City Building Permits

Town of North Beach, MD - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of North Beach, Maryland. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Maryland Calvert County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

North Beach is an incorporated town on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, located immediately north of Chesapeake Beach. Like Chesapeake Beach, North Beach has a two-step permitting process: town pre-approval is required before submitting to Calvert County for building permit issuance. Unlike Chesapeake Beach, the official county guidance explicitly states that permits for the Town of North Beach do NOT require Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning review -- the town handles that review layer independently. The county still issues the final building, electrical, grading, and Use & Occupancy permits. North Beach's proximity to the Chesapeake Bay means Critical Area regulations apply broadly across the town.

Department
Town of North Beach (town-level zoning/pre-approval); Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning, Division of Inspections & Permits (building permit issuance)
Address
Town of North Beach, 8916 Chesapeake Avenue, P.O. Box 99, North Beach, MD 20714; Calvert County Inspections & Permits, 150 Main Street, Floor 3, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone
(301) 855-6681 or (410) 257-9618 (Town); 410-535-2155 (County)
Website
https://www.northbeachmd.gov

Online Permit Portal

Open Encompass Online Portal (County)

Platform: Town uses in-person/paper-based process at Town Hall; County uses Encompass for building permit issuance • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Contact the Town of North Beach Town Hall and the Zoning Administrator (Rick Crump) to determine what work is proposed, whether it is permitted under town zoning, and what pre-approvals are needed.
  2. Obtain required town pre-approvals. The Town's Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations on zoning map amendments, Site Plan approvals (Category 1), and subdivision plats. Projects may also require review by the Code Enforcement Officer (Building Inspector) at the town level.
  3. After town pre-approval is obtained, submit the Calvert County building permit application to the county. Applications may be submitted online through Encompass, in person at 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, by drop box, or by mail.
  4. The county processes the building permit application. Note: Calvert County Planning & Zoning review is NOT required for North Beach permits -- the town's pre-approval replaces that layer.
  5. Pay county permit fees and receive the issued permit.
  6. Plumbing and electrical permit applications (signed by licensed master tradespersons) must be submitted after the building permit is approved.
  7. Schedule and complete all required county building, electrical, plumbing, and grading inspections through Encompass or by calling 410-535-2155. Inspection requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day scheduling.
  8. Obtain Certificate of Occupancy / Use and Occupancy permit from the county before occupying any new structure or opening a commercial business.

Typical processing time: Town pre-approval timeline depends on project complexity and whether Planning Commission review is required. County processing follows standard county timelines. No published county-wide universal turnaround time.

Source: Town of North Beach (town-level zoning/pre-approval); Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning, Division of Inspections & Permits (building permit issuance)

General Requirements

Permits must be obtained for any work required by the applicable building codes (historically BOCA Codes referenced in town code), except painting. No work shall begin until a permit has been obtained. Town zoning pre-approval is required before county permit application.

Required Documents

  • Town pre-approval documents as required by the Code Enforcement Officer and Town Zoning Administrator
  • Calvert County permit application forms with required plans
  • Plot Plan and supporting documents as required by work type
Permit validity
County permit expiration rules apply: permits expire 2 years after issuance unless under continuous construction.
Building code
Calvert County building codes apply at the county permit step (2018 IBC and 2018 IRC as locally adopted; confirm current edition). Town Code references BOCA Codes as the adopted construction standards; confirm current status with the Town directly at (301) 855-6681. North Beach construction standards are at https://ecode360.com/9917968.
Owner-builder
The county owner-builder exemption applies at the county permit issuance step. Property owners may construct their own dwelling on their own property without a county building contractor's license, provided proper permits are obtained. Town pre-approval step may involve town-specific review requirements regardless of owner-builder status.
Contractor requirements
Same as unincorporated county: Calvert County building contractor's license and Maryland Home Builder registration required for contractors. Trade work requires Calvert County licensed master electricians (electrical) and master plumbers (plumbing/gas). Maryland MHIC license required for home improvement contractors for work over $100 on residential property.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
Town fees: contact the Town directly at (301) 855-6681 for current town-level fees. County residential building permit: $0.12 per square foot of finished floor area plus $25.00 application processing fee.
Permit fee formula
County: $0.12 per square foot of finished floor area (residential); valuation-based for commercial
Trade permit fee
County: $25.00 application processing fee (residential) or $100.00 (commercial), effective November 3, 2025
Payment note
Town fees paid to Town of North Beach at Town Hall. County fees paid through Encompass or in person at the Prince Frederick office. County payment convenience fees: 2.7% for credit card; $2.25 flat fee for eCheck. Total permit cost involves both layers.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Painting is explicitly exempt under the town code's permit requirements
  • County building permit exemptions apply at the county permit step (accessory structures under 200 square feet outside Critical Area, non-earthwork shed placement, fences, small grading activities under 5,000 sf / 100 cy)

