Deck Permits · Maryland

Wood Deck Permit Requirements
by Maryland County.

Additional information on requirements in your county.

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Baltimore County Baltimore City Harford County Howard County Anne Arundel County Cecil County Carroll County Prince George's County

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Baltimore County map

Baltimore County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Towns included: Rosedale · Parkville · Essex · Dundalk · Towson · Middle River · White Marsh · Perry Hall · Catonsville · Pikesville · Overlea

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Baltimore County?	Yes — for decks over 16" high or larger than 120 sq ft
Plans required	Yes — sealed plans required for decks over 3,000 sq ft
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Baltimore County	Footing · Framing (if less than 16" above ground) · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Baltimore County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Baltimore County	Minimum 3,000 PSI
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Baltimore County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Baltimore County?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).
Important additional information for Baltimore County	Minimum footer thickness is 10 inches. Properties within 1,000 ft of tidal water require additional documentation, and decks in the 100-ft buffer zone require a buffer management plan.

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Baltimore City map

Baltimore City Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Towns included: Baltimore · Federal Hill · Canton · Hampden · Fells Point · Roland Park · Locust Point · Mount Vernon

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Baltimore City?	Yes — all deck construction requires a building permit
Plans required	Must be prepared by a licensed design professional (architect or structural engineer)
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Baltimore City	Footing · Framing · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Baltimore City	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Baltimore City	2,500 PSI (IRC guideline)
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Baltimore City	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Baltimore City?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).
Important additional information for Baltimore City	Rooftop decks require structural engineering review and a separate permit. Properties in historic districts need CHAP approval before a permit is issued. It's worth noting the permit timeline in Baltimore City is longer than the other counties.

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Harford County map

Harford County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits — Bel Air, MD

Towns included: Bel Air · Edgewood · Aberdeen · Abingdon · Jarrettsville · Havre de Grace · Fallston

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Harford County?	Yes — building permit required for deck construction
Plans required	Two copies — aerial view framing plan with all measurements, footer sizes, and locations
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Harford County	Footing · Framing · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Harford County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Harford County	2,500 PSI (IRC guideline)
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Harford County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Harford County?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Howard County map

Howard County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Towns included: Columbia · Ellicott City · Laurel · Elkridge · Savage · Fulton · Clarksville

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Howard County?	Yes — building permit required for attached decks
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Howard County	Footing · Framing · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Howard County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Howard County	Minimum 3,000 PSI
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Howard County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Howard County?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Anne Arundel County map

Anne Arundel County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Towns included: Annapolis · Glen Burnie · Severn · Pasadena · Odenton · Crofton · Arnold

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Anne Arundel County?	Yes — for decks 120 sq ft or larger
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Anne Arundel County	Footing · Framing · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Anne Arundel County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Anne Arundel County	2,500 PSI (IRC guideline)
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Anne Arundel County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Anne Arundel County?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).
Important additional information for Anne Arundel County	Properties within 1,000 ft of Chesapeake Bay tidal waters fall in a 100-ft buffer zone. Additional approvals and a buffer management plan are required.

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Carroll County map

Carroll County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Department of Public Works — Permits & Inspections

Towns included: Westminster · Eldersburg · Sykesville · Hampstead · Taneytown · Mount Airy

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Carroll County?	Yes — building permit required
Plans required	Two copies of construction plans + plot plan + Owner Contractor Affidavit
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Carroll County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Carroll County	2,500 PSI (IRC guideline)
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Carroll County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Carroll County?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Cecil County map

Cecil County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Towns included: Elkton · North East · Perryville · Rising Sun · Chesapeake City · Charlestown

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Cecil County?	Yes — except decks under 200 sq ft, under 30" above grade, not attached to dwelling, and not serving an exit door
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Carroll County	Footing · Framing · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Cecil County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Cecil County	2,500 PSI (IRC guideline)
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Cecil County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Cecil County?	Required for structural repairs on permitted decks. Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

Prince George's County map

Prince George's County Wood Deck Permit Requirements

Towns included: Laurel · Bowie · College Park · Greenbelt · Upper Marlboro · Hyattsville · Lanham · Fort Washington · Largo

Requirement	Details
Permit needed for wood deck in Prince George's County?	Yes — building permit required for all deck construction
Plans required	Complete architectural/structural plans, site plan with location and dimensions, supplemental data sheets
Inspections required for new wood deck builds in Prince George's County	Footing · Framing · Final
Minimum footer depth for wood decks in Prince George's County	30 inches
Concrete footing strength for wood decks in Prince George's County	Minimum 3,000 PSI
Joist spacing requirements for new wood deck builds in Prince George's County	16 inches on center (per IRC)
Repair permit needed for wood decks in Prince George's County?	Required for structural repairs (posts, beams, joists, framing). Not required for cosmetic maintenance (staining, board replacement).

*This information is intended to be helpful but does not cover all the details and requirements.

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