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Francis Scott Key Bridge Incident Updates

Before applying for a fence permit it is important to know the general fence details:

  • The maximum height of a fence in the front yard or adjacent neighbor’s front yard is 42 inches.
  • A fence over 42 inches in the front yard or over 10 feet in the side or rear yards will require a fence waiver.

A building permit is required for:

  • Fences 42 inches or above (measured vertical to ground, even if fence is placed on top of wall)
  • All fences, regardless of height, that are:
    • Located in a proposed or designated Baltimore County Historic District
    • On the Baltimore County Landmarks List
    • Located in the floodplain
    • Located in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area

Required Documents

You must provide the following when submitting your permit application:

  • Site Plans—Required for both residential and commercial fences. 
    • If commercial, site plans must be a minimum of one inch equals 100 feet, engineer's scale.
    • If residential, view the residential site plan.

Building Guidelines

Fences cannot be built within access easements. If a fence is erected within an easement and is required to be removed, it is done at the owner’s expense.

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.

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.

 

Explore Permits, Approvals and Inspections

 

Contact Us

Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections

County Office Building
111 West Chesapeake Avenue
Towson, Maryland 21204

Hours

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone

Director

C. Pete Gutwald