Important: North Beach's location on the Chesapeake Bay means Critical Area regulations apply broadly across the town. All structures within the Critical Area require permits regardless of size. Permits are also required in the Critical Area for grading, cutting or clearing vegetation, and shore erosion control measures. The standard permit exemptions (accessory structures, fences, small grading) do NOT apply in the Critical Area. Verify with the Town Zoning Administrator what work requires town pre-approval even if county building permits are not required.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Scheduling deadline
County inspection requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day scheduling. Town Hall hours for contact: contact directly at (301) 855-6681.
Inspection hours
County: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Town: Contact directly.

Typical inspection sequence: County inspection sequence (footing, foundation, foundation location survey, framing, wall, final); Certificate of Occupancy required before occupancy. Town Code Enforcement Officer may inspect work at the town level. Approved plans and permit must be on site at all times.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town of North Beach (town-level zoning/pre-approval); Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning, Division of Inspections & Permits (building permit issuance) before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Town of North Beach Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Town of North Beach, MD?
Permits must be obtained for any work required by the applicable building codes (historically BOCA Codes referenced in town code), except painting. No work shall begin until a permit has been obtained. Town zoning pre-approval is required before county permit application.
How much does a building permit cost in Town of North Beach, MD?
The minimum permit fee is Town fees: contact the Town directly at (301) 855-6681 for current town-level fees. County residential building permit: $0.12 per square foot of finished floor area plus $25.00 application processing fee.. Fees are calculated as: County: $0.12 per square foot of finished floor area (residential); valuation-based for commercial.
How do I apply for a building permit in Town of North Beach, MD?
1. Contact the Town of North Beach Town Hall and the Zoning Administrator (Rick Crump) to determine what work is proposed, whether it is permitted under town zoning, and what pre-approvals are needed. 2. Obtain required town pre-approvals. The Town's Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations on zoning map amendments, Site Plan approvals (Category 1), and subdivision plats. Projects may also require review by the Code Enforcement Officer (Building Inspector) at the town level. 3. After town pre-approval is obtained, submit the Calvert County building permit application to the county. Applications may be submitted online through Encompass, in person at 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, by drop box, or by mail. 4. The county processes the building permit application. Note: Calvert County Planning & Zoning review is NOT required for North Beach permits -- the town's pre-approval replaces that layer. 5. Pay county permit fees and receive the issued permit. 6. Plumbing and electrical permit applications (signed by licensed master tradespersons) must be submitted after the building permit is approved. 7. Schedule and complete all required county building, electrical, plumbing, and grading inspections through Encompass or by calling 410-535-2155. Inspection requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day scheduling. 8. Obtain Certificate of Occupancy / Use and Occupancy permit from the county before occupying any new structure or opening a commercial business.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Town of North Beach, MD?
Typical processing time is Town pre-approval timeline depends on project complexity and whether Planning Commission review is required. County processing follows standard county timelines. No published county-wide universal turnaround time..
What work is exempt from building permits in Town of North Beach, MD?
The following work is generally exempt: Painting is explicitly exempt under the town code's permit requirements; County building permit exemptions apply at the county permit step (accessory structures under 200 square feet outside Critical Area, non-earthwork shed placement, fences, small grading activities under 5,000 sf / 100 cy). Note: North Beach's location on the Chesapeake Bay means Critical Area regulations apply broadly across the town. All structures within the Critical Area require permits regardless of size. Permits are also required in the Critical Area for grading, cutting or clearing vegetation, and shore erosion control measures. The standard permit exemptions (accessory structures, fences, small grading) do NOT apply in the Critical Area. Verify with the Town Zoning Administrator what work requires town pre-approval even if county building permits are not required.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of North Beach, MD?
Inspections can be scheduled via: Encompass Portal (County), 410-535-2155 (County), (301) 855-6681 (Town). County inspection requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day scheduling. Town Hall hours for contact: contact directly at (301) 855-6681..

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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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