How much does a building permit cost in Crofton, MD?

The minimum permit fee is $86 minimum building permit fee plus $43 application fee. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based county schedule. Plan check fee: No separate general plan-check line stated on the county permit-fees page.

How do I apply for a building permit in Crofton, MD?

1. Determine permit needs using the county work-type lookup and confirm whether the property is also subject to Crofton community covenants. 2. Review zoning, site, utility, Critical Area, grading, and right-of-way conditions for the parcel. 3. Create a Land Use Navigator (LUN) account and choose the correct county permit record type. 4. Upload required PDFs and submit the application through the LUN cart. 5. Track comments and approximate review milestones in LUN; submit revisions if reviewers request changes. 6. If the project is within the Crofton Special Community Benefit District and subject to covenants, separately contact Crofton Town Hall or Covenant Review Committee for home-improvement review information. 7. After county permit issuance, schedule and pass required inspections.

What work is exempt from building permits in Crofton, MD?

The following work is generally exempt: Residential patios, though grading approvals may still be needed; Detached small decks outside Critical Area and bog constraints; Small gazebos outside the Critical Area; Shingle-only reroofing; Solar removal; In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though still requiring an electrical permit; Small sheds outside the Critical Area. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements or from Crofton covenant review. Confirm edge cases with the Department of Inspections and Permits before proceeding.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Crofton, MD?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal, County inspection phone line.

City Building Permits

Crofton, MD - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Crofton, Maryland. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Maryland Anne Arundel County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Building permits are county-administered. Crofton is not a municipality with its own building department; official Crofton sources describe it as a Special Community Benefit District in Anne Arundel County. Separate private community covenant review may apply for home-improvement projects inside the Crofton Special Community Benefit District.

Department: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits
Address: Permit Center, 2664 Riva Road, Heritage Office Complex, Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-222-7730
Email: ipmailbox@aacounty.org
Website: https://www.aacounty.org/inspections-and-permits/permits

Online Permit Portal

Open Land Use Navigator (LUN)

Platform: Land Use Navigator • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Determine permit needs using the county work-type lookup and confirm whether the property is also subject to Crofton community covenants.
Review zoning, site, utility, Critical Area, grading, and right-of-way conditions for the parcel.
Create a Land Use Navigator (LUN) account and choose the correct county permit record type.
Upload required PDFs and submit the application through the LUN cart.
Track comments and approximate review milestones in LUN; submit revisions if reviewers request changes.
If the project is within the Crofton Special Community Benefit District and subject to covenants, separately contact Crofton Town Hall or Covenant Review Committee for home-improvement review information.
After county permit issuance, schedule and pass required inspections.

Typical processing time: Anne Arundel County does not publish one universal timeline. LUN shows an approximate due date during review. Crofton covenant-review timing is not clearly published on the public site.

Source: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits

General Requirements

County rules control building-permit triggers. Most structural work, additions, accessory structures, pools, fireplaces, waterproofing, and many commercial or shoreline projects require permits.

Required Documents

County record-type PDF uploads
Plans and site plans
County worksheets and supporting documents
A separate Crofton covenant submission may be needed for exterior changes in covenant-controlled neighborhoods

Permit validity: County permits expire if no work is commenced within 1 year after issuance.
Building code: Anne Arundel County adopted code package, effective June 23, 2024.
Owner-builder: County allows homeowners to apply for ordinary repairs or construction on their owner-occupied dwellings. New-home owner-builders may use a Landowner Affidavit for the Guaranty Fund exception.
Contractor requirements: County-licensed tradesmen are required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. State licensing still applies.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: $86 minimum building permit fee plus $43 application fee
Plan check fee: No separate general plan-check line stated on the county permit-fees page
Permit fee formula: Valuation-based county schedule
Reinspection fee: $150 per inaccessible or uncanceled scheduled inspection
Payment note: County prices work through the LUN application. Crofton community covenant review, if applicable, is separate from county permit fees and is not clearly published as a standard building-permit fee schedule.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Residential patios, though grading approvals may still be needed
Detached small decks outside Critical Area and bog constraints
Small gazebos outside the Critical Area
Shingle-only reroofing
Solar removal
In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though still requiring an electrical permit
Small sheds outside the Critical Area

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements or from Crofton covenant review. Confirm edge cases with the Department of Inspections and Permits before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal (online)
County inspection phone line (phone)

Inspection hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Time windows: LUN uses available blue dates; phone dispatcher hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Typical inspection sequence: County sequence by permit scope, with trade finals before final building inspection

Additional Resources

Building code: Anne Arundel County adopted code package, effective June 23, 2024.
Zoning information: View zoning info
Crofton Community Contact
Crofton Special Community Benefit District
Planning and Zoning FAQs
License lookup guide: Maryland Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: Maryland Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
Maryland hub: Maryland Contractor License & Permit Hub

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Crofton Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Crofton, MD?: County rules control building-permit triggers. Most structural work, additions, accessory structures, pools, fireplaces, waterproofing, and many commercial or shoreline projects require permits.
How much does a building permit cost in Crofton, MD?: The minimum permit fee is $86 minimum building permit fee plus $43 application fee. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based county schedule. Plan check fee: No separate general plan-check line stated on the county permit-fees page.
How do I apply for a building permit in Crofton, MD?: 1. Determine permit needs using the county work-type lookup and confirm whether the property is also subject to Crofton community covenants. 2. Review zoning, site, utility, Critical Area, grading, and right-of-way conditions for the parcel. 3. Create a Land Use Navigator (LUN) account and choose the correct county permit record type. 4. Upload required PDFs and submit the application through the LUN cart. 5. Track comments and approximate review milestones in LUN; submit revisions if reviewers request changes. 6. If the project is within the Crofton Special Community Benefit District and subject to covenants, separately contact Crofton Town Hall or Covenant Review Committee for home-improvement review information. 7. After county permit issuance, schedule and pass required inspections.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Crofton, MD?: Typical processing time is Anne Arundel County does not publish one universal timeline. LUN shows an approximate due date during review. Crofton covenant-review timing is not clearly published on the public site..
What work is exempt from building permits in Crofton, MD?: The following work is generally exempt: Residential patios, though grading approvals may still be needed; Detached small decks outside Critical Area and bog constraints; Small gazebos outside the Critical Area; Shingle-only reroofing; Solar removal; In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though still requiring an electrical permit; Small sheds outside the Critical Area. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements or from Crofton covenant review. Confirm edge cases with the Department of Inspections and Permits before proceeding.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Crofton, MD?: Inspections can be scheduled via: Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal, County inspection phone line.

Need help with your project?

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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