Local guide · Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard Counties · October 2026
Do I need a permit? Check your project
Choose where the house is and what you are building. You get a yes or no with the local rule behind it, the special cases to watch, and a link to the full guide.
It depends on the county. Anne Arundel requires one for every attached deck; Baltimore County for decks over 16 inches high and 120 square feet; Howard County for almost every deck; the City of Annapolis for attached and larger decks.
4 areasAnne Arundel, Annapolis, Baltimore and Howard
12 projectsDecks to demolition
Official rulesFrom county and City code
FreeNo sign-up
General information from the county and City codes and permit pages, not a legal determination. Rules change; confirm with the permit office before you build.
How the checker works
It applies the size and height thresholds each jurisdiction publishes: Anne Arundel County's "Do I need a permit?" list, the City of Annapolis Code, Baltimore County's permit pages and Howard County's amendments to the 2021 building codes. Historic, waterfront and floodplain lots change the answer in several places, so tick those boxes if they apply. For anything marked "check with the permit office," the rule isn't published clearly enough to answer for you.
It depends on the county. Anne Arundel requires one for every attached deck; Baltimore County for decks over 16 inches high and 120 square feet; Howard County for almost every deck; the City of Annapolis for attached and larger decks.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
In Anne Arundel County, over 6 feet, on corner lots or on waterfront lots. In Baltimore County, 42 inches or taller. In Howard County, over 7 feet or around a pool. In the City of Annapolis, every fence needs a fence permit.
Do I need a permit for a shed?
Anne Arundel exempts sheds of 150 square feet or less and 10 feet or under outside the Critical Area; Baltimore County exempts 120 square feet or less; Howard County and the City of Annapolis exempt one-story sheds under 200 square feet.
Is this checker a legal answer?
No. It summarizes the published rules. Confirm with the permit office for your property before you build.
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.
