Representative photoRemodeling and building in Harwood
Harwood is a rural crossroads on Route 2 south of Annapolis, covered by the county's Region 8 plan along with Davidsonville, Lothian and Owensville. Homes here sit on larger rural lots, and those on private wells and septic systems get extra review.
Permits in Harwood
Harwood is unincorporated, so building permits come from Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits, filed online through the county's Land Use Navigator. The permit center is at 2664 Riva Road in Annapolis.
More detail in our permit guide for Anne Arundel County and Annapolis, and our local guides to septic upgrades and grants.
What to plan for in Harwood
Well and septic
On a well-and-septic lot, decks, sheds, garages, porches and additions get Anne Arundel County Health Department review. The site plan must show the septic system, well and bedroom count, and a perc test or system upgrade may be required.
Rural zoning
If your lot is zoned RA (Rural Agricultural), structures can cover up to 25% of the lot and rise to 45 feet, with a 40,000-square-foot minimum lot.
Limited additions
Where a lot can't meet conventional septic rules, a limited home addition is possible: up to 1,000 square feet and no more than 50% of the living space, with no new bedrooms and a pretreatment unit.
Projects we match in Harwood
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 Harwood?
Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits. Harwood 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.
