Harford County, MD Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 82-1 adopts the 2021 International Building Code, published by the International Code Council, as part of Chapter 82 with the same force and effect as if printed in full in the county code, and directs that where the adopted code conflicts with another part of the county code, the most restrictive provision governs. A copy must be kept on file for public inspection in the office of the Director of Administration and the office of the Council Administrator. Section 82-2 renames terms for local use: 'building official' means the Director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, and 'Department of Building Safety' means that same department, which is the office that issues permits and inspects work under the adopted code.

15 per square foot plus $200 for commercial work, with a 50% fee multiplier for certain fire-resistive construction types and 25% for assembly, institutional and residential occupancy groups. Simple permits carry flat fees: $160 for a pellet or wood stove, sump pump, basement gutter drain or foundation repair, and $20 for a 1- or 2-family accessory structure under 200 square feet, which needs no certificate of occupancy or inspection. A demolition permit runs $175 residential or $275 commercial, waived for training exercises by a county volunteer fire company.

Working without a permit or under a stop-work order adds a penalty on top of the regular fee: $500 for a first occurrence, $750 for a second, and $1,000 for a third or later occurrence with an administrative hearing. If a permit is disapproved or withdrawn before issuance, § 157-3(E) refunds 50% of the fee paid.