DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING

Division of Inspections & Permits

CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE GUIDE

THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS FOR

SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS

REVISED MAY 2006

These guidelines apply to:

(1)

Single-family detached dwellings

(2)

Group home for up to 16 residents

(3)

Single-family attached dwellings of two units (Duplex)

(4)

Single-family attached dwellings: Triplex and Fourplex in the Rural Community District only.  Maryland law requires the seal of an architect on construction drawings for three or more attached residential units.

These guidelines DO NOT APPLY TO: additions to structures, decks, residential accessory uses (i.e., sheds, swimming pools, accessory apartments, etc.), and remodeling projects.  For these uses, see the Customer Assistance Guides entitled, "ACCESSORY STRUCTURES & ADDITIONS” and “ACCESSORY APARTMENTS”.

Contractor's Licensing Requirements

New Residential Construction

The builder must have a Calvert County Residential Contractor’s License and Permit Bond in the amount of $1,000. Property owners may construct their own dwelling on their own property without a license (with proper permits).

As of January 1, 2001, the builder must also be licensed and registered as a Home Builder in the State of Maryland.  A license number will be required before any permit application will be accepted.  To inquire about this, please contact the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St. Paul Place, 16^th Floor, Baltimore, MD  21202, Phone 410-576-6573, Toll Free 877-259-4525, Fax 410-576-6573.

Home Improvement Work

Builders must have a Maryland State Home Improvement License.  Property owners may complete home improvements on their own property (with proper permits) without obtaining a License.

STEP 1 - APPROVAL OF WATER AND SEWER/SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Private Well and/or Septic: If the project involves a private well and/or septic system, the Health Department will need to review the development proposal.  Applications must be made to:

Calvert County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

County Services Plaza, Suite 100, 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 

Phone: 410-535-3922

Health Department staff will review the application for compliance with their regulations.  Health Department "perc" test approval (actual permit, not receipt) and/or one survey plat stamped by the Health Department will be required prior to proceeding to Step 2.

County water and/or sewer: If building a new structure which will be served by County water and/or sewer or making improvements which will increase water and sewerage usage, the Water and Sewerage Division will need to review the proposed construction.  Applications must be made to:

Water and Sewerage Division, Calvert County Services Plaza, Suite 205,

150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD  20678 

Phone: 410-535-1600 ext. 2329

The water and sewer connection fees are to be paid prior to issuance of the permit.  The Health Department must also sign the application approved by the Water and Sewerage Division prior to proceeding to Step 2.

Private water system: If the property is in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates or Chesapeake Beach town limits, community approval of connection to the water system is required. If this information is not provided, the Division of Inspections and Permits will not process applications until received.  See contact information below. Health Department approval of the septic system is also required prior to proceeding to Step 2 (see above).

STEP 2 - INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR A BUILDING PERMIT

1.

A completed Application for Health Department/Zoning Approval and/or Building Permit.

2.

A grading permit application.

3.

Approval of Water and Sewer/Septic Systems as completed in Step 1.

4.

A fully engineered plot plan (6 copies). 

5.

One copy of the subdivision record plat creating the lot. If the property is not in a subdivision, a copy of the current deed and any supporting deeds demonstrating that the property was legally created.  This information may not be required for subdivisions recorded prior to 1967 and not subsequently modified.

6.

A road access permit is required for all entrances onto any public road.  Occupancy Permit will be withheld until the driveway entrance is complete, inspected, and approved.

a.

For County roads, a Calvert County Road Access Permit application, available from the Division of Inspections and Permits, must be submitted.

b.

For State roads, contact the State Highway Administration Access Control Division:

Joe Katzenburger, State Highway Administration Highway Access Permit Division, P.O. Box 717, 707 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21203 

Phone: (800) 876-4742

7.

Construction Drawings:

One (1) complete set for residential showing overall dimensions, size, and location of doors and windows, outside elevations, wall section view (from footing to roof structure), floor plans and foundation and framing plans.  Plans shall be drawn to a minimum scale of 1/4 inch = 1 foot.

