Do I need a residential construction permit?

See table below for project type requirements:

Any construction within the Critical Area requires a Building and/or Grading permit and may require a Critical Area Form

Any electrical work requires an Electrical permit

Any plumbing and/or gas work requires a Plumbing-Gas permit

Any  disturbance 5,000 square feet or greater AND/OR any cut and fill volume (amount of soils to be removed) of 100 cubic yards or greater requires a Grading Permit. Click here to view the 2022 grading policy.

Structures under 150 square feet (unless Critical Area) do not require a permit; however they must still meet required setbacks for zoning 

For new dwellings where the property is served by public Water and/or Public Sewer a Water Sewer permit is required 

For other construction projects where the property is served by public Water and/or Public Sewer a Water Sewer permit may be required

For new dwellings where the property is served by well and/or septic an Environmental Health Department Sanitary Construction permit is required

For other construction projects where the property is served by well and/or septic an Environmental Health Department Sanitary Construction review may be required

Additional Approvals and Documents Required


If the property is located within the town limits of Chesapeake Beach or North Beach, a Beach Application Approval is required to be submitted with the Building Permit Package

If a property has a Home Owner’s Association (HOA), then it requires HOA approvals, which is the responsibility of the property owner/applicant prior to construction

If the property is located in a Town Center, then the proposed work must obtain Architectural Review Committee approval

For new dwellings where the entrance to the property accesses a road maintained by Calvert County, then it requires a County Road Access Permit Application

For a new dwelling where the entrance to the property accesses a road maintained by the State Highway Administration, then it requires proof of an MD State Highway Road Access Permit

If clearing of the property is greater than 30,000 square feet or greater than 10,000 square feet on lots less than 40,000 square feet in size, then it requires a Forest Conservation Worksheet & Forest Stand Delineation.

If clearing of the property is greater than one acre (43,560 square feet), then it requires a Notice of Intent filed with the MD Department of the Environment

Proposed Work Permit Application Type Required Submittal Specifics
Accessory Apartment
(attached, detached, and basement)
 Building Permit Water Sewer permit if property is served by public water/sewer
Addition
(Living Space)
 Building Permit  
Attached Garage Building Permit  
Carport Building Permit  
Deck Building Permit  
Fence Building Permit If any part of a fence is greater than 6 feet in height
Finished Basement Building Permit Existing (if any of it is finished) and proposed floor plans with all  room uses listed is required as part of the permit application package
Fireplace Building Permit  
Garage/Workshop Building Permit  
Grading Grading Permit   
Low-Rise Apartment/Condo Building Permit Water Sewer permit if property is served by public water/sewer
New Single Family Dwelling 
(Attached, Detached, Modular, Trailer)
 Building Permit
> If the property owner is Builder a Property Owner/Builder Affidavit is required as part of the permit package
> If the property is served by well and/or septic Environmental Health Department Sanitary Construction permit approval is required as part of the permit package
> If the property is served by public Water and/or Public Sewer a Water Sewer permit is required to be submitted as part of the permit package
Patio Building Permit  
Pole Barn Building Permit  
Pool Building Permit   
Pool House Building Permit  
Porch Building Permit  
Residential Water Dependent Structure
(Pier, etc.)
 Building Permit  
Retaining Wall Building Permit Retaining wall 3 feet in height or above
Shed Building Permit > In the Critical Area: Permit is required for any shed size
> Outside the Critical Area: Permit is required for any shed over 150 square feet
Solar Panels Building Permit > Roof Mount requires a roof certification  
> Engineered electrical plans are required
> Ground Mount requires a plot plan showing distances to property lines
Steps/Ramp Building Permit  
Sunroom Building Permit