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

Section 35-2-301 sets the baseline rule: no one may erect, construct, repair, alter, remodel, remove, or demolish a building or structure in the county without a written permit signed by the Building Engineer and payment of the applicable fee. Section 35-2-302 gives the County Administrative Officer authority to set, raise, or lower the permit fee schedule, and requires the Building Engineer to supply application forms calling for plans and specifications showing the nature and character of the proposed work; the Building Engineer generally cannot consider an application until all required information is supplied, though the requirement to file plans can be waived for cause.

All permit fees collected go into the county's general fund. If the Building Engineer denies, revokes, suspends, annuls, or modifies a permit, the applicant gets a written explanation of the reasons and 30 days to file a written notice of appeal with the County Board of Appeals, serving a copy on the County Attorney and setting out the grounds for appeal in clear terms. 4 of the Baltimore County Zoning Regulations, and no permit for construction or erection of a building may issue under Section 35-2-305 unless the Building Engineer and the Director of Environmental Protection and Sustainability first approve plans for disposing of waste, sewage, and drainage from the site and surrounding land. Buildings slated for demolition also need a rat eradication statement from a licensed pest control firm under Section 35-2-306 before the permit issues.