Administrative overview · FIPS 24005
Baltimore County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections
For a project in or near Baltimore County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
410-887-3900 (building permit processing); 410-887-3953 (building inspections); 410-887-3987 (plans review); 410-887-3391 (zoning)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
County Office Building, 111 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD 21204
Operating hours
N/A - public counter hours were not stated in the reviewed current permit and code materials
Review expectation
N/A - no standard general building-permit review timeline was published in the reviewed current materials; plan-review time varies by project and required agency approvals.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Baltimore County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 410-887-3900 (building permit processing); 410-887-3953 (building inspections); 410-887-3987 (plans review); 410-887-3391 (zoning).
How long might review take?
N/A - no standard general building-permit review timeline was published in the reviewed current materials; plan-review time varies by project and required agency approvals.
How are inspections scheduled?
The permittee must notify the responsible inspection division when work is completed and tested and coordinate access and required inspections with the county. Contact Building Inspections at 410-887-3953, Electrical Inspections at 410-887-3960, Plumbing Inspections at 410-887-3620, or Fire Inspections at 410-887-4880. Permit and enforcement records and online submissions are handled through Citizen Access.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Current county code materials for 2026 identify the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, and 2021 International Plumbing Code, with Baltimore County amendments under Bill 49-24 (building, residential, mechanical, and energy effective September 3, 2024; plumbing under Bill 94-23 effective July 1, 2024). The county also applies the 2023 National Electrical Code, State Fire Prevention Code provisions based on 2018 NFPA 1 and 2018 NFPA 101, floodplain regulations under Bill 6-24, and applicable local fire amendments. For work outside the 100-year floodplain, Baltimore County code exemptions include certain one-story R-3 accessory tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar structures, including decks not more than 16 inches above the lowest grade, when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the site is not in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, a proposed or designated historic district, or on the County landmarks list. Fences no more than 42 inches high may also be exempt under the same location restrictions. Agricultural buildings are generally outside the building-code scope, but electrical and plumbing permits are still required; other work such as roof repairs may have separate permit rules.