--- title: "Do I Need a Permit? Maryland Permit Checker | TBG" description: "Pick your county or Annapolis, your project and a few details to see whether you need a building permit, the rule behind it, and the full local guide." url: https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/do-i-need-a-permit-checker/ last_updated: 2026-10-15 --- [TBG](https://thebrettgroup.com/) / [Home Remodeling](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/) / Permit checker 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. Get matched with a builder who knows this Short answer Do I need a permit for a deck in Maryland? 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. Updated October 2026 · Official sources - **4 areas**: Anne Arundel, Annapolis, Baltimore and Howard - **12 projects**: Decks to demolition - **Official rules**: From county and City code - **Free**: No sign-up Where is the house? What is the project? Deck attached to the house? Size (square feet) Height above ground (inches) Fence height (feet) Shed height (feet) Wall height (inches) Scope Type Above-ground pool wall height (inches) Any plumbing, electrical, gas or wall changes? Corner lot Waterfront or within 1,000 ft of tidal water Historic district or landmark In a mapped floodplain 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. ## Where this comes up most [Annapolis →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/annapolis/) · [Towson →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/towson/) · [Columbia →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/columbia/) ## 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. - [Basement finishing](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/basement/anne-arundel/): Living space, egress, bathrooms and waterproofing. - [Kitchen remodels](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/kitchen/anne-arundel/): Layouts, cabinets, counters and full gut renovations. ## Common questions ### Do I need a permit for a deck in Maryland? 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. ## Official sources [AA County: Do I need a permit?](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/do-i-need-permit) · [Baltimore County PAI: Permit applications](https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai/application) · [Howard County 2021 code amendments (PDF)](https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/build/doc/howard-code-amendments.pdf) · [Annapolis City Code (Municode)](https://library.municode.com/md/annapolis/codes/code_of_ordinances) 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. ## Related guides [- **Flood-zone guide**: Before you price a big remodel near the water, find out whether the 50% rule applies. It decides whether…](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/flood-zone-renovation-anne-arundel/) · [- **Critical Area guide**: If your home is within 1,000 feet of tidal water, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area rules shape what you can…](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/building-near-the-water-critical-area/) · [- **House types guide**: Most of the county's homes fall into a handful of types, and each one has a remodel that pays off and a…](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/remodeling-anne-arundel-house-types/) · [- **Materials guide**: Salt air, humidity, summer heat and freeze-thaw winters are hard on houses near the Bay. Choosing the right…](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/chesapeake-coastal-building-materials/) · [- **Septic guide**: If your home is on septic, two things shape your project: whether a nitrogen-reducing (BAT) system is…](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/septic-upgrades-bay-restoration-fund/) · [- **Deck permit guide**: Most decks in Anne Arundel County need a building permit. Here is when you need one, what the county…](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/deck-permits-anne-arundel/) [All local guides →](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/)