--- title: "Demolition Permits in Anne Arundel County, MD | TBG" description: "Tearing down a house or gutting one in Anne Arundel County: which permit, asbestos rules from MDE, historic-property review, grading and rebuilding rules." url: https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/demolition-permit-anne-arundel/ last_updated: 2026-10-14 --- [TBG](https://thebrettgroup.com/) / [Home Remodeling](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/) / Demolition permit guide Local guide · Anne Arundel County · October 2026 # Demolition permits in Anne Arundel County Tearing down a house, a garage or an interior all goes on a county building permit. Here is what else applies: asbestos rules, historic-property review, grading and the rules for rebuilding on the same footprint. Get matched with a builder who knows this - **Permit**: Residential demolition goes on a building permit - **MDE**: Asbestos rules for older homes - **20 yrs**: Rebuild in place rule, with 18 months to permit - **Historic**: Inventoried properties get extra review | Project | What applies | | --- | --- | | Full house teardown | Building permit (Single Family Dwelling record) | | Detached garage or shed teardown | Building permit (Accessory Structure record) | | Interior gut for a remodel | Covered by the remodel's building permit | | Asbestos in a single-family home | Friable material removed by a licensed contractor first | | Property on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties | Historic review before a permit is issued | ## 1. The permit Anne Arundel County puts residential demolition on the same permits as construction: a Residential Single Family Dwelling permit for the house or anything attached to it, and a Residential Accessory Structure permit for detached buildings. File in the Land Use Navigator. Arrange utility disconnections with BGE and your water and sewer provider early, and ask the Permit Center ((410) 222-7730) what documentation they need with your application. ## 2. Asbestos Older homes often contain asbestos in pipe insulation, flooring and siding. Under Maryland Department of the Environment guidance, demolishing a single-family home that was never used commercially doesn't need an MDE notification, but friable material such as thermal pipe insulation must be removed by a licensed asbestos contractor first. Notification is needed if the house was used commercially, has more than four units, or is one of several homes being demolished together. For MDE purposes, gutting an interior is a renovation, not a demolition. ## 3. Historic properties There is no blanket age rule in the county. Properties on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, including contributing buildings in a listed district, need historic review before a demolition permit is issued: a worksheet, a site visit and assessments by an engineer and a historic preservationist. Inside Annapolis, the city's Historic Preservation Commission reviews demolition in the Historic District; see our [historic district guide](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/annapolis-historic-district-renovation/). ## 4. Rebuilding on the lot Under §18-2-303(a), a structure that stood for 20 years or more can be replaced in kind without meeting current bulk rules, if a permit is obtained within 18 months of removal. That can protect a house that sits closer to the lot line than today's setbacks allow, so don't let the clock run out between teardown and new-home permit. If two lots have merged by law, a recorded merger agreement is needed before a demolition permit is issued. ## 5. Grading, the Critical Area and fees Demolition disturbs ground, so grading approval and, near the water, Critical Area review apply, just as for new construction. The building permit fee is based on the cost of the work, plus a $43 application fee; try our [permit fee calculator](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/permit-fee-calculator-anne-arundel/). Planning a teardown and rebuild? See our [custom home builders](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/custom-homes/anne-arundel/). ## Where this comes up most [Annapolis →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/annapolis/) · [Severna Park →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/severna-park/) · [Arnold →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/arnold/) · [Edgewater →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/edgewater/) · [Shady Side →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/shady-side/) · [Gibson Island →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/gibson-island/) ## Projects we match - [New custom homes](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/custom-homes/anne-arundel/): Build on your lot with a registered Maryland home builder. - [Additions](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/additions/anne-arundel/): Bump-outs, second stories and in-law suites. - [Kitchen remodels](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/kitchen/anne-arundel/): Layouts, cabinets, counters and full gut renovations. ## Common questions ### Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Anne Arundel County? Yes. Residential demolition is filed as a building permit in the Land Use Navigator, on a Single Family Dwelling record for the house or an Accessory Structure record for detached buildings. ### Do I need an asbestos survey to demolish a house in Maryland? For a single-family home never used commercially, MDE does not require a demolition notification, but friable asbestos such as pipe insulation must be removed by a licensed contractor before demolition. ### Can I rebuild on the same footprint after a teardown? Under §18-2-303(a), a structure that stood 20 years or more can be replaced in kind without meeting current bulk rules, if a permit is obtained within 18 months of removal. ### Does the county review demolition of old houses? Only for properties on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, including contributing buildings in listed districts. There is no blanket age rule. ## Official sources [AA County: Do I need a permit?](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/do-i-need-permit) · [MDE: Asbestos FAQ for homeowners (PDF)](https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/Asbestos/Documents/Asbestos%20Homepage%20Resources/_FAQ%20Homeowners%202025.docx.pdf) · [AA County: Demolition review worksheet (PDF)](https://www.aacounty.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/DemoReviewWorksheet-REV.pdf) · [AA County: Historic inventory](https://www.aacounty.org/node/7010) · [AA County: Grading permits](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/grading-permits) · [AA County: Permit fees](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/fees/permit-fees) 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/) · [Deck permits in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/deck-permits-anne-arundel/) · [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/) · [Do you need a permit for a pool or hot tub in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/pool-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Do you need a permit to replace a roof, siding or windows in Anne Arundel County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/roof-siding-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Permits for a home addition in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/home-addition-permit-anne-arundel/) · [How to get a building permit in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/how-to-get-building-permit-anne-arundel/) · [Buying or selling a house with unpermitted work in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/unpermitted-work-buying-selling-anne-arundel/) · [Building permits in the City of Annapolis](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/annapolis-city-building-permits/) · [Anne Arundel County permit fee calculator](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/permit-fee-calculator-anne-arundel/) · [Do you need a building permit in Baltimore County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/baltimore-county-building-permits/) · [Do you need a building permit in Howard County?](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/howard-county-building-permits/) · [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/)