Frederick County, MD Building Permit Fees (2026)
Residential building permit fees from the official Frederick County Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2026 and now in force. Fees are flat by project category and square-foot tier - not based on construction value - and every building permit adds a $33 filing fee plus an $11 automation enhancement fee. Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy.
This page covers: Frederick County residential building permit fees from Section I (Building Permits and Zoning Certificates) of the official Frederick County Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2026 - the flat tiered fees for new homes, townhouses, additions, alterations, decks, garages, sheds, pools, retaining walls, and demolition, plus the mandatory $33 filing fee, the $11 automation enhancement fee, the $63 minimum permit fee, the separate zoning-review line items, and the $100 driveway permit.
This page does NOT cover: Impact fees and the school construction excise tax / APFO charges (separate, Section VII); fees charged by municipalities inside the county (the City of Frederick and other municipalities have their own schedules); plumbing permits (Section II); electrical permits (Section III); fire code plan review and inspection (Section IV); and Health Department well/septic fees.
Important note on new homes: The building permit fee is a small slice of what a new dwelling actually owes Frederick County. Impact fees and the school construction excise tax are assessed separately, are not printed in Section I, and are typically far larger than the permit fee - confirm current amounts with Permits and Inspections before budgeting.
Frederick County, MD prices residential building permits as flat fees by category and square-foot tier, then adds a $33 filing fee and an $11 automation fee to every building permit. A deck of 500 sq ft or less is $113 base, so $157 all-in. An in-ground pool is $226 base ($270 all-in), a 400 sq ft addition is $276 base ($320 all-in), and a new detached home of 4,000 sq ft or less starts at $1,023 base ($1,067 all-in), before separate zoning review, impact fees, and excise tax. Maryland adds no statewide percentage levy.
- Every building permit adds a $33 filing fee (all new applications) plus an $11 automation enhancement fee on top of the base category fee - $44 total - and the minimum building permit fee is $63.
- A deck or covered/screened porch is $113 base ($157 all-in) at 500 sq ft or less, or $144 base over 500 sq ft; an in-ground pool including its fence is $226 base ($270 all-in), while an above-ground pool bills at the $63 minimum fee.
- A new single-family detached home is $1,023 base at 4,000 sq ft or less ($1,067 all-in), $1,224 base between 4,000 and 6,500 sq ft, and $1,634 base at 6,500 sq ft or more; a townhouse or duplex is $751 base at 3,000 sq ft or less.
- Sheds, gazebos, carports, and pavilions under 150 sq ft need no building permit - EXCEPT solar arrays and wind turbines, which always need one; permitted accessory structures are $144 base under 400 sq ft and $226 base at 400 sq ft or more.
- Zoning review is a separate line item on the same schedule: $88 per new dwelling unit and $57 for other residential uses; a driveway permit on a County-maintained road is $100 (the $11 automation fee does not apply to driveway permits).
- Maryland has no statewide percentage building-permit levy, and the schedule is current - adopted and effective July 1, 2026 - but impact fees, the school construction excise tax, trade permits, and municipal fees are all separate.
Frederick County Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule
All fees below are from Section I of the official Frederick County Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2026. The base fees shown do not include two mandatory add-ons: a $33 filing fee on every new application plus an $11 automation enhancement fee on every building permit. The all-in column adds that $44 for you. Maryland adds no statewide levy, and the minimum building permit fee is $63.
| Project Type | Base Permit Fee | All-In (base + $33 + $11) |
|---|---|---|
| New single-family detached - 4,000 sq ft or less | $1,023.00 | $1,067.00 |
| New single-family detached - more than 4,000 and less than 6,500 sq ft | $1,224.00 | $1,268.00 |
| New single-family detached - 6,500 sq ft or more | $1,634.00 | $1,678.00 |
| Townhouse / duplex (one- and two-family attached) - 3,000 sq ft or less | $751.00 | $795.00 |
| Townhouse / duplex - more than 3,000 sq ft | $883.00 | $927.00 |
| Accessory dwelling unit | $271.00 | $315.00 |
| Mobile home - without basement / with basement | $206.00 / $408.00 | $250.00 / $452.00 |
| Residential addition - 500 sq ft or less | $276.00 | $320.00 |
| Residential addition - 501 to 1,500 sq ft | $413.00 | $457.00 |
| Residential addition - more than 1,500 sq ft | $552.00 | $596.00 |
| Alteration or conversion - 500 sq ft or less | $137.00 | $181.00 |
| Alteration or conversion - 501 to 1,500 sq ft | $276.00 | $320.00 |
| Alteration or conversion - more than 1,500 sq ft | $413.00 | $457.00 |
| Deck, covered or screened porch - 500 sq ft or less | $113.00 | $157.00 |
| Deck, covered or screened porch - over 500 sq ft | $144.00 | $188.00 |
| Garage or pole building | $226.00 | $270.00 |
| Accessory structure (shed, gazebo, carport, pavilion, solar array, wind turbine) - under 400 sq ft | $144.00 | $188.00 |
| Accessory structure - 400 sq ft or more | $226.00 | $270.00 |
| Swimming pool - in-ground (includes fence) | $226.00 | $270.00 |
| Swimming pool / hot tub - above-ground (includes fence/barrier inspection) | $63.00 minimum fee | Filing + automation fees apply |
| Retaining wall | $113.00 | $157.00 |
| Demolition / tanks / single-inspection permit | $63.00 minimum fee | Filing + automation fees apply |
| Non-residential new building or added floor area | $0.28 / sq ft | Separate Fire, Electrical, Plumbing permits required |
Sheds, gazebos, carports, and pavilions under 150 sq ft do not require a building permit - except solar arrays and wind turbines, which require a permit at any size. Gross floor area is measured by exterior dimensions and includes all finished and unfinished square footage, excluding attics, stoops, and crawl spaces.
