Crofton, MD — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits

Street address

Permit Center, 2664 Riva Road, Heritage Office Complex, Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone

410-222-7730

ipmailbox@aacounty.org

Coverage

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.

Online portal

Land Use Navigator (LUN)

Land Use Navigator

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Crofton

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

Scope of work

Permit?

Residential patios, though grading approvals may still be needed

Exempt

Detached small decks outside Critical Area and bog constraints

Exempt

Small gazebos outside the Critical Area

Exempt

Shingle-only reroofing

Exempt

Solar removal

Exempt

In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though still requiring an electrical permit

Exempt

Small sheds outside the Critical Area

Exempt

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

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

Building code: Anne Arundel County adopted code package, effective June 23, 2024.
Permit validity: County permits expire if no work is commenced within 1 year after issuance.
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.

Source: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 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.

01

Determine permit needs using the county work-type lookup and confirm whether the property is also subject to Crofton community covenants.
02

Review zoning, site, utility, Critical Area, grading, and right-of-way conditions for the parcel.
03

Create a Land Use Navigator (LUN) account and choose the correct county permit record type.
04

Upload required PDFs and submit the application through the LUN cart.
05

Track comments and approximate review milestones in LUN; submit revisions if reviewers request changes.
06

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.
07

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2026

Fee type

Amount

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

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 periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2026) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

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

Source: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Crofton permits

01 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.

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

Building permit fees in Crofton, MD are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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.

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

To apply for a building permit in Crofton, MD, follow these steps: 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.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Crofton, MD? ▸

Building permit processing times in Crofton, MD typically run 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.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

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

Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

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

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Crofton, MD via: Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal, County inspection phone line.

last verified April 2026 source Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits ↗ entry id permits/maryland/anne-arundel/crofton

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Crofton

Other jurisdictions in Anne Arundel County.