Frederick County vs Montgomery County: Permit Fees Compared (2026)

Frederick vs Montgomery: Fee Structure Side by Side

Frederick totals below are all-in for the building-permit side: category fee + $33 filing fee + $11 automation fee (verified, schedule effective July 1, 2026). Montgomery figures are from the DPS schedule with an FY2022 printed effective period - flagged on every row.

Scope note: All figures are the building-permit side only. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are separate in both counties. Impact fees and excise taxes on new homes are separate and large in both counties and are excluded from every figure above. Frederick new dwellings also owe a separate $88 zoning review line. Frederick does not itemize a standalone fence fee - do not assume one; contact the county. Standard plan review is bundled into Montgomery's fees. Every Montgomery figure carries the FY2022 source-age caveat.

Shared-Assumption Worked Examples

Each example assumes the same project for both counties. Frederick figures are verified from the schedule effective July 1, 2026; Montgomery figures are computed from the FY2022 DPS schedule.

Example 1: New Detached House, 2,400 sq ft

Note: Montgomery is roughly 2.6 times Frederick at this size. Montgomery's filing fee is 50% of the permit fee or $757.05, whichever is greater - here 50% ($921.44) governs. The Frederick side may also owe the separate $88 zoning review line for a new dwelling unit, not included above. Both counties assess large separate impact fees and excise taxes on new homes, excluded here. Montgomery figures are from the FY2022 printed schedule - verify current with DPS.

Example 2: Room Addition, 400 sq ft

Note: Montgomery's filing fee is 50% of the permit fee or $286.60, whichever is greater - here the $286.60 floor exceeds 50% of $307.15 ($153.57), so the floor governs. Frederick's flat $276 tier covers any addition up to 500 sq ft; from 501 to 1,500 sq ft the tier is $413 ($457 all-in). Trade permits are separate in both counties.

Example 3: Deck, 500 sq ft or Less

Note: Frederick is about 19% cheaper on a deck. Over 500 sq ft, Frederick's deck tier rises to $144 ($188 all-in). Deck electrical is a separate trade permit in both counties. See the Frederick deck guide and Montgomery deck guide for full detail.

Which County Is Cheaper for Your Project?

When This Comparison May Not Apply

• Montgomery's schedule may have changed. The published DPS fee document carries an FY2022 printed effective period (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022). If DPS publishes a newer schedule, every Montgomery figure on this page could change. Confirm current rates at 240-777-0311 before budgeting.
• New-home totals ignore the biggest charges. Both counties assess large separate impact fees and excise taxes on new residential construction. Those charges are excluded from every figure here and can exceed the building permit fee many times over.
• Trade permits are separate in both counties. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each require separate permits with their own fee schedules, excluded here.
• Frederick municipalities charge their own fees. Frederick County's schedule excludes fees charged by municipalities (such as the City of Frederick) and other reviewing agencies. Inside a municipality, the county comparison may not apply at all.
• Frederick new dwellings owe a separate $88 zoning review line (not included in the $1,067 example unless noted), and other approvals may add cost in either county.
• Fence projects cannot be compared line-for-line. Montgomery itemizes a $77.87 fence fee; Frederick does not itemize a fence line - contact Frederick County rather than assuming a figure.

Practitioner Insight

The pattern is consistent: Frederick County is cheaper than Montgomery County on every directly comparable residential line, and the gap explodes with project size. On a deck the difference is modest - $157 vs $194.67, about 19%. On a new 2,400 sq ft home it is $1,067 vs $2,764.32, roughly 2.6 times, because Montgomery's $0.767865 per square foot compounds with a filing fee equal to half the permit fee, while Frederick caps the same house in a flat $1,023 tier. The structural lesson is that Montgomery's 50% filing model punishes larger projects hardest, while its $286.60 filing floor punishes small alterations. The one caveat that outranks all the arithmetic is vintage: Frederick's schedule took effect July 1, 2026 and is the most recent verified Maryland schedule on this site, while Montgomery's published DPS document still carries an FY2022 printed effective period. Confirm before filing - Frederick Permits and Inspections at 301-600-2313, Montgomery DPS at 240-777-0311.

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