Overview
Baltimore City’s Department of Housing and Community Development administers construction permits. Baltimore County is a separate permitting jurisdiction; establish which government serves the property first.
Permit authority
Baltimore City DHCD
Jurisdiction check
Baltimore City is separate from Baltimore County
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Electrical work and state credentials
City DHCD / Maryland LaborApplicable Code
Use the City’s adopted National Electrical Code and local modifications in the Building, Fire and Related Codes publication.
License Requirement
Maryland licenses master, journeyperson and apprentice electricians. Apprentices require supervision; verify the permit applicant’s state credential and city account requirements.
License Fee
Maryland Electricians Board fee schedule
CEUs
Check the Board’s current continuing-education rules
Permit Fee
200A service: $30; circuits $6 each; application and 5% rounded permit tax extra.
Plan Review Time
Check the electrical record and DHCD comments
Common Pitfalls
- An MHIC home-improvement license does not authorize electrical work.
- An apprentice credential does not authorize independent electrical work.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Confirm city jurisdiction
Establish city versus county and identify the use, scope and contractors.
Prepare the applications
Gather plans and credentials for building, trade and occupancy records.
Submit through E-Permits
Use the City’s training guides and supply requested documents.
Resolve review and fees
Answer reviewer comments, pay assessed charges and obtain issued permits.
Schedule permit inspections
Use E-Permits and coordinate the required trade inspection stages.
Close out the work
Clear corrections and confirm the intended use’s occupancy approval.
Permit fees and worked estimates
Published City Code §109 checked October 12, 2026. Application: 1–2 family $25 without plans/$125 with plans; other buildings $50/$150. Permit tax 5%, rounded up to whole dollars.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical work and state credentials | 200A service: $30; circuits $6 each; application and 5% rounded permit tax extra. | Maryland Electricians Board fee schedule |
| Plumbing and gas-fitting work | Plumbing fixtures $5 each; electric water heater $20; application/tax extra. | Maryland Plumbing Board license and renewal schedule |
| Mechanical permits and HVACR licensing | AC $5/ton, $30 minimum/$300 maximum per unit; application/tax extra. | Maryland HVACR Board fee schedule |
| Fire alarm and suppression coordination | Sprinkler 1–25 heads $35; relocated heads $5 each ($30 minimum/$100 maximum); application/tax extra. | Confirm the system contractor’s applicable credential |
| Building permits and home-improvement contracting | Residential interior alteration $0.30/affected sq ft ($50 minimum); application/tax extra. | Current MHIC forms and fee schedule; includes fund assessments |
Permit requirements
Check the City’s permit provisions for the proposed work and any exemption. A permit is also required for work outside an issued permit’s scope. Do not treat a neighboring jurisdiction’s exemption as a Baltimore City exemption.
Submission checklist
Application and review
Create an E-Permits account to submit applications and use account services. Follow the City’s step-by-step portal guides, provide requested documents and respond to review comments. The portal also supports application searches and receipts.
Codes and city amendments
Baltimore’s official 2024 Building, Fire and Related Codes publication organizes adopted model codes and local modifications by discipline. For example, Part VI adopts the 2021 IPC with city changes. Read the City provisions alongside the model code; the publication year is not the edition year of every underlying model code.
Homeowner rules
Before hiring for covered home-improvement work, verify the contractor with MHIC and confirm who obtains each permit. A home-improvement contract or contractor license does not establish that every trade is licensed. Ask DHCD about any owner-applicant procedure and exemption for the precise scope rather than assuming a general DIY exemption.
Enforcement and scope changes
Inspections and closeout
Use Schedule an Inspection in E-Permits for permit inspections. Confirm the required inspection stages and whether an occupancy permit is needed for the intended use.