Hot Tub / Spa
A small pool full of heated water used for hydrotherapy, relaxation, or pleasure (also referred to as a spa) designed to be used by more than one person at a time. Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, although they can be installed indoors.
Required Permit Applications and Forms
| Requirement | More Information | Link(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Area | Hot Tubs/Spas within the Critical Area require a Critical Area Worksheet. The law identifies "Critical Area" as all lands within 1,000 ft. of the mean high water line of tidal waters, or the landward edge of tidal wetlands, and all waters on (and lands under) the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. |
Critical Area Worksheet |
| Architectural Review | Properties located in a Town Center or a Rural Commercial Zoning District require Architectural Review prior to permit issuance. See the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance (CCZO), Article 25-9: Architectural Design Requirements for applicability. | CCZO Article 25-9 |
| Building Permit | Hot Tub/Spa construction requires a Building permit. | Building permit |
| Electrical Permit | Hot Tub/Spa electrical work requires an Electrical permit submitted by a licensed master electrician. | Electrical permit |
| Historic Permit | Hot Tubs/Spas where the property is a designated Calvert County Historic District require a Historic Area Work permit. | Historic Area Work permit, HAWP Instructions |
| Environmental Health Department Review | Properties served by well and/or septic will require an Environmental Health (EH) Department review. Please see item 8 on the attached Building Permit FAQ page for a general list of setback requirements. Percolation testing and/or a Sanitary Construction permit application may be necessary contingent on the property and the proposal. Please note that by submitting a building permit application our office is granted permission to conduct site visit(s) as necessary at our discretion to facilitate the review of the project. If the proposed structure is external, please stake it out onsite to avoid delays in review time. If you need assistance locating the well and/or septic systems, you may fill out a Public Information Request Form to obtain the property's file. |
- Building Permit FAQ |
Plan Submittal Requirements
The following information must be submitted with applicable permit application(s):
Fees
- Application fee of $25 due at permit application package submittal
- Permit fees due after review prior to issuance of permit
Licensing
If the applicant is contracting a builder, they need a Licensed Contractor. If they are building it themselves, they do not need a Licensed Contractor. Check to see if an individual or business is licensed before they do business for you.
- You can search for active licensees on the MHIC Department of Labor public query website.
Other Potential Requirements
| Requirement | More Information | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Beach Application Approval | IF the property is located in the town limits of Chesapeake Beach or North Beach, a Beach Application Approval is required to be submitted with the Building Permit Package. | Chesapeake Beach North Beach |
| Property Owner's Association / Home Owner's Association Approval | IF the property has a Property Owner's Association (POA) or Home Owner's Association (HOA), POA/HOA approval may be required prior to construction. Property owners should consult their POA/HOA. | N/A |
| County Road Access Bond | IF the project is proposing a new entrance onto a county road, a Residential Road Access Bond may be required. The refundable bond is $600. | N/A |
| State Road Access | IF the project is proposing a new entrance onto a state road, a State Highway Administration (SHA) Entrance Permit is required. Certification of Entrance Approval is required prior to final grading approval. | MD SHA Access Permit Application |
| Forest Conservation/Forest Stand | IF clearing of the property is on a lot more than 40,000 sq. ft. in size, a Forest Conservation Worksheet (FC), Forest Stand Delineation (FS), and Forest Conservation Plan are required. An exemption may waive these requirements. | FC Worksheet & FS Delineation |
| Maryland Dept. of the Environment Notice of Intent | IF clearing of the property is greater than one acre or involves environmental features governed by Maryland Dept. of the Environment (MDE), a Notice of Intent filed with the MDE is required. | MDE website |