Shed Permit Requirements in Maryland

County Rules Dominate in Maryland

Maryland's building permit system is built around county-level enforcement. While the state sets minimum building standards through the Maryland Building Performance Standards (COMAR 09.12.01), administered by the Maryland Department of Labor — Maryland Codes Administration, counties are the primary enforcers and can adopt stricter requirements.

For sheds, this means the rules change depending on which county your property is in. The permit threshold ranges from no exemption at all (Montgomery County requires a permit for every shed regardless of size) to 200 square feet (Howard County). Most counties fall somewhere in between, with 120 or 150 square feet being the most common thresholds.

Maryland's county-based system creates a situation where neighboring properties in different counties face different rules. A homeowner in Rockville (Montgomery County) needs a permit for a 6x8 garden shed. A homeowner a few miles away in Gaithersburg (also Montgomery County) faces the same requirement. But cross into Howard County and sheds under 200 square feet are exempt. For a broader perspective on how shed permits work nationally, see our national guide to shed permits.

How the Major Counties Handle Shed Permits

Montgomery County: A Permit for Every Shed

Montgomery County is one of the strictest jurisdictions in the country for shed permitting. The Department of Permitting Services requires a building permit for every shed, regardless of size. Even a prefabricated 4x6 garden shed placed on blocks in your backyard needs a permit, a site plan, and a final inspection.

The county's rules for sheds include:

• A building permit must be obtained before construction or placement of any shed
• A zoning review is required for the proposed location
• A scaled site plan (minimum scale 1"=20') showing the shed's location, all existing structures, and distances from lot lines must be submitted electronically
• The shed must be anchored to resist wind loads (minimum 15 pounds per square foot lateral load)
• Properties with individual well and septic systems have additional requirements

Montgomery County offers a Fast Track program for single-story sheds with a floor area of 200 square feet or less. Fast Track applications skip the structural review and can be processed in three to five days. No construction plans are required for these smaller sheds — just the site plan and the permit application. The permit fee is $118.96.

Sheds over 200 square feet and multi-story sheds go through the regular review process, which takes up to 17 days. These larger sheds require a complete set of construction plans drawn to scale (minimum 1/4"=1'). The fee is $118.96 plus $0.77 per square foot over 200. Footing and framing inspections may be required in addition to the final inspection.

Prince George's County: 150 Square Feet

Prince George's County sets the permit threshold at 150 square feet. Only one shed under 150 square feet can exist on a property without a permit. A second shed of any size requires a permit. Sheds over 150 square feet require a permanent foundation and a permit.

The county's permitting process is handled through the Momentum online portal. Applications are filed under "Building Alteration" with a permit type of "Residential Exterior and Grading." Required documents include a site plan and structural drawings, though the level of detail required depends on the shed's size.

The county's frost depth is 30 inches (2 feet 6 inches) from finished grade, and the ground snow load is 35 pounds per square foot. These climatic factors affect foundation and structural design for larger sheds.

Prince George's County requires contractors to hold a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license. Permits are valid for six months from issuance or from the last inspection. Inspections must be requested at least once every six months until completion.

Baltimore County: 120 Square Feet With Historic District Exceptions

Baltimore County requires a building permit for accessory structures greater than 120 square feet. But the county also requires permits for all accessory structures of any size if they're located in a designated or proposed Baltimore County Historic District, in a floodplain, or on property with special environmental characteristics.

Baltimore County's permit application requires an Accessory Structure Letter with a handwritten signature. Agricultural properties may qualify for an exemption through the county's Agricultural Verification process.

The City of Baltimore (separate from Baltimore County) requires a building permit for all new accessory structures. Permits are submitted through the city's online permitting system via the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Howard County: 200 Square Feet

Howard County is one of the more permissive major counties, exempting sheds under 200 square feet from a building permit. Sheds at or above that size need a permit and must comply with the county's building and zoning codes. Howard County does enforce stricter setback rules for properties in floodplains or historic districts.

Frederick County: 120 Square Feet With Utility Triggers

Frederick County follows a 120 square foot threshold for building permits. The county also mandates additional permits for any utility connections — electrical, plumbing, or gas — regardless of the shed's size. Fees are typically $50 to $100 for a standard shed, with review times of one to two weeks.

The MHIC Requirement: Maryland's Contractor License

Maryland has a statewide contractor licensing requirement that affects shed construction. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) requires all contractors performing home improvements to hold a valid MHIC license. This includes contractors who build, deliver, or install sheds.

