Janes Island, MarylandRemodeling and building in Mayo
Mayo sits at the tip of a peninsula between the South River and the Rhode River, south of Edgewater. Many of its neighborhoods began as summer-cottage communities along the water, and today they mix year-round homes, rebuilt cottages and waterfront properties.
Permits in Mayo
Mayo 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 Mayo
The sewer tank in your yard
Much of the peninsula is served by the county's Mayo sewer system, in which each home has its own buried tank and pump that feed the county lines. Nothing permanent can be built over the tank or inside its utility easement, so locate it before you design an addition, deck, patio or fence. The county is replacing the aging tanks in phases from 2026 to about 2037, community by community; check your neighborhood's schedule before planning yard work.
Critical Area on most lots
With water on three sides, much of Mayo is within 1,000 feet of tidal water. Expect lot coverage limits, a protected 100-foot shoreline buffer and rules on clearing trees, and plan piers, bulkheads and living shorelines as a separate, longer approval.
Low ground and older cottages
Some waterfront streets are low-lying, so check the FEMA flood map for your address before adding on: in a mapped flood zone, additions and substantial renovations must meet floodplain construction rules. Converted summer cottages often need foundation, framing and electrical upgrades once the walls are opened.
Projects we match in Mayo
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 Mayo?
Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits. Mayo 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.