Separate Line Items on the Same Schedule
These are itemized separately on the fee schedule and are not summed into the building-permit totals above.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning review - new dwelling unit | $88.00 | Per new dwelling unit; separate line on the schedule |
| Zoning review - other residential use | $57.00 | Separate line on the schedule |
| Zoning certificate without a building permit | $57.00 | The $11 automation fee does not apply to zoning certificates that need no building permit |
| Driveway permit (County-maintained road) | $100.00 | New driveway apron review and inspection; the $11 automation fee does not apply to driveway permits |
Source: Frederick County Fee Schedule, Section I - Building Permits and Zoning Certificates, effective July 1, 2026 (adopted schedule, now in force). Extracted June 8, 2026 from the official county PDF.
How Frederick County Calculates Building Permit Fees
| Step | What Happens | Frederick County Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identify the category and square-foot tier | Match the project to a fee-schedule category, then to its square-foot tier. | Fees are flat by category and tier - not valuation-based. Example: a deck is $113 at 500 sq ft or less, $144 over 500 sq ft. |
| 2. Add the $33 filing fee | A filing fee is charged on all new permit and zoning certificate applications. | $33.00 on every new application; all other required fees are in addition to it. Not charged on revisions or extensions. |
| 3. Add the $11 automation enhancement fee | An automation fee applies to all building permit applications. | $11.00 per building permit application. Does not apply to driveway permits, home occupation permits, or zoning certificates that need no building permit. |
| 4. Apply the $63 minimum | Small permits bill at the schedule minimum. | A minimum fee of $63.00 applies to all building permits - above-ground pools, demolition, tanks, and single-inspection permits bill at this minimum. |
| 5. Zoning review is a separate line | Zoning review is itemized separately on the same schedule. | $88 per new dwelling unit, $57 for other residential uses, $57 for a zoning certificate without a building permit. |
| 6. No state percentage levy | Maryland imposes no statewide building-permit levy. | There is no percentage add-on like Virginia's 2% USBC levy; base + $33 + $11 is the building-permit total. |
| 7. Impact fees and excise tax are separate | New dwellings owe impact fees and the school construction excise tax under separate sections. | Not part of Section I and typically far larger than the permit fee on a new home - confirm current amounts with Permits and Inspections. |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Deck, 300 sq ft
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit base - deck 500 sq ft or less | Flat tier fee | $113.00 |
| Filing fee | All new applications | $33.00 |
| Automation enhancement fee | All building permits | $11.00 |
| All-In Total | $113 + $33 + $11 | $157.00 |
Note: Any deck or covered/screened porch of 500 sq ft or less pays the same $113 base, so a 300 sq ft deck is $157 all-in with the $33 filing fee and $11 automation fee. See our Frederick County deck permit cost guide for the full breakdown. Source: Frederick County Fee Schedule, Section I (eff. July 1, 2026).
Example 2: Room addition, 400 sq ft
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit base - addition 500 sq ft or less | Flat tier fee | $276.00 |
| Filing fee | All new applications | $33.00 |
| Automation enhancement fee | All building permits | $11.00 |
| All-In Total | $276 + $33 + $11 | $320.00 |
Note: Any residential addition of 500 sq ft or less pays the $276 base regardless of construction cost. Electrical and plumbing for the addition are separate trade permits under Sections II and III. Source: Frederick County Fee Schedule, Section I (eff. July 1, 2026).
