Chesapeake Bay shoreline, Bowleys Quarters, MDRemodeling and building in Shady Side
Shady Side sits on a low peninsula in South County between the West River and the Chesapeake Bay. It mixes year-round homes, former summer cottages and waterfront properties, and more than one in ten homes is a part-time or seasonal place.
Permits in Shady Side
Shady Side 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.
What to plan for in Shady Side
Flooding and sea-level rise
The county has identified the Deale and Shady Side peninsula as a high flood-risk area, with low elevations, rising water and drainage problems, and some communities have a single road in and out. 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.
Septic and groundwater
Many low-lying homes rely on septic systems, which rising groundwater can affect. In the Critical Area, new or replacement systems must be nitrogen-reducing (BAT) units, and the state's Bay Restoration Fund may help with the cost. Talk to the county Health Department early.
Critical Area everywhere
With water on three sides, much of Shady Side 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 shoreline work as a separate, longer approval.
Projects we match in Shady Side
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 Shady Side?
Anne Arundel County's Department of Inspections and Permits. Shady Side 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.