When a permit application lists a contractor, that contractor's MHIC license number and a copy of the signed contract must be submitted with the application. If a homeowner applies for the permit in their own name and performs the work themselves, no MHIC license is needed. But if any hired person performs the work, they must be licensed.

This requirement is actively enforced across Maryland. The MHIC investigates complaints and can impose penalties on unlicensed contractors. Homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors may have difficulty pursuing legal remedies if something goes wrong.

Foundation and Anchoring Requirements

Maryland's climate requires attention to both frost depth and wind resistance for shed foundations. The frost depth varies across the state:

• 30 inches in central Maryland (Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Baltimore counties)
• 24–30 inches on the Eastern Shore
• 30–36 inches in western Maryland (Washington, Allegany, Garrett counties)

For small sheds under 200 square feet, most counties allow placement on gravel pads, concrete blocks, or skids without frost-depth footings. The IRC exemption for freestanding structures under 400 square feet with eave heights under 10 feet applies statewide.

Larger sheds require footings extending to the local frost depth. In Prince George's County, where the frost depth is 30 inches and the design snow load is 35 PSF, foundation design must account for both frost heave and snow loads.

All sheds must be anchored to resist wind loads. Montgomery County specifies a minimum lateral load resistance of 15 pounds per square foot. Lightweight plastic or aluminum sheds require anchoring per manufacturer installation instructions. Harford County specifies anchor bolt requirements for garage-type foundations: 1/2-inch diameter bolts embedded at least 8 inches in concrete, spaced no more than 6 feet apart.

The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area

Maryland's unique geography adds an environmental layer to shed permitting. Properties within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area — generally land within 1,000 feet of the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries — face additional development restrictions.

The Critical Area Commission oversees development in these zones, and impervious surface limits may restrict where and how large a shed can be. A shed with a concrete foundation adds to the property's impervious surface calculation, which can push a lot over its allowable limit.

This affects properties in numerous counties along the bay: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, and Worcester. In these areas, the shed permit process may include a Critical Area review in addition to the standard building and zoning reviews.

Pre-Built Sheds and the Delivery Rule

Maryland does not distinguish between pre-built and site-built sheds. Harford County's permit guide explicitly states: "Prefabricated sheds require permits prior to placement on the property." This rule applies statewide. The permit must be obtained before the shed is delivered, not after.

For pre-built sheds under 200 square feet in counties that offer simplified review (like Montgomery County's Fast Track), the process can be quick — but it still needs to happen before the shed arrives. Construction plans are not required for pre-built sheds under 200 square feet in most jurisdictions, since the manufacturer's specifications serve as the plan of record.

Lot Size and Accessory Structure Limits

Maryland counties commonly tie shed size limits to lot size. Bowie provides a clear example:

• Lots 20,000 square feet or less: maximum shed floor area of 200 square feet, total combined area of all accessory structures cannot exceed 200 square feet, maximum height 15 feet
• Lots greater than 20,000 square feet: only Prince George's County zoning ordinance and building codes apply (generally more permissive)

Bowie also prohibits storage tents as permanent structures. Interior lots can have sheds only in the rear yard, while corner lots cannot place sheds closer to the street than the main building.

HOA Restrictions

Maryland has a high density of Homeowners Association (HOA) communities, particularly in the DC suburban counties of Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, and Anne Arundel. Planned developments in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bowie, Columbia, and Laurel are frequently governed by HOAs.

Montgomery County's own permitting guidelines note that "many of the subdivisions and developments in Montgomery County have private deed restrictions and covenants regulating construction" — and the county does not enforce those covenants. That's between you and your HOA.

Common HOA restrictions include matching material and color requirements, size limits more restrictive than the county code, screening from the street, and required architectural review committee approval. Maryland's Homeowners Association Act gives HOAs enforcement authority including fines and liens.

Consequences of Skipping the Permit

Building without a required permit in Maryland carries real consequences:

• Code violation orders requiring corrective action, which may include obtaining a permit retroactively
• Fines that vary by county
• Removal orders if the shed violates setbacks or zoning
• Permit revocation if a permit was issued in error
• Sale complications — Maryland's disclosure requirements mean unpermitted structures can delay or derail property sales
• Insurance denial for unpermitted structures

In Montgomery County, where even the smallest shed needs a permit, code enforcement officers can order corrective action if an unpermitted shed is reported — and in a densely populated suburban county, neighbor complaints are common.

If you're also planning a garage or carport alongside your shed, Maryland counties regulate the total number and combined area of accessory structures per lot.

For an overview of all building permit requirements in Maryland — including decks, fences, patios, and more — see our complete Maryland building permit guide.