Inspections, Licenses & Permits
3430 Courthouse Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
United States
Overview
The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits is responsible for the approval and issuance of various permits, licenses and the enforcement of county building codes and standards. These include building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, sign and property maintenance codes.
The department inspects and licenses rental housing properties, mobile home parks, and animal licensing. It is responsible for staff duties associated with the Plumbing Advisory Board and the Board of Electrical Examiners.
The department is organized into four divisions:
- Operations
- Inspections & Enforcement
- Plan Review
- Licenses and Permits
What's New
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Special Announcements (Look here often for Closings, Events, etc.)
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New fee schedules will be posted on July 5, 2022.
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Board of Electrical Examiners News and Scheduled Meetings
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October 12, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes:
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Plumbing Advisory Board News & Scheduled Meetings
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Website Changes
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An addition has been made to our website which includes lists of General Electrical and Master Electrical Licenses, Residential Additions for Single Family Dwellings, Duplexes and Townhouses are available online in the Inspection & Permits Online Permitting Services webpage.
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Outdoor Restaurant Seating
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To access guideline information on opening outdoor restaurant seating, click here. Once you have read the guideline information and understand what is required, apply for an outdoor seating certificate by clicking here.
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Important Notice Concerning the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Howard County will continue to deliver essential County services to residents throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, however starting March 18, 2020, some services will be curtailed to protect employee and resident health.
Department of Inspections, Licenses & Permits will function remotely, delivering services online. Customers who are unable to use online services or who have service requests that cannot be conducted via mail, will be by appointment only. The Department will continue to inspect construction projects and properties with modified processes to limit person to person contact. We apologize for any inconveniences. Thank you.
- New Instructions on getting linked to the Howard County Citizens Access website to apply for permits available here.
- When dropping off information in the drop box located in the front lobby, please fill out a transmittal form found under Forms and Fees and attach to your submittal.
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New Roof Design Load Requirements
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Citizen Access
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Place holder for future information.
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Building Codes Adoption
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ATTENTION
January 03, 2022
Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits will be adopting the following codes effective January 03, 2022:
- 2021 International Building Code
- 2021 International Residential Code
CB71 IBC IRC - 2021 International Energy Conservation Code
- 2021 International Mechanical Code
- 2021 International Plumbing Code
CB72 Plumbing - 2021 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
- Rental Housing Code 2021 International Property Maintenance Code
CB73 Property Maintenance
Howard County Building Code Adoption
Effective January 05, 2021
2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code
- Licensed contractor for residential construction
Section 105.8 Contractor Licensing requirements in residential one and two-family dwellings:
Homeowners of one and two-family dwellings, as defined by the Howard County Building Code, may act as their own general contractor for alterations and additions if they own the property in questions and the property is their primary residence. If the property is a rental property, or not their primary residence, they must have a Maryland Home Improvement Contractors License or a Maryland Home Builders License in accordance with the State of Maryland licensing laws.
Required sprinklers in one and two family dwelling additions
Section: R313.2 One- and two-family dwellings automatic fire sprinkler systems:
An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall be installed in one- and two-family dwellings.
Exception: An automatic residential fire sprinkler for additions or alterations less than fifty percent of the existing gross area of the building or structure are exempt from fire sprinkler systems.
Roof Design Loads for IRC 2018
Council Bill No. 13 – 2019 Roof Design Live Load was amended to 40 lbs. per square foot, with allowances for reductions due to roof slope. This is an increase from the previous code which required 30 lbs. per square foot, with no allowances for roof slope reduction.
All truss designs are to reflect the new design requirements Effective July 14, 2019. In addition, any conventional framed roof will be required to meet the same design values of 40 lbs. per square foot, with allowed reductions for slope.
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Private well and septic
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All properties served by private well and septic require prior Health Dept. approval.
For information on obtaining their approval, please contact the Health Department by phone at 410-313-6300.
General Contact Information
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By Phone
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For more information and direction, call (option #4) General Permits Related Information by phone at 410-313-2455.
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Electrical Licensing
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Contact Electrical Licensing Information by phone at 410-313-2455.
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Automated Inspections Requests
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Building & Fire Protection
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Contact General Building & Fire Protection Information by phone at
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Electrical Information
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Plumbing and Mechanical
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Contact General Plumbing and Mechanical Information by phone at
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Rental Housing & Signs
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FAQs
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When do I need a rental License?
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Every dwelling or dwelling unit in Howard County which is not occupied solely by the owner or owner's immediate family must be licensed. A license is also required if more than one boarder, roomer or renter occupies the dwelling with the owner. This requirement applies whether or not rent money changes hands. Rental Licenses ensure that the Howard County Property Maintenance Code standards are met. The requirement applies to apartments, individually owned condominiums, duplexes, mobile homes, townhomes, hotels, motels, assisted living unit and facilities.
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What are the minimum requirements for smoke detectors in my single-family home or townhome which I intend to rent?
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The smoke detector requirements are determined by the date the house was originally built. See this chart for specifications on the type of smoke detector and location of smoke detector based on the date of construction. Smoke detectors can be no more than 10 years old. Every 10 years they must be replaced. AC electrically wired (hard-wired) detectors must be replaced at 10 years with new AC wired detectors. In addition to the requirements listed in the chart there must also be a smoke detector INSIDE EVERY BEDROOM. Those inside the bedrooms must be 10 year sealed in Lithium battery detectors (non -removable battery).
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How close to my neighbor's property line can I place my new shed?
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Setbacks vary according to where the person's home is located. Contact the Department of Planning and Zoning.
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What time does the Front Counter close at the Permits Office at 3430 Courthouse Drive?
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The office closes at 5:00 PM but try to be there by 4:00 PM to allow time for processing.
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What is the earliest date I can post a grading surety bond due to weather conditions?
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Winter sureties may be posted between December 1st and April 30th. Exemptions are granted only under extreme weather conditions.
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How do I get a copy of my house plat?
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A location survey and or plat was provided at the time of settlement. Check your settlement documentation for a copy. If you cannot locate the settlement papers your Lending Institution should also have a copy.
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Do my deck support columns have to go into the ground?
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No. The building code requires that a deck attached to the house have frost protection 30 inches in the ground and there are several ways that this can be done. See Deck Guide.
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Do I need a plumbing permit to replace an electric or gas water heater?
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A plumbing permit must be pulled by a master plumber and an inspection is required for gas water heaters only.
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Do I need a permit to replace my handrails or guardrails with the same product?
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Yes. This is a code issue that must be maintained at all times and they are considered a structural element. If you want to replace your old handrails or guardrails with new ones a permit is required.
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Do I need a permit to replace just my deck boards with the same thing or the new plastic wood products?
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No. This is considered ordinary repair and a permit is not required. If you just replace the decking boards and not the structural under carriage then a permit would not be required to do this type of work.
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Do I need a permit to build a shed in my back yard? What if the shed is built on skids and delivered to my house?
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Building permits are required for sheds when the total square footage is greater than 200 square feet and for sheds larger than 400 square feet that will require a frost footing that will be at least 30 inches below grade.
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Do I need a permit for my deck?
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Yes. ONLY decks less than 25 square feet do not require footings or permits. All other decks require permits. Footings must be a minimum size 18" in diameter or 16" x 16" at least 30" deep.
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Do I need a building permit for a barn?
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Barns constructed in Residential Zoning areas greater than 200 square feet will require a building permit. Barns barns larger than 400 square feet will require frost footings that will be at least 30 inches below finished grade.
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Do I have to be home for the inspection of my deck?
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No. If the yard is fenced locked it should be left open on the day of the inspection. Pets should also be restrained from the deck area. The permit should be posted.
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Can I put water in my swimming pool now that I got my electrical permit final inspection and am waiting on the final inspection of the fence?
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No. Only after approval of the fence and verification that the door alarms, if required, are operable, can the pool be filled. There must be request for a final inspection by the pool contractor.
