Anne Arundel County vs Baltimore County, MD Building Permit Fees (2026)
These two Baltimore-area counties price building permits in opposite ways. Anne Arundel County uses a value-based tiered table - the more your project is worth, the higher the fee - plus a $43 application fee on every permit. Baltimore County charges flat fees by structure type and size, the same whether a deck costs $5,000 or $40,000. As project value rises, the two schedules diverge sharply. Maryland adds no statewide levy to either.
For a $15,000 deck, Anne Arundel County charges $207 ($164 value-based tier + $43 application fee) while Baltimore County charges a flat $85 - Anne Arundel is about 2.4 times higher. For a $50,000 addition, Anne Arundel is $535 ($492 + $43) versus Baltimore County's flat $85. The higher the project value, the wider the gap, because Anne Arundel scales with value and Baltimore County does not. Note that Baltimore County's published fee schedule is dated 2018.
- Anne Arundel County is value-based: $86 minimum up to $242, then $242 + 1% of value above $25,000, plus a $43 application fee.
- Baltimore County is flat by structure type: deck $85, addition $85 (up to 600 sq ft), fence $25, solar $79.
- A $15,000 deck: $207 in Anne Arundel vs $85 in Baltimore County.
- A $50,000 addition: $535 in Anne Arundel vs $85 in Baltimore County.
- The gap widens as project value rises, since only Anne Arundel scales with value.
- Neither county adds a Maryland state levy; Baltimore County's published schedule carries a 2018 printed date (verify current).
Anne Arundel vs Baltimore County: Fee Structure Side by Side
| Fee Element | Anne Arundel County | Baltimore County (PAI) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing basis | Value-based tiered table | Flat fee by structure type and size |
| Deck | Value tier (e.g., $164 at $15k) | $85 (≤600 sq ft) / $119 (over) |
| Addition | Value tier ($242 + 1% above $25k) | $85 (≤600 sq ft) / $130 (over or 2nd floor) |
| Fence | Value-based building permit | $25 residential |
| Solar | Value-based building permit | $79 residential |
| Application / add-on fee | $43 non-refundable per permit | None (flat fee only) |
| Minimum | $86 | $231 minimum for new SF construction |
| State levy | None (Maryland) | None (Maryland) |
| Fee schedule effective | October 1, 2024 | Printed November 26, 2018 (verify current) |
Shared-Assumption Worked Examples
Each example assumes the same project and, for Anne Arundel, the same declared value.
Example 1: Deck, $15,000 declared value, under 600 sq ft
| Fee Component | Anne Arundel County | Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $164.00 ($10,001-$15,000 tier) | $85.00 (flat, ≤600 sq ft) |
| Application fee | $43.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $207.00 | $85.00 |
Note: Same deck. Anne Arundel's value tier plus $43 application fee is about 2.4x Baltimore County's flat $85. Baltimore County's fee ignores value entirely.
Example 2: Room Addition, $50,000 declared value, under 600 sq ft
| Fee Component | Anne Arundel County | Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $242 + 1% of $25,000 = $492.00 | $85.00 (flat, ≤600 sq ft) |
| Application fee | $43.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $535.00 | $85.00 |
Note: At $50,000 value, Anne Arundel's 1% marginal rate above $25,000 pushes the fee to $535 while Baltimore County stays flat at $85. The higher the value, the wider the gap.
Example 3: Residential Solar Power System
| Fee Component | Anne Arundel County | Baltimore County |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Value-based (minimum $86 for a low-value system) | $79.00 (flat residential solar) |
| Application fee | $43.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $129.00 (at $86 minimum) | $79.00 |
Note: For a typical residential solar system Anne Arundel applies the value-based minimum ($86) plus the $43 application fee; Baltimore County charges a flat $79. Electrical interconnection permits are separate in both. Anne Arundel total assumes the $86 minimum tier.
Which County Is Cheaper for Your Project?
| Scenario | Lower Fee | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low-value project (deck, small job) | Baltimore County ($85 vs $207) | Flat fee ignores value; Anne Arundel adds a tier fee + $43 |
| High-value project (large addition/remodel) | Baltimore County ($85 vs $535+) | Anne Arundel's 1% marginal rate above $25k climbs; Baltimore stays flat |
| New single-family home | Depends | Baltimore $231 minimum (area-based) vs Anne Arundel value-based (often higher on expensive homes) |
| Predictable budgeting | Baltimore County | Flat fees are known up front and do not depend on declared value |
| Current schedule confidence | Anne Arundel County | Anne Arundel is Oct 2024; Baltimore County's printed schedule is 2018 |
Practitioner Insight
On paper Baltimore County is cheaper for almost every residential project, because a flat $85 deck or $85 addition does not care what the work costs, while Anne Arundel's value-based table plus $43 application fee scales upward and never caps. The trade-off is currency and confidence: Anne Arundel's schedule is recent (October 2024), while Baltimore County's published fee PDF is dated 2018 and should be confirmed before you rely on it. For a high-value renovation the difference can be hundreds of dollars; for a small job it is the $43 application fee plus one tier step. Verify Anne Arundel's valuation at intake (410-222-7730) and Baltimore County's current rates (410-887-3900).
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
Anne Arundel County - Permit Fees (Inspections and Permits) Effective October 1, 2024 - Anne Arundel County, MD
-
Baltimore County PAI - Building Permit Fee Schedule Dated effective November 26, 2018 - Baltimore County, MD - verify current