City Building Permits
Severna Park, MD - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Severna Park, Maryland. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Severna Park is an unincorporated community. No separate municipal permitting office was identified in official sources, so building permits are county-administered. Because Severna Park includes many waterfront and near-water properties, Critical Area, floodplain, shoreline, and grading review can materially affect permitting.
- 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
- ipmailbox@aacounty.org
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Land Use Navigator • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Check the specific project type in the county 'Do I Need a Permit?' tool.
- Review property constraints such as zoning, Critical Area location, floodplain status, bog maps, utility conditions, and any right-of-way issues.
- Create a Land Use Navigator (LUN) account and select the correct county record type.
- Enter contact data, complete application fields, and upload all required PDF documents.
- Submit through the LUN cart and obtain the county record number.
- Monitor review comments and processing status in LUN, then respond with revisions as needed.
- Once the permit is issued, schedule required inspections and complete all finals before closeout.
Typical processing time: The county does not post a universal turnaround for all permit classes. LUN displays an approximate due date in the review-status view after intake.
Source: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits
General Requirements
Permit requirements are driven by work scope under county rules. Structural work, additions, most accessory structures, pools, fireplaces, waterproofing, many shoreline improvements, and most commercial alterations require permits.
Required Documents
- Record-type-specific PDF uploads
- Plans and site plans
- Applications and supporting documents
- Grading or environmental worksheets where relevant
- Permit validity
- Expires if no work is commenced within 1 year after issuance.
- Building code
- Anne Arundel County adopted code package, effective June 23, 2024: 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IMC, 2020 NEC, 2021 IPC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 ISPSC, 2018 NFPA 1, and 2018 NFPA 101.
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners may apply for ordinary repairs or construction on their owner-occupied dwelling. New-home owner-builders may use a Landowner Affidavit for the Home Builder Guaranty Fund exception.
- Contractor requirements
- County-licensed mechanical, plumbing, and electrical tradesmen are required for their respective trade permits. State licensing and registration still interact with county intake.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $86 minimum building permit fee plus $43 nonrefundable building application fee
- Plan check fee
- No separate general county plan-check line stated on the main permit-fees page
- Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based county schedule, topping at $242 plus 0.010 times estimated cost above $25,000 for general building permits
- Reinspection fee
- $150 reinspection fee for inaccessible or uncanceled inspections
- Payment note
- County directs applicants to price the job by completing the LUN application; online filing is now the default for most new submissions
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Residential patios, subject to possible grading review
- Detached decks less than 200 square feet and under 3 feet high if outside the Critical Area and Bog Contribution Drainage Area
- Small gazebos up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area
- Shingle-only roof replacement
- Solar panel removal
- In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though an electrical permit is still required
- Small sheds up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Department of Inspections and Permits before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal (online)
- 410-222-7784 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Time windows
- Blue-date scheduling in LUN with all-day availability where slots remain
Typical inspection sequence: Active permit for 24 hours before first inspection; associated trade finals before final building inspection; Fire Marshal final first for commercial and tenant-improvement work
Additional Resources
- Building code: Anne Arundel County adopted code package, effective June 23, 2024: 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IMC, 2020 NEC, 2021 IPC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 ISPSC, 2018 NFPA 1, and 2018 NFPA 101.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Planning and Zoning FAQs
- Planning Information and Maps
- 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
Severna Park Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Severna Park, MD?
- Permit requirements are driven by work scope under county rules. Structural work, additions, most accessory structures, pools, fireplaces, waterproofing, many shoreline improvements, and most commercial alterations require permits.
- How much does a building permit cost in Severna Park, MD?
- The minimum permit fee is $86 minimum building permit fee plus $43 nonrefundable building application fee. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based county schedule, topping at $242 plus 0.010 times estimated cost above $25,000 for general building permits. Plan check fee: No separate general county plan-check line stated on the main permit-fees page.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Severna Park, MD?
- 1. Check the specific project type in the county 'Do I Need a Permit?' tool. 2. Review property constraints such as zoning, Critical Area location, floodplain status, bog maps, utility conditions, and any right-of-way issues. 3. Create a Land Use Navigator (LUN) account and select the correct county record type. 4. Enter contact data, complete application fields, and upload all required PDF documents. 5. Submit through the LUN cart and obtain the county record number. 6. Monitor review comments and processing status in LUN, then respond with revisions as needed. 7. Once the permit is issued, schedule required inspections and complete all finals before closeout.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Severna Park, MD?
- Typical processing time is The county does not post a universal turnaround for all permit classes. LUN displays an approximate due date in the review-status view after intake..
- What work is exempt from building permits in Severna Park, MD?
- The following work is generally exempt: Residential patios, subject to possible grading review; Detached decks less than 200 square feet and under 3 feet high if outside the Critical Area and Bog Contribution Drainage Area; Small gazebos up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area; Shingle-only roof replacement; Solar panel removal; In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though an electrical permit is still required; Small sheds up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Department of Inspections and Permits before proceeding.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Severna Park, MD?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal, 410-222-7784.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Severna Park can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector worksOther cities in Anne Arundel County
View all Anne Arundel County jurisdictions →