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§ MD Howard County
County building permits

Unincorporated Howard County

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

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits

Street address
3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone
410-313-2455
Email
permits@howardcountymd.gov
Coverage
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.
Online portal
Accela Citizen Access
Accela Citizen Access
Website
Department website
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Howard County

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.

Retaining walls 3 feet or less in height
Some very small accessory structures may be outside the listed permit fee categories
  • Exempt Retaining walls 3 feet or less in height
  • Exempt 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.

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
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.
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.
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.

Source: Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits ↗

§ 03

Application process

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

  1. 01
    Determine permit need and any parallel approvals such as zoning, health, grading, floodplain, or historic review.
  2. 02
    Create an Accela Citizen Access account. Licensed professionals must complete Howard County online registration so their license can be linked to the account.
  3. 03
    Submit the permit application electronically in Accela with the required forms, plot plan or site plan, contractor information, and supporting documents.
  4. 04
    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. 05
    Respond to plan review comments, resubmit revisions in ProjectDox, and pay invoiced fees in Accela.
  6. 06
    After approvals, Howard County issues the permit electronically and emails a PDF copy.
  7. 07
    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 ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2026

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$50 for listed small residential alteration permits; add applicable filing fee where required
02
Plan check fee
No separate general plan-check line published on the building fee schedule
03
Permit fee formula
Flat and square-foot based county schedule
04
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

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 periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2026) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
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 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.

Source: Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Howard County permits

01 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.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Howard County, MD? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Howard County, MD are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. 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.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, MD? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, MD, follow these steps: 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.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, MD? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Howard County, MD typically run No single countywide estimate published for all building permits.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Howard County, MD? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit 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. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Howard County, MD? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Howard County, MD via: Accela Citizen Access, IVR at 410-313-3800, SelecTXT to 888-297-9841.
last verified April 2026 source Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits ↗ entry id permits/maryland/howard/unincorporated
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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