Baltimore County, MD Building Permit Fees (2026)
Residential building permit fees from the official Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) fee schedule. Baltimore County charges flat fees by structure type and size: decks, additions, fences, and solar are fixed dollar amounts regardless of construction value. Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy. Figures below are from the PAI schedule effective July 1, 2026, which also lists a separate $75 residential permit application fee.
This page covers: Baltimore County residential building permit fees from the official PAI building permit fee schedule (BPP 15 Attachment A) - flat fees for decks, additions, accessory structures, fences, residential solar, fireplaces/wood stoves, and foundation-only permits, plus the area-based fee categories for new construction.
This page does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical, plumbing-gas fitting) on separate schedules; zoning, development, and appeals fees (a separate county schedule); the investigation fee for work started without a permit; and impact/development fees.
Fee schedule and application fee: Figures come from the Baltimore County Building Permit Fee Schedule (PAI BPP 15 Attachment A, Rev 6/30/26), effective July 1, 2026, re-verified November 4, 2026. The schedule also lists a separate $75 residential permit application fee and does not say whether it is credited toward the permit fee, so PermitPrice shows it as an additional line. All permit fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
Baltimore County, MD charges flat building permit fees by structure type. An open deck is $105 under 600 square feet (or $150 at 600 sq ft and over), a residential addition is $105 under 600 square feet without structural changes (or $160 with structural changes or at 600 sq ft and over), a residential fence is $35, and a residential solar power system is $100. New one- and two-family construction falls under Fee Category D with a $280 minimum. The schedule also lists a separate $75 residential permit application fee that it does not say is credited toward the permit, so a 300 sq ft deck is an estimated $105.00, or $180.00 if the $75 is charged on top. These fees do not change with construction value, and Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy. Schedule effective July 1, 2026.
- Baltimore County charges flat fees by structure type and size, not by construction value.
- An open deck is $105 (under 600 sq ft) or $150 (600 sq ft and over); an addition is $105 (under 600 sq ft, no structural changes) or $160 (structural changes, or 600 sq ft and over).
- A residential fence is $35 (plus $0.05 per linear foot over 250), residential solar is $100, and a fireplace or wood stove is $45.
- New one- and two-family construction is Fee Category D with a $280 minimum, plus a $50 MD Home Builders Guaranty Fund fee.
- Maryland has no statewide percentage levy, and Baltimore County applies no percentage technology fee.
- A $75 residential permit application fee is listed separately; the schedule does not say whether it is credited toward the permit fee, so a 300 sq ft deck is $105.00, or $180.00 if the $75 is charged on top. PermitPrice will update these figures once the county confirms.
Baltimore County Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule
All fees below are the PAI building permit fee. Maryland adds no statewide levy. All permit fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
| Project Type | PAI Building Permit Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open deck - under 600 sq ft | $105.00 | Flat fee; deck with roof adds a $20 occupancy fee |
| Open deck - 600 sq ft and over | $150.00 | When construction plans required; deck with roof adds a $20 occupancy fee |
| Addition/alteration - under 600 sq ft | $105.00 | Without structural changes; $160.00 with structural changes |
| Addition/alteration - 600 sq ft and over | $160.00 | Flat fee |
| Accessory structure - under 1,000 sq ft | $105.00 | Flat fee |
| Accessory structure - 1,000 sq ft and over | $160.00 | Flat fee |
| Fence - residential | $35.00 | Plus $0.05/linear ft over 250 ft; commercial $105.00 |
| Solar power system - residential | $100.00 | Flat fee |
| Fireplace / wood stove | $45.00 | Flat fee |
| Foundation only - residential | $165.00 | Commercial $275.00 |
| New one- and two-family construction (Fee Category D) | $280.00 minimum | Plus $50.00 MD Home Builders Guaranty Fund; multi-family $150/unit new |
| Permit application fee - residential | $75.00 | Listed separately; not stated whether credited toward the permit fee |
Source: Baltimore County Building Permit Fee Schedule (PAI BPP 15 Attachment A, Rev 6/30/26), effective July 1, 2026. Re-verified November 4, 2026. All fees rounded up to the nearest dollar. The schedule also lists a separate $75 residential permit application fee and does not say whether it is credited toward the permit fee, so PermitPrice shows it as an additional line.
