Solomons Island, MarylandRemodeling and building in Deale
Deale is a South County waterfront town on Herring Bay and Rockhold Creek, known for its marinas, working watermen's harbor and charter fishing fleet. Homes range from older bungalows and cottages near the water to newer houses on larger lots inland.
Permits in Deale
Deale is unincorporated, so building permits come from Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits through the Land Use Navigator system.
More detail in our permit guide for Anne Arundel County and Annapolis, and our local guides to renovating in a flood zone and building near the water.
What to plan for in Deale
Flood risk on the peninsula
Deale is part of the Deale and Shady Side peninsula, which the county rates as a high flood-risk area, and a 2025 county study looked at raising roads, improving drainage and adding natural buffers there. Check the FEMA flood map for your address: in a mapped flood zone, additions and substantial renovations must meet floodplain construction rules, which can mean raising the house or its utilities.
Septic or sewer?
Some Deale homes are on public sewer and others rely on septic systems. If yours is on septic, an addition or extra bedroom may need Health Department review of the system's capacity, and in the Critical Area new or replacement systems must be nitrogen-reducing (BAT) units. Find out which you have before you design.
Critical Area near the water
Homes near Herring Bay, Rockhold Creek and the other tidal creeks are often within 1,000 feet of tidal water. Expect lot coverage limits, a protected 100-foot shoreline buffer and tree-clearing rules, and treat docks and shoreline work as a separate approval.
Projects we match in Deale
TBG project · MillersvilleKitchen 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 Deale?
Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits. Deale is unincorporated, and new applications are filed online through the county's Land Use Navigator system.
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.
