Queen Anne's County, MD Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Sanitary construction permit from the Plumbing Board (§ 12-12)
- Application form
- Queen Anne's County Health Department or Plumbing Board
- Health approval
- County Health Department processes and approves application
- Special registration term
- Two years (§ 12-10)
- Maximum fine
- $1,000 for each offense, each day separate
- Appeal
- Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County
Summary
In unincorporated Queen Anne's County, Maryland, § 12-12 bars anyone from starting a new building, a major addition or alteration affecting water supply, sewage disposal, plumbing or gas, installing a new plumbing fixture, gas fixture or appliance connected to the water or sewerage system, or significantly altering existing plumbing or gas without first obtaining a sanitary construction permit from the County Plumbing Board.
Unless a required sanitary construction permit is first obtained from the Board, a person may not: A. Begin the erection or construction of a new building; B. Begin the construction of a major addition or alteration to an existing building that will affect the water supply, sewage disposal, plumbing system or gas system in the building; or C. Install any new plumbing fixture, gas fixture or appliance connected with the water or sewerage system, sewer, or addition to a present sewer. D. Significantly alter any existing plumbing or gas system.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 12 (Construction Regulation: Plumbing and Health) was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners effective 11-17-2001 by Ord. No. 01-02. The BOARD in the chapter is the Queen Anne's County Plumbing Board, appointed by the County Commissioners under § 12-2, and the PLUMBING CODE is the Plumbing Code approved by the Maryland State Board of Plumbing.
Section 12-12 lists four triggers for the sanitary construction permit: beginning a new building; beginning a major addition or alteration that will affect the water supply, sewage disposal, plumbing system or gas system; installing any new plumbing fixture, gas fixture or appliance connected with the water or sewerage system, a sewer, or an addition to a present sewer; and significantly altering any existing plumbing or gas system. Under § 12-13 the application form is obtained at the Queen Anne's County Health Department or the Plumbing Board. It lists the location and description of the property, the subdivision, lot number and lot size, the nature and size of the building or addition, the method of water supply and sewage disposal, and the number and kind of fixtures and appliances. A rough drawing of the property, the building and the water and sewage systems comes with it.
The County Health Department processes and approves the application under § 12-14, and it cannot approve when sanitary requirements cannot or will not be met, or when site and soil evaluation tests show an on-site waste disposal system will not be satisfactory.
Appliances have a separate permit under § 12-15. Apart from a homeowner installing an appliance without a propane gas connection, the applicant must be a licensed master plumber or hold a master well driller's, pump installer's, state gas fitter's or water conditioner installer's license and be registered under § 12-10, a registration valid for two years. All water heaters must be installed by a licensed master plumber, and the Plumbing Inspector inspects the installation. Section 12-16 requires all plumbing work to conform to the State Plumbing Code and the regulations of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or Department of Environment, with indoor fixtures installed under a Queen Anne's County master plumber's supervision. Well work tied to piping needs a Board or Health Department permit and inspection before the work is covered (§ 12-17).
Violations & Fines
Under § 12-21, any person who violates a provision of Chapter 12 is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Plumbing Board can appeal to the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County under § 12-20. The Health Department can also withhold approval of an application under § 12-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get a plumbing permit application in Queen Anne's County?
Can I install my own water heater?
Do I need a permit to replace an old appliance?
What does the Health Department look at before a permit is issued?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Queen Anne's County
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