Building Safety in Calvert County, MD (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Calvert County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Door Locking Hardware
Calvert County's Minimum Livability Code requires every exterior door and its hardware to be kept in good condition, and any lock on an interior or exterior door entering a housing unit must be in good repair and able to tightly secure the door. Any door used as a required exit must still open easily from the inside, so a secure lock can never block emergency escape.
Calvert County Rental Door Hardware Rules
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code § 75-10
Door hardware: Every exterior door and its hardware shall be maintained in good condition. Where present, door locks on all interior and exterior doors entering housing units shall be in good repair and capable of tightly securing the door. ... Exit doors: Every door available as an exit shall be capable of being opened easily from the inside.
Building Permits
Calvert County adopted the 2018 International Building Code and most of the 2018 International Residential Code, with local amendments, as its building code effective July 1, 2022. Building permit applications filed before that date stay under the prior chapter; anything filed after must meet the new code.
Calvert County Building Code Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code §§ 18-1 and 18-2
§ 18-1. Codes adopted by reference; amendments and deletions. A. The International Building Code 2018 (IBC) published by the International Codes Council, Inc., is hereby adopted as the Building Code for Calvert County, with the insertions, additions, deletions, and changes to the IBC set forth in Exhibit A ... hereto. ... § 18-2. Filing; effect on prior building permit applications. This chapte...
Building Inspections
Calvert County's Minimum Livability Code lets the Code Official enter a rental structure or premises at any reasonable time, once reasonable notice and identification are given, to inspect for code compliance. Inspections start with a written, signed complaint naming the property; if an owner, tenant or operator blocks entry, the Code Official can ask a court to order the interference stopped.
Calvert County Rental Housing Inspections
Some RestrictionsCalvert County Code § 75-5
Inspections: ... The Code Official is authorized to enter a structure or premises at any reasonable time upon providing reasonable notice and proper identification to the property owner or operator and tenant for the purpose of making inspections and performing duties under this code. ... Right of entry: If any property owner, tenant or operator of a structure refuses, impedes, inhibits, interf...
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