Building Safety in Howard County, MD (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Under Howard County Code § 3.700(b)(43), owners of rental dwelling units must meet Maryland Department of the Environment lead-based paint requirements, provide state-mandated disclosures, and submit a copy of the MDE lead certification to the County as part of the Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing.
Rental Owners Must Certify Lead Paint, MDE
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.700(b)(43) (Property Maintenance Code for Rental Housing, Subsection 305.3.1)
(43)Subsection 305.3.1 Lead-Based Paint. Add new subsection 305.3.1 after subsection 305.3 as follows: 305.3.1. Lead-Based Paint. The owner of a dwelling unit shall comply with requirements of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for lead-based paint and shall provide the required disclosures in accordance with State Law. A copy of the MDE lead certification must be provided to the ...
Elevator Maintenance
Howard County's Building Code carves elevators out of its own inspection scheme: County Code Section 3.101(b)(74) replaces the International Building Code's referenced elevator standard with the State of Maryland Elevator Code, so ASME A17.1 compliance and inspections are handled by the Maryland Department of Labor, not the county Building Official.
Elevators in Howard County Follow State Code
Few RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.101(b)(74) (amending IBC § 3001.3, Referenced Standards)
(74)Subsection 3001.3 Referenced standards. Add the following to the end of the subsection: Exception: The requirements of the State of Maryland Elevator Code, ASME A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, as adopted by the Maryland Department of Labor, shall apply to elevators and conveying systems.
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Howard County enforces the 2024 International Residential Code's automatic fire sprinkler mandate for new one- and two-family dwellings, adopted under Building Code Section 3.102. The county's only local tweak narrows the standard exception: additions or alterations covering less than 50 percent of a home's existing floor area are exempt from adding sprinklers, but everything else must meet the requirement.
Howard County: New Homes Need Fire Sprinklers
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.102(b)(14) (amending IRC § R309.2)
(14)Subsection R309.2 One- and two-family dwellings automatic fire sprinkler systems: In the exception, after the first "sprinkler system" delete the rest of the sentence and substitute "for additions or alterations less than fifty percent of the existing gross area of all floors of the building or structure are exempt from fire sprinkler systems."
Green Building Code
Howard County's Green Buildings Law, Code §§ 3.1000-3.1004, requires LEED certification for large new construction: silver-level or better for publicly funded buildings 10,000+ sq ft, and at least certified-level for private buildings 50,000+ sq ft (10,000+ in Downtown Columbia) in specified occupancy classes.
Big New Buildings Must Hit LEED Standards
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code §§ 3.1000, 3.1003-3.1004 (Green Buildings Law)
Sec. 3.1000. - Short title. This subtitle may be cited as the Howard County Green Buildings Law.Sec. 3.1003. - Applicability; exceptions.(a)Applicability. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the following new construction shall comply with the requirements of this subtitle:(1)New construction of a publicly funded building with 10,000 square feet or more of gross floor area; an...
Building Permits
Howard County requires a permit under its adopted 2024 International Building Code before starting most construction, from new buildings to additions and site work. The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits issues permits and enforces exemptions set out in County Code Section 3.101(b)(26), covering sheds, decks, fences, retaining walls and simple interior work.
When a Building Permit Is Required in Howard County
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.101(b)(26) (amending IBC § 105.2, Work Exempt From Permit)
(26)Subsection 105.2 Work exempt from permit. In the second sentence after "following", insert "however, exemptions do not apply to structures located in the floodplain"... (vii)Add the following as item 14 at the end of this Subsection:14.The following work on existing single-family dwellings:...c.The following additional structures:1.One story non-conditioned detached accessory structures les...
Electrical Permits
Howard County requires a permit for virtually all electrical work under Section 3.217 of the County Code. The only carve-out is for homeowners making minor repairs, like swapping a lamp, fuse, or outlet fixture, in their own residence; everything else, from rewiring to new circuits, has to go through the county's electrical permit process first.
Howard County: Electrical Work Needs a Permit
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.217(a) (Permit required)
(a)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subsection (c) and subsection (d) of this section, a person shall not perform electrical work without a permit obtained under this subtitle.(2)A permit is not required for a homeowner to repair or replace a portable appliance, lighting fixture, fuse, lamp, socket or to make other minor repairs at an existing outlet in the homeowne...
Plumbing Permits
Howard County requires a permit for plumbing, gasfitting, or on-site utility work under Section 3.305 of the County Code, and only a licensed master plumber, gasfitter, or on-site utility contractor can pull it. The only exceptions cover small repairs like swapping a faucet or clearing a stoppage that doesn't touch the drainage or water system.
Howard County: Licensed Plumber Needed for Permits
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.305(a) (Permits Required)
(a)Permits Required. Except as provided in this subsection and in subsection 3.301(d) of this subtitle, plumbing, gasfitting, or on-site utility work shall not be undertaken without a permit issued by the authority having jurisdiction...(4)Exceptions. The following work shall not require a permit:(i)The repair or replacement of a faucet, ballcock, exposed fixture trap, or shutoff valve; or(ii)T...
Building Inspections
After issuing a building permit, Howard County's Building Official inspects work under Code Section 3.101(b)(35), which locally amends IBC Section 110.3. Businesses doing repeat work can seek a master permit under Section 105.1.1, and Section 109.5.1 charges a reinspection fee whenever a site is not ready or a violation recurs.
How Howard County Building Inspections Work
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 3.101(b)(35) (amending IBC § 110.3, Required Inspections)
(35)Subsection 110.3 Required inspections. Delete the sentence that begins "The building official" and substitute: "After issuing a building permit, the Building Official shall conduct inspections from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which the permit has been issued. Records of inspections and violations shall be maintained by the Building Official. An inspection may inc...
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