Example 3: In-ground swimming pool
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit base - in-ground pool (includes fence) | Flat category fee | $226.00 |
| Filing fee | All new applications | $33.00 |
| Automation enhancement fee | All building permits | $11.00 |
| All-In Total | $226 + $33 + $11 | $270.00 |
Note: The in-ground pool category fee already includes the fence. An above-ground pool or hot tub instead bills at the $63 minimum permit fee (including fence/barrier inspection). Pool electrical work is a separate trade permit. Source: Frederick County Fee Schedule, Section I (eff. July 1, 2026).
Example 4: New detached house, 2,400 sq ft
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit base - single-family detached, 4,000 sq ft or less | Flat tier fee | $1,023.00 |
| Filing fee | All new applications | $33.00 |
| Automation enhancement fee | All building permits | $11.00 |
| Building-Permit All-In Total | $1,023 + $33 + $11 | $1,067.00 |
| Zoning review - new dwelling unit (separate line) | Itemized separately | $88.00 |
| Building permit + zoning review | $1,067 + $88 | $1,155.00 |
| Impact fees + school construction excise tax (SEPARATE) | Section VII / separate ordinance | Verify with county |
Note: The $1,067.00 is the building-permit side only; the $88 zoning review for a new dwelling unit is a separate line on the same schedule, and the combined $1,155.00 still excludes impact fees and the school construction excise tax, which are large and assessed separately. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing) and any driveway permit ($100) are also separate. Source: Frederick County Fee Schedule, Section I (eff. July 1, 2026).
Practitioner Insight
The trap on Frederick County's schedule is quoting the base fee and forgetting the two mandatory add-ons. Every building permit picks up a $33 filing fee and an $11 automation enhancement fee, so the real cost of any line on the schedule is $44 higher than the printed category fee - a $113 deck is really $157, a $226 pool is really $270. Because the fees are flat by category and square-foot tier, there is no valuation math at all: a 300 sq ft deck and a 500 sq ft deck cost exactly the same.
On a new home, the building permit is the small number. The $1,023 base tier plus $44 in add-ons and the $88 zoning review line come to about $1,155 - but Frederick County's impact fees and school construction excise tax sit in a separate section of the fee schedule and typically dwarf that figure. Call the Department of Permits and Inspections at 301-600-2313 or file through the county portal to get the full charge sheet before you budget a new dwelling.
Frederick County Department of Permits and Inspections
Department of Permits and Inspections
Frederick County Government
301-600-2313
Permits and Inspections main line
Frederick County Fee Schedule
Effective July 1, 2026 (current)
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Property inside a municipality
Municipalities inside the county - like the City of Frederick - have their own permit offices and fee schedules. The county schedule explicitly excludes fees charged by municipalities and other reviewing agencies; if your property is inside municipal limits, check with that municipality first.
Solar arrays and wind turbines always need a permit
The under-150 sq ft exemption for sheds, gazebos, carports, and pavilions does NOT extend to solar arrays or wind turbines - those require a building permit at any size ($144 base under 400 sq ft, $226 base at 400 sq ft or more, plus the $44 in add-ons).
Impact fees and excise tax on new dwellings
Impact fees and the school construction excise tax / APFO charges are assessed separately (Section VII and separate ordinances) and are not included in any figure on this page. On a new home they typically far exceed the building permit fee.
Trade permits are separate
Plumbing (Section II), electrical (Section III), and fire code plan review (Section IV) carry their own fee schedules and are not included in the building-permit figures above. Health Department well/septic fees are also separate.
Commercial or non-residential work
This page covers residential building permits. Non-residential new buildings and added floor area bill at $0.28 per sq ft and require separate Fire, Electrical, and Plumbing permits - do not apply the residential figures to those projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
Frederick County Fee Schedule - Section I, Building Permits and Zoning Certificates Effective July 1, 2026 - Frederick County, MD - Primary source for all building permit fees on this page - Extracted June 8, 2026.
-
Frederick County Permitting Fees Effective July 1, 2026 - Official landing page hosting the current county fee schedule.
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Frederick County Department of Permits and Inspections Current - Department home page - contact, applications, inspections.
Compare Frederick County's flat tiered fees against Montgomery County's per-square-foot schedule or Carroll County's flat category model, or see how the rest of Maryland prices the same project.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Frederick County permit cost, two related numbers complete your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition or pool increases your assessed value in Frederick County. See how Maryland jurisdictions calculate the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Development impact and county surcharges
For new construction, Frederick County's separate impact fees and school construction excise tax can far exceed the building permit fee. Research development impact charges at ZoneFee.com.