---
title: "Shed & Detached Garage Permits in Anne Arundel County | TBG"
description: "When a shed or detached garage needs a permit in Anne Arundel County: the 150 sq ft and 10 ft rule, Critical Area sheds, setbacks, electrical, inspections and fees."
url: https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/shed-permit-anne-arundel/
last_updated: 2026-10-14
---

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

Local guide · Anne Arundel County · October 2026

# Do you need a permit for a shed or detached garage in Anne Arundel County?

A small shed, 150 square feet or less and 10 feet tall or less, doesn't need a county permit, unless you are in the Critical Area near the water. Every garage needs one. Here are the rules for size, placement and setbacks.

Get matched with a builder who knows this

- **150 sq ft**: And 10 ft tall or less: no permit for a shed
- **Critical Area**: Every shed near tidal water needs a permit
- **Garages**: Always need a permit, attached or detached
- **3 ft**: Within this of the house counts as attached

| Structure | County permit? |
| --- | --- |
| Shed 150 sq ft or less and 10 ft tall or less | Not required (outside the Critical Area) |
| Larger or taller shed | Yes |
| Any shed in the Critical Area | Yes |
| Shed or garage within 3 ft of the house | Yes, treated as attached |
| Detached garage or carport | Yes, always |
| Power to a shed or garage | Yes, electrical permit |

## 1. The 150-square-foot rule

Anne Arundel County doesn't require a permit for a shed that is **10 feet tall or less and 150 square feet or less**, except in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, where every shed needs a permit. Gazebos follow the same rule. Garages and carports always need a permit, and a shed or garage within 3 feet of the house is treated as attached, which also needs one.

## 2. Where it can go

On a typical lot, accessory structures can't go in the front yard (waterfront lots can sometimes place them on the water side with Planning and Zoning review), and an accessory building can't have more floor area than the house. Setbacks depend on your zoning district. For example:

| Zone | Side / rear setback | Max height |
| --- | --- | --- |
| R1 | 15 ft (10 ft if under 8 ft tall) | Up to 45 ft, with larger setbacks over 25 ft |
| R2 | 7 ft (5 ft if under 8 ft tall) | 25 ft or the house height, whichever is less |
| R5 | 7 ft (5 ft if under 8 ft tall) | 25 ft or the house height, whichever is less |

Very small sheds, 64 square feet or less and 8 feet or less tall, are excluded from these accessory setbacks. Look up your zoning district on the county's map, and keep sheds clear of septic systems, wells and easements, which must be shown on any site plan.

## 3. Near the water

In the Critical Area, every shed needs a permit, and sheds count toward your lot coverage limit (15% to 31% of the lot, depending on lot size). Keep them out of the 100-foot shoreline buffer. See our [Critical Area guide](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/building-near-the-water-critical-area/).

## 4. Applying, inspections and fees

File through the Land Use Navigator as a Residential Accessory Structure with construction plans, a scaled site plan, a standard grading plan and, near the water, a Critical Area worksheet. A garage needs footings at least 30 inches deep, the county's frost depth. Running power needs a separate electrical permit by a licensed electrician ($95 for a residential alteration). The building permit fee is based on cost: $86 up to $3,000, $103 up to $5,000, $147 up to $10,000 and $242 plus 1% over $25,000 for larger garages, plus a $43 application fee.

## Where this comes up most

[Davidsonville →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/davidsonville/) · [Crownsville →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/crownsville/) · [Gambrills →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/gambrills/) · [Millersville →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/millersville/) · [Severna Park →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/severna-park/) · [Riva →](https://thebrettgroup.com/remodeling/riva/)

## 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

### How big a shed can I build without a permit in Anne Arundel County?

Up to 150 square feet and 10 feet tall, as long as the property is not in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. In the Critical Area, every shed needs a permit.

### Does a detached garage need a permit in Anne Arundel County?

Yes. Garages and carports always need a permit, whether attached or detached.

### How far from the property line does a shed have to be?

It depends on the zoning district: for example, 7 feet in R2 and R5 (5 feet if under 8 feet tall) and 15 feet in R1. Sheds of 64 square feet or less and 8 feet or less tall are excluded from these accessory setbacks.

### Can I put a shed in my front yard?

Not on a typical lot. Waterfront lots may place accessory structures on the water side with Planning and Zoning review.

## Official sources

[AA County: Do I need a permit?](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/do-i-need-permit) · [AA County: Accessory structure permits](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits/residential-permits/accessory-structure) · [AA County Code §18-2-204](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/annearundel/latest/annearundelco_md/0-0-0-169460) · [AA County Code: R1 district](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/annearundel/latest/annearundelco_md/0-0-0-169887) · [AA County Code: R2 district](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/annearundel/latest/annearundelco_md/0-0-0-169892) · [AA County Code: R5 district](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/annearundel/latest/annearundelco_md/0-0-0-169897) · [AA County: Permit fees](https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/fees/permit-fees) · [AA County: Critical Area](https://www.aacounty.org/planning-and-zoning/development/critical-area)

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 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/) · [Demolition permits in Anne Arundel County](https://thebrettgroup.com/guides/demolition-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/)