Baltimore County, MD Building Permit Fees (2026)
Residential building permit fees from the official Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) fee schedule. Baltimore County charges flat fees by structure type and size: decks, additions, fences, and solar are fixed dollar amounts regardless of construction value. Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy. Important: the published PAI schedule is dated effective November 26, 2018, so confirm current rates before budgeting.
This page covers: Baltimore County residential building permit fees from the official PAI building permit fee schedule (BPP 15 Attachment A) - flat fees for decks, additions, accessory structures, fences, residential solar, fireplaces/wood stoves, and foundation-only permits, plus the area-based fee categories for new construction.
This page does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical, plumbing-gas fitting) on separate schedules; zoning, development, and appeals fees (a separate county schedule); the investigation fee for work started without a permit; and impact/development fees.
Important note on fee schedule age: The PAI building permit fee PDF currently published by Baltimore County is dated effective November 26, 2018 - over seven years old at extraction. It is the version the county currently serves, but confirm current rates with PAI at 410-887-3900 before relying on any figure. All permit fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
Baltimore County, MD charges flat building permit fees by structure type. A deck is $85 up to 600 square feet (or $119 over 600 sq ft), a residential addition is $85 up to 600 square feet (or $130 over 600 sq ft or for a second floor), a residential fence is $25, and a residential solar power system is $79. New one- and two-family construction falls under Fee Category D with a $231 minimum. These fees do not change with construction value, and Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy. The published PAI schedule is dated effective November 26, 2018, so verify current rates before budgeting.
- Baltimore County charges flat fees by structure type and size, not by construction value.
- A deck is $85 (up to 600 sq ft) or $119 (over 600 sq ft); an addition is $85 (up to 600 sq ft) or $130 (over 600 sq ft or second floor).
- A residential fence is $25, residential solar is $79, and a fireplace or wood stove is $21.
- New one- and two-family construction is Fee Category D with a $231 minimum (area-based).
- Maryland has no statewide percentage levy, and Baltimore County applies no percentage technology fee.
- The published PAI fee schedule is dated effective November 26, 2018 - confirm current rates with PAI before relying on any figure.
Baltimore County Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule
All fees below are the PAI building permit fee. Maryland adds no statewide levy. All permit fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
| Project Type | PAI Building Permit Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deck - up to 600 sq ft | $85.00 | Flat fee |
| Deck - over 600 sq ft | $119.00 | When construction plans required |
| Addition - up to 600 sq ft | $85.00 | Flat fee |
| Addition - over 600 sq ft or second floor | $130.00 | Flat fee |
| Accessory structure - up to 1,000 sq ft | $85.00 | Flat fee |
| Accessory structure - over 1,000 sq ft | $130.00 | Flat fee |
| Fence - residential | $25.00 | Commercial $85.00 |
| Solar power system - residential | $79.00 | Flat fee |
| Fireplace / wood stove | $21.00 | Flat fee |
| Foundation only - residential | $135.00 | Commercial $225.00 |
| New one- and two-family construction (Fee Category D) | $231.00 minimum | Area-based; multi-family $119/unit new |
Source: Baltimore County PAI Building Permit Fee Schedule (BPP 15 Attachment A, Rev 11/18), dated effective November 26, 2018. Extracted June 1, 2026. All fees rounded up to the nearest dollar. Confirm current rates with PAI at 410-887-3900 before filing.
How Baltimore County Calculates Building Permit Fees
| Step | What Happens | Baltimore County Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify the structure type | Match the project to the PAI line item. | Decks, additions, accessory structures, fences, solar, fireplaces each have a fixed fee. |
| 2. Check the size threshold | Some flat fees step up by area. | Deck/addition $85 up to 600 sq ft, higher above; accessory $85 up to 1,000 sq ft. |
| 3. New construction uses fee categories | For new buildings, apply the area-based category. | Residential one/two-family is Category D, $231 minimum. |
| 4. No value calculation | The fee does not scale with construction value. | A $5,000 deck and a $40,000 deck are both $85 (up to 600 sq ft). |
| 5. No state levy or technology fee | Maryland and Baltimore County add no percentage charge. | The PAI flat fee is the building permit cost; fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar. |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Deck, up to 600 sq ft
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - deck (≤600 sq ft) | Flat fee | $85.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Total | Flat deck fee | $85.00 |
Note: Any deck up to 600 sq ft is a flat $85 regardless of value; over 600 sq ft is $119. Source: PAI schedule (2018 printed date - verify current).
Example 2: Room Addition, up to 600 sq ft
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - addition (≤600 sq ft) | Flat fee | $85.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Total | Flat addition fee | $85.00 |
Note: An addition over 600 sq ft or adding a second floor is $130. Trade permits separate. Source: PAI schedule (2018 - verify current).
Example 3: Residential Solar Power System
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - residential solar | Flat fee | $79.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Total | Flat solar fee | $79.00 |
Note: Residential solar is a flat $79; an electrical permit for the interconnection is separate. Source: PAI schedule (2018 - verify current).
Example 4: New Detached House (Fee Category D)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAI Building Permit - new one/two-family (Category D) | Area-based minimum | $231.00 |
| State Levy | Maryland has none | $0.00 |
| Estimated Building Permit Total | Category D minimum | $231.00 |
Note: $231 is the stated residential minimum for new one- and two-family construction; the actual fee is area-based and may be higher for a larger home. Trade permits, zoning/development fees, and impact fees are separate and excluded. Source: PAI schedule (2018 - verify current).
Practitioner Insight
Baltimore County's flat-fee model is the simplest in the Baltimore metro: a deck is $85, a fence is $25, solar is $79 - the same whether the job is small or expensive. That predictability is a real advantage for homeowners, but it also means the building permit fee tells you little about the total project cost, since trade permits and any zoning or development fees are billed separately.
The one caution on this page is age. The PAI fee PDF the county currently publishes is dated effective November 26, 2018. We record what the county serves, but a seven-year-old schedule should be confirmed before you write a check - call PAI at 410-887-3900 to verify the current figure for your structure type. Remember, too, that all Baltimore County permit fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar.
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections
Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI)
Baltimore County Government
410-887-3900
PAI main line
baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/pai
Fees, forms, inspections
Online Permit, Licensing and Registration
Apply at cityworkspro.baltimorecountymd.gov
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Fee schedule age
The PAI building permit fee PDF is dated effective November 26, 2018 - more than seven years old. Baltimore County may have adjusted rates since; confirm the current figure with PAI before relying on any number.
Trade permits are separate
Electrical and plumbing-gas fitting permits carry their own PAI schedules and are not included above.
Zoning, development, and impact fees
Zoning, development, and appeals fees are a separate county schedule, and impact/development fees are not part of the building permit fee.
New-construction area pricing
$231 is the residential minimum for Fee Category D; the actual new-construction fee is area-based and can be higher for larger homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
Baltimore County PAI - Building Permit Fee Schedule (BPP 15 Attachment A) Dated effective November 26, 2018 - Baltimore County, MD - Primary source for all building permit fees on this page - Extracted June 1, 2026 2018 - verify current
-
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) Current - Department home page - contact, fees, forms, and the online permit portal.
Compare Baltimore County's flat fees against Anne Arundel County's value-based table, or see the rest of the Maryland and DMV jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Baltimore County permit cost, two related numbers complete your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted deck or addition raises your assessed value in Baltimore County. See the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Development and impact fees
New construction in Baltimore County can trigger development and impact fees beyond the permit. Research them at ZoneFee.com.