City Building Permits

Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD - 2026 Building Permit Guide

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

Maryland Baltimore County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Catonsville is an unincorporated Baltimore County community. Building permits and inspections are county-administered rather than city- or town-administered. Thin local-facing data: the public instructions are countywide.

Department
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, Permit Processing
Address
County Office Building, 111 West Chesapeake Avenue, Room 100, Towson, Maryland 21204
Phone
410-887-3900
Website
https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai/permit-processing

Online Permit Portal

Open Cityworks PLL Portal

Platform: Cityworks PLL Portal (Baltimore County Online Permit Application) • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Open or log into a Baltimore County PLL Portal account.
  2. Choose the relevant permit type and enter owner, applicant, address, and contractor details.
  3. Upload required plans, site documents, and permit-specific forms, then submit the application.
  4. Permit Processing and related county reviewers examine the package and issue comments if revisions are needed.
  5. Applicant retrieves comments in the portal, revises documents, and resubmits.
  6. Applicant pays fees online after the county posts them to the application.
  7. Baltimore County issues the permit electronically after approvals and payment; inspections are then scheduled through the same portal.

Typical processing time: No countywide building permit processing-time estimate was posted on the general application and permit-processing pages.

Source: Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, Permit Processing

General Requirements

County permit rules cover additions, alterations, structural modifications, demolitions, change in use, floodplain work, major roof deck/sheathing replacement, commercial siding, historic-district/landmark siding work, and larger or specially located accessory structures.

Required Documents

  • Site plan
  • Construction plans
  • Signed/sealed plans where required by scope
  • Well/septic groundwater-compliant site plans if applicable
  • Permit-specific county forms
Permit validity
One year by default, with up to one additional year by extension, or a two-year permit option in some cases. Permits also lapse for noncommencement within six months or suspension/abandonment for six months.
Building code
Bill 49-24 effective September 3, 2024; 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC, IECC, and ISPSC with county amendments, plus latest NEC under county code and updated plumbing/gasfitting and floodplain provisions.
Owner-builder
County owner-builder guidance is posted through the Affirmation of Landowner form for landowners building directly on their own property for their own use.
Contractor requirements
Licensed electricians and plumbers must obtain those trade permits; residential alteration/addition work by a private contractor requires a Maryland Home Improvement License number; county code also requires licensed supervision for trade and building-contractor work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
No single minimum applies to every county permit; the building fee schedule shows several category minimums
Plan check fee
Generally $85 to $130 for listed residential plan-review items, with preliminary review at $54 per half hour
Permit fee formula
Square-foot and occupancy-based for many building permits, plus flat-fee and unit-based charges for many other permit classes
Penalty (no permit)
Investigation fee may be charged when work starts without a permit; revision and ownership-change fees are posted
Payment note
Pay online by credit card or PayPal; county FAQ specifically lists Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026-03).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Detached one-story accessory structures and similar uses not over 120 square feet outside floodplain, critical area, and county historic/landmark constraints
  • Very low deck work within the county's deck-height exemption
  • Flag poles and bases
  • Retaining walls under 3 feet
  • Certain sidewalks and driveways
  • Finish work such as painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, and countertops
  • Small prefabricated pools under the county thresholds
  • Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
  • Qualifying nonstructural alterations that do not involve kitchens or basement sleeping areas
  • Replacement of existing deck boards/nailers without changing deck size
  • Two layers of shingles on a roof, as specifically noted on the county roofing page

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Inspection Division before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • PLL Portal (online)
  • 410-887-3953 (estimated times: 7:30–8:00 AM) (phone)
Scheduling deadline
Requests must be submitted by 2 p.m. the prior business day; estimate by morning phone call; same-day cancel/reschedule after the 6 a.m. deadline by phone.
Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Countywide public guidance does not publish a single universal sequence, but typical building projects move through foundation/footing, framing and trade rough-in inspections, then final approval as applicable.

Additional Resources

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Catonsville, Baltimore County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD?
County permit rules cover additions, alterations, structural modifications, demolitions, change in use, floodplain work, major roof deck/sheathing replacement, commercial siding, historic-district/landmark siding work, and larger or specially located accessory structures.
How much does a building permit cost in Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD?
The minimum permit fee is No single minimum applies to every county permit; the building fee schedule shows several category minimums. Fees are calculated as: Square-foot and occupancy-based for many building permits, plus flat-fee and unit-based charges for many other permit classes. Plan check fee: Generally $85 to $130 for listed residential plan-review items, with preliminary review at $54 per half hour.
How do I apply for a building permit in Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD?
1. Open or log into a Baltimore County PLL Portal account. 2. Choose the relevant permit type and enter owner, applicant, address, and contractor details. 3. Upload required plans, site documents, and permit-specific forms, then submit the application. 4. Permit Processing and related county reviewers examine the package and issue comments if revisions are needed. 5. Applicant retrieves comments in the portal, revises documents, and resubmits. 6. Applicant pays fees online after the county posts them to the application. 7. Baltimore County issues the permit electronically after approvals and payment; inspections are then scheduled through the same portal.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD?
Typical processing time is No countywide building permit processing-time estimate was posted on the general application and permit-processing pages..
What work is exempt from building permits in Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD?
The following work is generally exempt: Detached one-story accessory structures and similar uses not over 120 square feet outside floodplain, critical area, and county historic/landmark constraints; Very low deck work within the county's deck-height exemption; Flag poles and bases; Retaining walls under 3 feet; Certain sidewalks and driveways; Finish work such as painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, and countertops; Small prefabricated pools under the county thresholds; Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings; Qualifying nonstructural alterations that do not involve kitchens or basement sleeping areas; Replacement of existing deck boards/nailers without changing deck size; Two layers of shingles on a roof, as specifically noted on the county roofing page. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Inspection Division before proceeding.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Catonsville, Baltimore County, MD?
Inspections can be scheduled via: PLL Portal, 410-887-3953 (estimated times: 7:30–8:00 AM). Requests must be submitted by 2 p.m. the prior business day; estimate by morning phone call; same-day cancel/reschedule after the 6 a.m. deadline by phone..

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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