [AA County: Accessory structure permits](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/residential-permits/accessory-structure) · [AA County: Permit fees](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/fees/permit-fees) · [Md. Natural Resources §8-1802](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gnr&section=8-1802&enactments=false) · [City of Annapolis: Building permits](https://www.annapolis.gov/1064/Building-Permit-Information)

This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules and maps change; confirm the requirements for your property with the permit office before you design or sign a contract.

## More local guides

[Renovating or adding on in a flood zone in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/flood-zone-renovation-anne-arundel/) · [Building or adding on near the water: the Critical Area explained](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/building-near-the-water-critical-area/) · [Remodeling ideas for Anne Arundel County's most common house types](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/remodeling-anne-arundel-house-types/) · [Materials that hold up near the Chesapeake](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/chesapeake-coastal-building-materials/) · [Septic upgrades and Bay Restoration Fund grants in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/septic-upgrades-bay-restoration-fund/) · [In-law suites and accessory dwelling units in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/in-law-suites-adu-anne-arundel/) · [Energy rebates for Maryland home remodels in 2026](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/energy-rebates-maryland-remodel/) · [Renovating a home in the Annapolis historic district](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/annapolis-historic-district-renovation/) · [Do you need a permit to finish a basement in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/basement-finishing-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Do you need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/kitchen-remodel-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Do you need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/bathroom-remodel-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Do you need a permit for a fence in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/fence-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Do you need a permit for a shed or detached garage in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/shed-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Remodeling permits in Anne Arundel County and Annapolis](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/permits-anne-arundel-annapolis/) · [How to hire a home improvement contractor in Maryland](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/hiring-a-contractor-maryland/)