Permit Package Checklist

Information Required

# of Copies

Building Permit Application

1

Grading Permit Application

1

Road Access Permit Application

1

Health Department Approval

1

Private (Community) Water System Approval (if applicable)

1

Plot Plan Drawing

6

Record Plat (Note: if the lot is recorded on a plat larger than 8 1/2" x 14", a photocopy of the lot and all notes and conditions will be accepted.)

1

If no record plat exists, the current deed & any supporting deeds demonstrating that the property was legally created. 

1

Soil Conservation Service notes and certification

2

Enlargement of Site (1" = 50' scale for plans submitted at 1" = 100' or smaller)

1

Sight Distance Certification

1

Stormwater Management Waiver or Variance (if required)

2

Forest Conservation Worksheet (if clearing more than 40,000 square feet)

1

Construction Drawings (minimum scale: 1/4" = 1')

1

Other Considerations/Information That May Be Required

1.

If the property is in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates, White Sands, Drum Point, or within the Chesapeake Beach or North Beach town limits, written community approval is required on the plat prior to submittal to the Division of Inspections and Permits.  See the contact information below.

2.

If the proposed construction is located within a Town Center, review the appropriate Town Center Ordinance to see if architectural review is required.  If required, applicant must submit an Architectural Review Application and obtain architectural approval from the Town Center Architectural Review Committee and Planning Commission before a building permit package can be reviewed by the Department of Planning & Zoning.

Contact: Department of Planning and Zoning, Calvert County Services Plaza,

Suite 304, 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD  20678

Phone: 410-535-1600, ext. 2356

3.

If Board of Appeals approval is required or has been received, a copy of the approved decision and plat/drawing must be submitted.

4.

If the property is located within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, refer to the Critical Area Form for additional required information and procedures.   Submittal of the Critical Area Form may not be required for construction of new single-family dwellings if all pertinent information (such as impervious surface calculations, disturbance of steep slopes, etc.), is included on the plat or with the permit package.

5.

If the property is in the Flood Hazard Area, see Customer Assistance Guide entitled, "Permit Requirements for Construction in the Floodplain".

6.

Forest Conservation Requirements: See Customer Assistance Guide entitled, "The Forest Conservation Act" for further details, as well as Section 8-3 of the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.

7.

See the Calvert Soil Conservation Service Office for the Calvert County Sediment and Erosion Control Guidelines.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 657, Prince Frederick, MD

Phone: (410) 535-1521, ext. 3

Location: Kaine Building, Suite 106, 65 Duke Street, Prince Frederick, MD

8.

See the Engineering Bureau for roadway construction requirements, stormwater management, and Public Works Agreements

Address: Department of Public Works, Engineering Bureau, County Services Plaza, Suite 202, 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. 

Phone: (410) 535-1600, ext. 2220

STEP 3 - PROCESSING OF THE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

The permit package must be submitted to the Division of Inspections and Permits. The permit package will then be routed to the Department of Planning & Zoning[1], House Numbers, Engineering Bureau, and Soil Conservation Service and then returned to the Divisions of Inspections and Permits. 

The Division of Inspections and Permits does not contact the applicant or the builder when the permit is approved. Application numbers (AP#) are assigned by the Division of Inspections & Permits when the application is accepted.  The status of the application can then be checked on-line at:

www.co.cal.md.us/permlkups/default.aspx

If the permit does not comply with regulations and is not eligible for approval, the appropriate agency will contact the applicant.  After corrections have been made, the applicant must submit the corrected application package to the appropriate agency to continue on in the review process as described above. 

After the permit has received all necessary approvals, the applicant can pay all necessary fees and bonds for the permit in the Division of Inspections and Permits office.   Some occasions may require the submittal of more than one check.  Please contact the Division of Inspections and Permits for this information. THE ACTUAL PERMIT CANNOT BE PAID FOR AND PICKED UP ON THE SAME DAY.  After the payment has been processed, the permit can be picked up or mailed to the applicant within 2 business days.

Contact: Division of Inspections and Permits, Calvert County Services Plaza, Suite 201, 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.  Phone: 410-535-1600, ext. 2515 or 2552.

STEP 4 - INSPECTIONS

Inspections are required.  See the Customer Assistance Guide for inspections procedures.