Administrative overview · FIPS 24019
Dorchester 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
Dorchester County Planning & Zoning Department - Permits, Inspections & Licensing
For a project in or near Dorchester 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
410-228-9636 (Permits); 410-228-3234 (Planning & Zoning)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
501 Court Lane, Room 111, Cambridge, MD 21613; mailing address P.O. Box 107, Cambridge, MD 21613
Operating hours
N/A - the official Planning & Zoning pages publish the office address and phone numbers but do not state public counter hours
Review expectation
N/A - the County publishes permit fee and inspection information but no standard plan-review or permit-issuance turnaround time. Building permits expire if work is not commenced within one year; an unexpired permit may be extended up to one additional year for good and satisfactory reasons.
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 Dorchester County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Dorchester County Planning & Zoning Department - Permits, Inspections & Licensing 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 410-228-9636 (Permits); 410-228-3234 (Planning & Zoning).
How long might review take?
N/A - the County publishes permit fee and inspection information but no standard plan-review or permit-issuance turnaround time. Building permits expire if work is not commenced within one year; an unexpired permit may be extended up to one additional year for good and satisfactory reasons.
How are inspections scheduled?
Dorchester County performs building, plumbing, and HVAC inspections; electrical inspections are handled by recognized private agencies: Middle Department Inspection Agency (410-749-0641), Maryland Electrical Inspections (410-219-3228), or First State Inspection Agency (800-468-7338). If inspectors are available, notifying Planning & Zoning before 9:00 a.m. may allow a same-day visit, but the County recommends at least 24 hours' notice. Inspection costs other than electrical are included in the building permit. Call 410-228-9636 for permit/inspection coordination.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Dorchester County enforces its Chapter 65 Building Code and associated County Electrical, Fire, Plumbing, HVAC, Property Maintenance, Minimum Livability, zoning, floodplain, Critical Area, and forest-conservation requirements. The current published code adopts the International Building Code and International Residential Code as amended, with numeric editions not stated on the County's current Building Codes page; the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code is expressly enforced beginning May 16, 2026. Maryland State and County code amendments also apply. Farm buildings used for agricultural storage or livestock/horticultural purposes are exempt from the County building code, but electrical and plumbing permits and other local/state requirements may still apply. Residential accessory structures below 300 square feet fall outside the County's residential-code scope and are listed as exempt in the fee schedule, though zoning review may still be required. Ordinary repairs are exempt only when they do not include roof replacement or interior/exterior structural changes. Routine cosmetic work such as painting, floor and tile work, and similar ordinary repairs may be exempt, but the County specifically requires permits for pellet/wood stoves, wheelchair ramps, demolition, and other listed work. Incorporated-town rules and written town approvals can alter the process.