Severna Park, 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

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.

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 Severna Park

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.

Scope of work

Permit?

Residential patios, subject to possible grading review

Exempt

Detached decks less than 200 square feet and under 3 feet high if outside the Critical Area and Bog Contribution Drainage Area

Exempt

Small gazebos up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area

Exempt

Shingle-only roof replacement

Exempt

Solar panel removal

Exempt

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

Exempt

Small sheds up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area

Exempt

Exempt Residential patios, subject to possible grading review
Exempt Detached decks less than 200 square feet and under 3 feet high if outside the Critical Area and Bog Contribution Drainage Area
Exempt Small gazebos up to 150 square feet and 10 feet high outside the Critical Area
Exempt Shingle-only roof replacement
Exempt Solar panel removal
Exempt In-kind solar removal and reinstallation without a building permit, though an electrical permit is still required
Exempt 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.

Required documents

Record-type-specific PDF uploads
Plans and site plans
Applications and supporting documents
Grading or environmental worksheets where relevant

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.
Permit validity: Expires if no work is commenced within 1 year after issuance.
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.

Source: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: 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.

01

Check the specific project type in the county 'Do I Need a Permit?' tool.
02

Review property constraints such as zoning, Critical Area location, floodplain status, bog maps, utility conditions, and any right-of-way issues.
03

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

Enter contact data, complete application fields, and upload all required PDF documents.
05

Submit through the LUN cart and obtain the county record number.
06

Monitor review comments and processing status in LUN, then respond with revisions as needed.
07

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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2026

Fee type

Amount

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

County directs applicants to price the job by completing the LUN application; online filing is now the default for most new submissions

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)
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 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

Source: Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and Permits ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Severna Park permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Severna Park, MD? ▸

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

Building permit fees in Severna Park, 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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Severna Park, MD via: Land Use Navigator (LUN) portal, 410-222-7784.

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

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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.

Severna Park

Other jurisdictions in Anne Arundel County.