Howard County, MD - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Howard County is the primary building permit authority for unincorporated county areas, including communities such as Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, and Savage. Separate county zoning, historic, floodplain, grading, stormwater, health, and right-of-way reviews may still apply depending on site conditions.

Department

Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits

Address

3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Phone

410-313-2455

Email

permits@howardcountymd.gov

Website

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/inspections-licenses-permits

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine permit need and any parallel approvals such as zoning, health, grading, floodplain, or historic review.
2. Create an Accela Citizen Access account. Licensed professionals must complete Howard County online registration so their license can be linked to the account.
3. Submit the permit application electronically in Accela with the required forms, plot plan or site plan, contractor information, and supporting documents.
4. After completeness review, Howard County creates a ProjectDox case when drawing review is required and emails the primary contact to upload plan sets there.
5. Respond to plan review comments, resubmit revisions in ProjectDox, and pay invoiced fees in Accela.
6. After approvals, Howard County issues the permit electronically and emails a PDF copy.
7. Schedule inspections through Accela, the county IVR system, or the SelecTXT system until all required finals pass.

Typical processing time: No single countywide estimate published for all building permits.

Source: Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits

General Requirements

Howard County requires permits for new construction, additions, many alterations and repairs, demolition, pools, solar, larger accessory structures, and trade work. The county also coordinates related reviews for zoning, floodplain, health, water and sewer, and sediment control where applicable.

Required Documents

• Application in Accela
• Plot plan or site-specific plot plan
• Contractor information letter and license copy if applicable
• Signed and sealed drawings uploaded to ProjectDox when required
• Energy documents
• Site Development Plan (SDP) materials where applicable
• County-required affidavits or health-related documents for specific permit types

Permit validity

The fee schedule allows extensions at $50 per 90 days, not to exceed 1 year total. Separate county expiration policies may apply to certain permit classes and application stages.

Building code

2024 IBC, IRC, IMC, IECC, IPC, and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code effective September 7, 2025; 2023 NEC effective June 3, 2024.

Owner-builder

Homeowners of one- and two-family dwellings may act as their own general contractor for alterations and additions if the property is their primary residence.

Contractor requirements

Howard County requires online registration for licensed professionals. For non-owner-occupied or non-primary-residence residential work, the county says Maryland HIC or Home Builder licensing is required as applicable. Trade permits require properly licensed contractors.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50 for listed small residential alteration permits; add applicable filing fee where required

Plan check fee

No separate general plan-check line published on the building fee schedule

Permit fee formula

Flat and square-foot based county schedule

Reinspection fee

$100 after 2 failures, $125 after 3, $175 after 4 or more; $100 for work commenced without permit; $50 permit-transfer fee; $50 per 90-day extension

Payment note

Filing fees are nonrefundable. Some permit categories pay full fees at application, while others are invoiced after plan approval. Howard County began passing credit card and ACH merchant services fees to customers on February 1, 2025.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Accela Citizen Access (online)
• IVR at 410-313-3800 (phone)
• SelecTXT to 888-297-9841 (text)

Inspection hours

IVR and text systems are available 24 hours a day

Time windows

Call 410-313-1823 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the inspection date for a 2-hour window

Typical inspection sequence: Common county building sequence includes footings, foundation, slab or draintile, framing, insulation, final building, and associated trade finals. Additional grading, stormwater, or fire inspections may be required by scope.

Commercial fire system tests require advance coordination with the fire protection inspector.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2024 IBC, IRC, IMC, IECC, IPC, and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code effective September 7, 2025; 2023 NEC effective June 3, 2024.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Resident Resources
• Adopted Codes
• Historic Planning
• FEMA Flood Maps
• Flood Protection
• License lookup guide: Maryland Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Maryland Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Maryland hub: Maryland Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Howard County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, MD?

Howard County requires permits for new construction, additions, many alterations and repairs, demolition, pools, solar, larger accessory structures, and trade work. The county also coordinates related reviews for zoning, floodplain, health, water and sewer, and sediment control where applicable.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Howard County, MD?

The minimum permit fee is $50 for listed small residential alteration permits; add applicable filing fee where required. Fees are calculated as: Flat and square-foot based county schedule. Plan check fee: No separate general plan-check line published on the building fee schedule.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, MD?

1. Determine permit need and any parallel approvals such as zoning, health, grading, floodplain, or historic review. 2. Create an Accela Citizen Access account. Licensed professionals must complete Howard County online registration so their license can be linked to the account. 3. Submit the permit application electronically in Accela with the required forms, plot plan or site plan, contractor information, and supporting documents. 4. After completeness review, Howard County creates a ProjectDox case when drawing review is required and emails the primary contact to upload plan sets there. 5. Respond to plan review comments, resubmit revisions in ProjectDox, and pay invoiced fees in Accela. 6. After approvals, Howard County issues the permit electronically and emails a PDF copy. 7. Schedule inspections through Accela, the county IVR system, or the SelecTXT system until all required finals pass.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, MD?

Typical processing time is No single countywide estimate published for all building permits..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Howard County, MD?

The following work is generally exempt: Retaining walls 3 feet or less in height; Some very small accessory structures may be outside the listed permit fee categories. Note: County zoning or grading rules may still apply even to work that might appear minor. County public exemption guidance is incomplete; applicants should confirm with DILP before assuming work is exempt.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Howard County, MD?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Accela Citizen Access, IVR at 410-313-3800, SelecTXT to 888-297-9841.