| Kitchen change | County permit? |
|---|---|
| Moving or removing a wall (load-bearing or not) | Yes, building permit |
| New or moved circuits, outlets or lighting | Yes, electrical permit |
| Moving the sink or adding a fixture | Yes, plumbing permit |
| New or moved gas range or gas line | Yes, gas permit |
| New ductwork or HVAC changes | Yes, mechanical permit |
| Interior demolition | Yes, demolition permit |
| Cabinets, counters, flooring or paint only | Not listed by the county; ask if unsure |
1. When a building permit is needed
Anne Arundel County requires a permit for any residential alteration that relocates or demolishes walls, "both load bearing and non-load bearing," and for interior demolition. If your kitchen remodel opens up a wall, closes one or moves a doorway, you need a building permit with construction plans drawn to scale. The county's published permit list doesn't address purely cosmetic work like new cabinets, countertops, flooring or paint; if you're unsure whether your scope needs a permit, email the permit center at [email protected] with your address and a description.
2. Trade permits
Most kitchen remodels touch at least one trade. The county requires an electrical permit for wiring, fixtures and devices, a plumbing permit for adding or relocating fixtures and piping, a gas permit for adding or relocating gas appliances or piping, and a mechanical permit for heating, cooling or ductwork. These are pulled by licensed master electricians, plumbers and gasfitters. A homeowner can pull a building permit for their own home, but the trade work must be done by tradesmen licensed in Anne Arundel County.
3. What inspectors look at
The county builds to the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code. Expect rough-in inspections for each trade before walls are closed, then finals, with all trade finals passed before the final building inspection. Plans must be on site at every inspection, and a missed or inaccessible inspection costs $150.
4. What it costs
An electrical permit for a remodel with no service change is $95; with a new panel or service it runs $147 to $259. Plumbing is $51 for the first fixture and $8 for each additional one, gas is $69 for typical residential piping, and every trade permit adds a $43 application fee. If you also need a building permit, its fee is based on the cost of the work, from $86 up to $242 plus 1% of the amount over $25,000.
5. Older homes and historic Annapolis
Opening walls in older houses often turns up outdated wiring or plumbing that must be brought up to code once it's exposed, and homes built before 1978 require lead-safe work practices. Inside Annapolis city limits, the City of Annapolis issues the permits: its code requires a permit to alter a building or to install, alter or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system. Interior work isn't reviewed by the historic commission, but a new window or exterior vent is. See our Annapolis historic district guide and remodeling ideas by house type.