How Baltimore County Calculates Building Permit Fees
| Step | What Happens | Baltimore County Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify the structure type | Match the project to the PAI line item. | Decks, additions, accessory structures, fences, solar, fireplaces each have a fixed fee. |
| 2. Check the size threshold | Some flat fees step up by area. | Deck/addition $105 under 600 sq ft ($160 for an addition with structural changes), higher at 600 sq ft and over; accessory $105 under 1,000 sq ft. |
| 3. New construction uses fee categories | For new buildings, apply the area-based category. | Residential one/two-family is Category D, $280 minimum plus $50 MD Home Builders Guaranty Fund. |
| 4. No value calculation | The fee does not scale with construction value. | A $5,000 deck and a $40,000 deck are both $105 (under 600 sq ft). |
| 5. No state levy or technology fee | Maryland and Baltimore County add no percentage charge. | No percentage charge applies; PermitPrice adds the separately listed $75 residential application fee as its own line. Fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar. |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Open Deck, under 600 sq ft (300 sq ft)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - open deck (under 600 sq ft) | Flat fee | $105.00 |
| Permit Application Fee (residential) | Listed separately; may be credited | $75.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Total | $105 (+ $75 if not credited) | $105.00-$180.00 |
Note: Any open deck under 600 sq ft is a flat $105 regardless of value; at 600 sq ft and over it is $150 ($150.00 to $225.00 depending on whether the $75 application fee is credited). A deck with a roof adds a $20 occupancy fee. The $75 application fee is shown as additional because the schedule does not say whether it is credited. Source: PAI schedule effective July 1, 2026.
Example 2: Room Addition, 600 sq ft and over (800 sq ft)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - addition (600 sq ft and over) | Flat fee | $160.00 |
| Permit Application Fee (residential) | Listed separately; may be credited | $75.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Total | $160 (+ $75 if not credited) | $160.00-$235.00 |
Note: An addition under 600 sq ft is $105 without structural changes or $160 with structural changes. Trade permits separate. Source: PAI schedule effective July 1, 2026.
Example 3: Residential Solar Power System
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - residential solar | Flat fee | $100.00 |
| Permit Application Fee (residential) | Listed separately; may be credited | $75.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Total | $100 (+ $75 if not credited) | $100.00-$175.00 |
Note: Residential solar (roof or ground mounted) is a flat $100 building permit fee; the $75 application fee is shown as additional because the schedule does not say whether it is credited. An electrical permit for the interconnection is separate. Source: PAI schedule effective July 1, 2026.
Example 4: New Detached House (Fee Category D)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - new one/two-family (Category D) | Area-based minimum | $280.00 |
| MD Home Builders Guaranty Fund | Flat fee (new construction) | $50.00 |
| Permit Application Fee (residential) | Listed separately; may be credited | $75.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Building Permit Total | $280 + $50 (+ $75 if not credited) | $330.00-$405.00 |
Note: $280 is the stated Category D minimum for new one- and two-family construction; the schedule lists only this $280.00 figure for Category D new construction, so confirm the fee for a larger home with PAI. Trade permits, zoning/development fees, and impact fees are separate and excluded. Source: PAI schedule effective July 1, 2026.
Practitioner Insight
Baltimore County's flat-fee model is the simplest in the Baltimore metro: a deck under 600 sq ft is $105, a fence is $35, solar is $100 - the same whether the job is small or expensive, plus a separately listed $75 application fee. That predictability is a real advantage for homeowners, but it also means the building permit fee tells you little about the total project cost, since trade permits and any zoning or development fees are billed separately.
The county replaced its 2018 schedule with a new one effective July 1, 2026, raising most flat fees (a small deck went from $85 to $105) and listing a $75 residential application fee separately. The schedule does not say whether that $75 is credited toward the permit, so we show it as an extra line - call PAI at 410-887-3900 if you need to know for your structure type. Remember, too, that all Baltimore County permit fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections
Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI)
Baltimore County Government
410-887-3900
PAI main line
baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai
Fees, forms, inspections
Online Permit, Licensing and Registration
Apply at cityworkspro.baltimorecountymd.gov
When This Estimate May Not Apply
$75 application fee treatment
The schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists a $75 residential permit application fee separately and does not say whether it is credited toward the permit fee. PermitPrice adds it as a separate line; if PAI credits it, your total would be $75 lower.
Trade permits are separate
Electrical and plumbing-gas fitting permits carry their own PAI schedules and are not included above.
Zoning, development, and impact fees
Zoning, development, and appeals fees are a separate county schedule, and impact/development fees are not part of the building permit fee.
New-construction area pricing
$280 is the residential minimum for Fee Category D (plus the $50 MD Home Builders Guaranty Fund); the actual new-construction fee can be higher for larger homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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Baltimore County PAI - Building Permit Fee Schedule (PAI BPP 15 Attachment A, Rev 6/30/26) Effective July 1, 2026 - Baltimore County, MD - Primary source for all building permit fees on this page - Re-verified November 4, 2026
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Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) Current - Department home page - contact, fees, forms, and the online permit portal.
Compare Baltimore County's flat fees against Anne Arundel County's value-based table, or see the rest of the Maryland and DMV jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Baltimore County permit cost, two related numbers complete your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted deck or addition raises your assessed value in Baltimore County. Any resulting property-tax change is handled by the assessing and taxing authorities, not by the building department.
Development and impact fees
New construction in Baltimore County can trigger development and impact fees beyond the permit. These charges are governed separately from the building permit and are excluded from the figures above.
These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →