Building Inspections
The Bureau of Building Inspections:
- Conducts required inspections on all new and remodeled residential and commercial building projects to verify compliance with minimum safety standards and all applicable codes
- Investigates building complaints
- Sediment control
- Answers code compliance questions from contractors, engineers and property owners
ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING INSPECTION
To determine the time of a scheduled inspection, have your permit number readily available and call 410-887-3953 on the morning of the inspection between 7:30 and 8 a.m.
SCHEDULE, RESCHEDULE OR CANCEL AN INSPECTION
You and your contractor should coordinate your inspection requests so that they can be provided in a timely manner. Learn more about how to schedule, reschedule or cancel an inspection.
BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION AND REQUIREMENTS
Building permits are required for the following:
- Additions, alterations and structural modifications, including demolitions, to existing dwellings, including those located in historic districts
- Change in use of structure
- Floodplain and zones—Any building activity within a tidal or riverine 100-year floodplain and all accessory structures located in Flood Zone A
Determine if a building permit and inspection is required for your construction project.
LOCAL BUILDING DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
The local building design requirements are listed below:
- Footing depth 30 inches below the final grade, pole buildings 48 inches
- Minimum ground snow load 30 PSF
- Minimum roof live loads 30 PSF
- Design wind speed (Risk Categories I and II) 90 MPH Nominal three-second gust (minimum design)
- Seismic, site class B
- Tidal flood protection elevation 10.4 (NAVD 88) Back River and South; 11.2 (NAVD 88) north of Back River; in addition, see FEMA maps dated May 5, 2014, for additional requirements for areas subject to wave action Zone VE and Coastal AE
- Downspouts are to be discharged at a distance of not less than eight feet from any property line measured along the path of flow