Chesapeake Bay BridgeRemodeling and building in Cape St. Claire
Cape St. Claire, on the Broadneck Peninsula between the Magothy River, the Little Magothy and Deep Creek, began in 1949 as a summer retreat and is now more than 2,300 year-round homes with community beaches, marinas and a pier. Many of the original cottages have been expanded or replaced.
Permits in Cape St. Claire
Cape St. Claire is unincorporated (with an Annapolis mailing address), so building permits come from Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits through the Land Use Navigator. Most exterior projects also need written approval from the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association before work starts.
More detail in our permit guide for Anne Arundel County and Annapolis.
What to plan for in Cape St. Claire
Association approval comes first
The Cape St. Claire Improvement Association must approve new homes, additions, decks, screened porches, fences, pools and accessory buildings over 100 square feet in writing before work begins, and approved jobs display its placard. Work must start within 6 months of approval and finish within 12 months of starting.
Community building rules
The association's building code sets its own limits on top of county zoning, including 25-foot front, 15-foot rear and 10-foot side setbacks (on waterfront lots the water side counts as the front), a 35-foot height limit and fence heights. Your contractor should read them before drawing plans.
Waterfront lots
Lots on the Magothy, the Little Magothy and Deep Creek fall in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, with lot coverage limits and a protected 100-foot shoreline buffer.
Projects we match in Cape St. Claire
Real project · Kitchen remodelKitchen remodels
Layouts, cabinets, counters and full gut renovations.
Representative photoBathroom remodels
Primary baths, hall baths and accessibility upgrades.
Representative photoAdditions
Bump-outs, second stories and in-law suites.
Representative photoBasement finishing
Living space, egress, bathrooms and waterproofing.
Representative photoNew custom homes
Build on your lot with a registered Maryland home builder.
Representative photoDecks & exteriors
Decks, porches, siding, windows and roofing.
Common questions
Who issues building permits in Cape St. Claire?
Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits, filed online through the Land Use Navigator. Cape St. Claire is a covenanted community, so new homes, additions, decks, porches, fences, pools and larger sheds also need written approval from the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association first.
Who does the work?
An independently owned contractor licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (and, for new homes, registered as a Maryland home builder). TBG makes the introduction; you contract directly with the builder.
Does matching cost anything?
No. It is free to homeowners. TBG is paid by its partner contractors.
How much of a deposit can a contractor take?
Under Maryland law, a home improvement contractor can collect no more than one-third of the contract price when the contract is signed.
