Permits are required for:
- Any additions, alterations or structural modifications to existing dwellings, including those located in historic districts.
- Structural work or when a new bedroom or kitchen are created. However, if your house is in or part of a Baltimore County Historical District or is on Baltimore County's Landmarks List, a building permit is required for any work on the exterior or any work that affects the exterior appearance, including repair or removal of any part of the house, fence or accessory structure.
- When creating a weatherproof enclosure of an existing porch or deck, including in historical areas. Enclosing a porch or deck is considered an addition because it extends the "indoor" area of the house and is subject to the same setback limitations as the house itself.
Permits are not required for siding or roof repair. However, if a property is in part of a Baltimore County Historical District or is on Baltimore County's Landmarks List, a building permit is required for any work on the exterior or any work that affects the exterior appearance, including repair or removal of any part of the house, fence or accessory structure.
All electrical or plumbing work requires a permit and must be obtained by a licensed electrician and plumber.
Required Documents
You must provide the following when submitting your permit application.
- Construction Plans with an original seal and signature on each page
- Site Plans (only needed for additions and alterations if modifications are affecting exterior of building)
- If property is served by a well and septic system, a site plan must be provided that complies with the Ground Water Site Plan Requirements.
- Data sheets with a professional seal and signature
- Development Review Committee (DRC) letter (when required by other offices)
- When change of use—Water Usage Letter (when required by other offices)
- If property is located in the 3.3-mile radius of the Martin State Airport (MTN)—Airport Zoning Permit
Note: Environmental Health Services (EHS) regulates the construction of food service facilities, adult healthcare and public swimming pools and supports the building permit review process. All construction plans, whether new construction or renovation, must be submitted for approval. The food plans review staff also examines Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Risk Assessments and the HACCP Manual. Review the Health Department Guidelines for required documents. Review the EHS fee schedule for fees.
If EPS suspects asbestos, the applicant is required to conduct asbestos testing or remove the material and provide the required Asbestos Abatement Report with final clearance air sample test results.
If the disturbed area is over 5,000 square feet, a separate grading permit will be required. Approved grading and sediment control studies will be required for a grading permit. All commercial permits are subject to review for stormwater management by EPS.
- Site Plans
- If property is served by a well and septic system, a site plan must be provided that complies with the Ground Water Site Plan Requirements.
- Construction Plans
- If the addition totals 600 square feet or more, if a bedroom is being created, second floor additions and structural work.
- If addition exceeds 3,000 square feet a seal and signature are required on all construction plans.
- All residential alterations or additions by a private contractor require the Maryland Home Improvement License number of said contractor.
- If property is located in the 3.3-mile radius of the Martin State Airport (MTN)—Airport Zoning Permit.
About the Application Process
To learn more about the application process, read the steps and watch the videos below, or view the FAQ or full tutorial video playlist.
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Watch a video to learn how to create your account or follow the instructions below:
- Navigate to the online portal.
- Select the Create Account button.
- Enter your email address, select Submit.
- An email will be sent with a link to complete the account setup. (Note: If you don't see the email is not in your inbox, check the SPAM folder. If in SPAM, mark unread before selecting the link.)
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Prepare/gather all required documents as indicated above to upload when completing your online application. Be sure to name the documents appropriately—file names must follow Baltimore County naming conventions.
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Watch a video to learn how to create your application or follow the instructions below:
- Enter the applicant and owner information.
- Select the property address and enter the contractor information.
- In the Search and Add Contractors section, enter the contractor name in the search box.
- Select the contractor. The system will highlight the selected contractor in red.
- Select the Add button to select the contractor. The contractor will be listed in the Selected Contractors section.
- Describe proposed work.
- Answer all required questions and enter all information related to the project.
- Upload required documents.
- After accepting the Terms and Conditions, the Document Upload window opens.
- On the Plan Documents tab, scroll down and select the Browse button to select your files.
- Highlight the files to be added, select Open. The files are added to the Upload Documents window.
- For each file, select a discipline from the dropdown list to describe your uploaded document type.
- Select the Upload button.
- A disclaimer pop-up appears. Approve the disclaimer by selecting the Yes button.
- Select the Submit for Review button.
- When all files have been submitted, close out the Document Upload window.
- Submit the application.
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- Applications will be reviewed by the Permit Processing Staff. Watch a video to learn about the application review and revisions process. Staff may leave comments and revisions required for your permit. To view comments, follow the below instructions:
- Navigate to the online portal.
- Locate the permit on the My Dashboard page.
- Select the expand icon next to the permit. Select the Action (magnifying glass) icon, which opens the Permit Application Info page. There are two ways to view comments and revisions required for your permit:
- From the Plan Review section:
- Select the Open Plan Review button.
- From the Upload Documents screen, select the Review Documents tab
- Download the documents for review. Review the comments and feedback letter, documenting the required updates. Review the markups of submitted plans and documents.
- From the Tasks section:
- Scroll to the Tasks section. If there are comments for review, you will see an Action (magnifying glass) icon in the Comments field to the right of the task’s Date Completed field.
- Select the magnifying glass to see the comments.
- From the Plan Review section:
- If all required information and documents are submitted, the application will be completed and application fees will be calculated.
- Applicants will receive a notification that the fees are ready for payment. Watch a video to learn how to pay application fees or follow the instructions below:
- Navigate to the online portal. The My Dashboard page displays.
- Select the Applications with Fees Due box at the top-middle of the My Dashboard window.
- Scroll to the My Fees section, find the permit number and scroll to the right to the Actions section. You will see a magnifying glass icon and a credit card icon.
- To view details for the fees, select the magnifying glass icon.
- To pay the fees, select the credit card icon. (Note: Baltimore County only accepts Mastercard, Visa and PayPal electronic payments.)
- Once payment is received, the application will be sent to all reviewing departments for technical review. Watch a video to learn about the review and revision process.
- Once the reviews are completed and approved, the permit will be issued.
- Applications will be reviewed by the Permit Processing Staff. Watch a video to learn about the application review and revisions process. Staff may leave comments and revisions required for your permit. To view comments, follow the below instructions:
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Once the permit has been issued, the applicant will be notified via email. Watch a video to learn how to access the permit and approved plans in the applicant portal. Permits and approved plans must be available at the job site for inspections.
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All construction must be completed exactly as stated on the approved permit and approved construction plans. Watch a video to learn how to schedule inspections through the applicant portal.
Apply for a Permit
Once you have reviewed the process outlined above and have gathered your required documentation, apply for your permit online using the buttons below.
Commercial Permits
For Projects Involving Food Service/Health Care
These applications should be submitted for projects involving food service or health care (i.e. restaurants, hospitals, medical daycares, assisted living centers or nursing homes), which require review by the Environmental Health Division.