Shed Permit Cost in Harford County, MD (2026)
Residential shed (accessory structure) building permit fees in Harford County, Maryland, pulled directly from the official Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) Fee Schedule. A shed of 200 square feet and under is a flat $20 - and at that size the schedule states no certificate of occupancy or inspection is required. Over 200 SF, the fee becomes $0.15 per square foot plus a $100 non-refundable application fee. A common 12x16 (192 SF) shed permit is $20. Maryland has no statewide percentage levy and Harford adds no technology fee.
This guide covers: Harford County, Maryland residential shed and accessory structure (1-2 family) building permit fees as published in the DILP Fee Schedule (Bill 24-013): the flat $20 fee at 200 SF and under, and the $0.15/SF + $100 application-fee formula over 200 SF.
This guide does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical for shed power, plumbing) - those are separate DILP schedules with their own fees. Zoning, setback, lot-coverage, and floodplain rules - those are set by county code, not the fee schedule. HOA approvals and shed purchase or construction costs are also excluded.
Important note: The fee here is the building permit charge only. Confirm with DILP whether your shed needs a permit and what placement rules apply before you build.
A Harford County, MD shed permit is a flat $20 for a shed of 200 square feet and under - the schedule states no certificate of occupancy or inspection is required at that size. Over 200 SF, the fee is $0.15 per square foot plus a $100 non-refundable application fee: a 16x20 (320 SF) shed is $148. Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy. Figures are from the DILP Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2025; confirm current rates with DILP at 410-638-3122.
- A shed of 200 SF and under is a flat $20 - that covers the most common backyard sizes: 8x10 (80 SF), 10x12 (120 SF), and 12x16 (192 SF) are all $20.
- At 200 SF and under, the fee schedule states no certificate of occupancy or inspection is required for the accessory structure.
- Over 200 SF, the formula switches to $0.15 per square foot plus a $100 non-refundable application fee: a 16x20 (320 SF) shed is $148, a 24x24 (576 SF) garage-size structure is $186.40.
- Maryland has no statewide percentage building-permit levy and Harford adds no technology fee. The $50 MHIC fee on this schedule applies to new home permits only - not sheds.
- Running power or water to the shed needs separate electrical or plumbing permits under DILP's trade schedules - those fees are not included here.
- The $20 fee does not decide where the shed can go. Setback, lot-coverage, and floodplain rules are set by county code separately - confirm with DILP, like with the county's $20 fence permit.
Harford County Shed Permit Fee Structure
Harford County prices sheds under the accessory structure (1-2 family) line. 200 square feet is the break point: at or under it, a flat $20; over it, the standard residential per-square-foot formula with the $100 application fee. There is no percentage levy and no technology fee.
| Shed Size | Building Permit Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 200 SF and under | $20.00 | Flat fee. The schedule states no certificate of occupancy or inspection is required at this size. |
| Over 200 SF | $0.15/SF + $100 | $0.15 per square foot plus the $100 non-refundable application fee. |
| Square-footage basis | Enclosed usable areas | The per-SF residential basis counts enclosed usable areas (basements included); attic/storage areas under 88-inch ceilings are excluded. |
| State / local percentage levy | None | Maryland has no statewide USBC-style percentage levy. No 2% add-on, no technology fee. The $50 MHIC fee applies to new home permits only - not sheds. |
| Trade permits (electric / plumbing) | Separate schedules | Running power or water to the shed requires separate DILP trade permits, not included in the figures above. |
Source: Harford County DILP Fee Schedule (Bill 24-013), accessory structure (1-2 family) lines, p. 1. Effective January 1, 2025. Whether a permit is required, and the setback, lot-coverage, and floodplain rules, are set by county code separately from the fee - confirm with DILP before filing.
Worked Examples - Real Shed Projects in Harford County
Each example uses the DILP accessory structure fee lines. At 200 SF and under the fee is the flat $20; over 200 SF every square foot is billed at $0.15 and the $100 application fee is added.
A homeowner installs a popular 12x16 storage shed - one of the largest sizes that still fits under the 200 SF line.
- Shed area: 12 × 16 = 192 SF (200 SF and under)
- Flat fee: $20.00
- Application fee: $0.00 (the $100 application fee applies only over 200 SF)
- Maryland percentage levy: $0.00 (none)
- Building permit total: $20.00
An 8x10 (80 SF) or 10x12 (120 SF) shed is the same flat $20, and even a structure of exactly 200 SF stays at $20. Per the schedule, no certificate of occupancy or inspection is required at this size.
A homeowner builds a 16x20 workshop shed - over the 200 SF line, so the per-square-foot formula applies.
- Shed area: 16 × 20 = 320 SF (over 200 SF)
- Per-SF fee: 320 SF × $0.15 = $48.00
- Non-refundable application fee: $100.00
- Maryland percentage levy: $0.00 (none)
- Building permit total: $148.00
A slightly smaller 14x20 (280 SF) shed is $42 + $100 = $142, and a 20x20 (400 SF) is $60 + $100 = $160. The $100 application fee is the larger share of the bill at these sizes.
A homeowner puts up a 24x24 detached garage-size accessory structure on a larger lot.
- Structure area: 24 × 24 = 576 SF (over 200 SF)
- Per-SF fee: 576 SF × $0.15 = $86.40
- Non-refundable application fee: $100.00
- Maryland percentage levy: $0.00 (none)
- Building permit total: $186.40
Even a 1,000 SF accessory structure is only $150 + $100 = $250 on the building permit side. Electrical service to the structure is a separate trade permit, and setback and zoning rules still apply - confirm with DILP.
Harford County Shed Permit Cost vs Other Verified Jurisdictions
Harford's $20 flat fee at 200 SF and under is one of the cheapest verified shed permits - but the structure differs sharply across jurisdictions. Chesterfield County, VA skips the permit entirely for small sheds, while Harford still requires one (a cheap one). Read the basis column carefully.
| Jurisdiction | Shed Permit Basis | Typical Small Shed (under 200 SF) |
|---|---|---|
| Harford County, MD | $20 flat at 200 SF and under; $0.15/SF + $100 over | $20 |
| Chesterfield County, VA | No permit at 256 SF and under; $116.28 (257-400 SF); $290.70 (over 400 SF) | $0 (no permit required) |
| Baltimore County, MD | $85 accessory structure up to 1,000 SF (2018 schedule) | $85 |
The structural contrast matters more than the dollar gap: Chesterfield County requires no permit at all for sheds of 256 SF and under (FY2025-2026 schedule), while Harford still requires a permit for the same shed - it just costs $20. Baltimore County's $85 accessory-structure fee comes from a 2018 schedule, so treat its age accordingly. Always confirm whether a permit is required, and the zoning rules, with the local department before building.
Planning more than a shed? See the rest of Harford County's residential permit fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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Harford County DILP Fee Schedule (Bill 24-013) - accessory structure (1-2 family) lines, p. 1 Effective January 1, 2025 (PDF revised 01/01/2026 - current) - Harford County, MD - Primary source for the $20 flat fee at 200 SF and under (no CO/inspection at that size) and the $0.15/SF + $100 formula over 200 SF. Extracted June 8, 2026.
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Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) Accessed June 2026 - Harford County, MD - Department home page with the permits portal and contact. Phone 410-638-3122
Confirm your specific Harford shed permit cost or see the rest of the county's fees.