Baltimore County, Maryland - County Development Fees
Baltimore County | Maryland county | Baltimore-Washington Corridor | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA | County seat: Towson | FIPS 24005
Baltimore County is a jurisdiction in central Maryland's Baltimore-Washington Corridor that surrounds but excludes Baltimore City (an independent city with its own FIPS code). The Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) administers zoning petition, development review, building permit, sign, and fence fees. The Baltimore County Office of Planning administers the development impact fee established by Bill 45-24, effective August 25, 2024. The Baltimore County Department of Public Works Metropolitan District Financing and Petitions Office administers one-time water and sewer connection charges. All fee amounts on this page are verbatim from the cited official sources.
Recent Fee Changes
Baltimore County Bill 45-24, effective August 25, 2024. Bill 45-24 established a $6.00 per square foot development impact fee for all residential construction types, replacing the prior 1.5 percent of gross sales price fee structure. The Maryland Department of Legislative Services 2025 publication reports that Baltimore County collected almost no revenue under the old structure. The residential impact fee is codified at Baltimore County Code Section 32-6-111, with a separate nonresidential impact surcharge under Section 11-4-301 et seq.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Impact Fees (residential and nonresidential) | Confirmed | $6.00/sqft residential (all types); nonresidential surcharge $1.50/sqft rental multifamily, $1.00/sqft commercial/mixed-use/office, $0.80/sqft industrial | August 25, 2024 (Bill 45-24) |
| Zoning, Development, Appeals and Building Permit Fees | Confirmed | Zoning petitions $75-$500 per type ($1,200 max any combination per property); appeals $300-$400; reclassification $950-$1,800; building permits by category | November 26, 2018 (PAI) |
| Utility Tap Fees (Metropolitan District Systems Connection Charges) | Confirmed | $875 Sewer Systems Connection Charge; $575 Water Systems Connection Charge (one-time capacity fees) | Confirmed July 20, 2025 (post-Executive Order No. 2025-002) |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Maryland counties do not use Virginia-style cash proffers; Maryland zoning law allows project-specific conditional rezoning conditions, not published cash proffer fee schedules | - |
| Special District Fees | Not verified via official sources | No developer-facing special district fee schedule found after 3 substitute paths probed; Metropolitan District water and sewer charges are captured under Utility Tap Fees above | - |
Development Impact Fees
Baltimore County enacted Bill 45-24, effective August 25, 2024, establishing a $6.00 per square foot residential development impact fee under Baltimore County Code Section 32-6-111 and Maryland Code, Local Government Article Section 20-701.1. A separate nonresidential impact surcharge under Section 11-4-301 et seq. applies at $0.80 to $1.50 per square foot. Fee amounts are documented in the Maryland Department of Legislative Services 2025 publication (mgaleg.maryland.gov). Administered by: Baltimore County Office of Planning.
Residential Impact Fee
| Construction Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single-family detached | $6.00 per square foot |
| Single-family semi-detached | $6.00 per square foot |
| Single-family attached | $6.00 per square foot |
| Multifamily for-sale condominium | $6.00 per square foot |
Nonresidential Impact Surcharge
| Construction Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Multifamily rental | $1.50 per square foot |
| Commercial | $1.00 per square foot |
| Mixed-use | $1.00 per square foot |
| Office | $1.00 per square foot |
| Industrial | $0.80 per square foot |
Source: Maryland Department of Legislative Services, County Development Impact Fees and Excise Taxes in Maryland, May 2025 (Appendix 2 p.8 / Exhibit 2 p.4 / Footnote 3). Ordinance: Baltimore County Bill 45-24 (effective August 25, 2024); Baltimore County Code Section 32-6-111 (residential) and Section 11-4-301 et seq. (nonresidential surcharge).
Zoning, Development, Appeals and Building Permit Fees
Zoning petition, development review, appeals, building permit, sign, and fence fees are published in the Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) Fee Schedule for Zoning, Development and Appeals and the Building Permit Fee Schedule, both effective November 26, 2018. Administered by: Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections.
Zoning Petitions
| Petition Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoning Variance - Petition (individual residential lot) | $75 per lot (+ $75 if amending Final Development Plan) |
| Zoning Variance - Petition (all others) | $500 |
| Special Hearing - Petition (individual residential lot) | $75 per lot |
| Special Hearing - Petition (all others) | $500 |
| Special Exception - Petition | $500 |
| Petition fees - maximum any combination per property/lot | $1,200 |
| Revised Petition Documents - residential lot | $100 per lot |
| Revised Petition Documents - all others | $250 |
Appeals to Board of Appeals
| Appeal Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Appeal to Board of Appeals - Special Exception Order | $400 |
| Appeal to Board of Appeals - Development Plan / Hearing Officer Decision | $400 |
| Appeal to Board of Appeals - all other decisions | $300 |
Reclassification Petitions
| Petition Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Site under 2 acres in planned water/sewer area | $950 |
| Site 2+ acres in planned water/sewer area | $1,800 |
| Site under 10 acres outside planned service area | $950 |
| Site 10+ acres outside planned service area | $1,800 |
Development Review and Verification
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Map Correction | $800 |
| F.D.P. Single Lot Amendment | $75 per lot |
| F.D.P. Administrative Amendment of Entire Subdivision | $300 |
| Application for Development Review Committee (DRC) | $150 |
| Application for Waiver Request | $375 |
| Concept Plan Review Fee | $750 |
| Commercial Application for Design Review Panel | $300 |
| Pre-Concept Plan Conference | $75 |
| Development Verification Letter | $500 |
| Review Fee for Refined Development Plan | $350 |
| PUD Application Fee - without bonus per acre | $30 per acre |
| PUD Application Fee - with bonus per acre | $80 per acre |
| Written Verification of Zoning - Professional Letter | $200 |
Building Permits
| Permit Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Category A (Assembly, Business, Institutional), new construction/additions | $0.17/sqft, minimum $366 (new construction); minimum $208 (all others) |
| Category B (Hotels, Motels), new construction/additions | $0.14/sqft, minimum $293 (new construction); minimum $152 (all others) |
| Category C (Mercantile, Storage, Industrial), new construction/additions | $0.11/sqft, minimum $208 (new construction); minimum $152 (all others) |
| Category D (Residential, one-family and two-family) | Minimum $231 (new construction); alterations/additions per rate schedule |
| Multi-family per unit | $119 minimum (new construction); $79 (all others) |
| Deck (up to 600 sqft) | $85 |
| Deck (over 600 sqft) | $119 |
| Accessory structure (up to 1,000 sqft) | $85 |
| Accessory structure (over 1,000 sqft) | $130 |
| Swimming pool, residential in-ground | $54 |
| Swimming pool, commercial | $135 |
| HVAC system, residential (under 4,000 sqft) | $34 |
| HVAC system, all others | $85 |
| Solar power system, residential | $79 |
| Grading (2-year) | $0.002/sqft, minimum $54, maximum $6,633 |
Sign, Fence and Use Permits
| Permit Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fence Permit - Residential | $25 per lot |
| Fence Permit - Commercial | $85 |
| Sign Permit - 50 sqft or less (single face) | $100 |
| Sign Permit - 51-300 sqft (single face) | $150 |
| Sign Permit - over 300 sqft (single face) | $300 |
| Use and Occupancy Certificate - per unit | $12 |
Source: Baltimore County PAI Fee Schedule for Zoning, Development and Appeals (effective November 26, 2018) and Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective 11/26/18, PAI BPP 15 Attachment A Rev 11/18). Fee figures are verbatim from the published schedules.
Utility Tap Fees (Metropolitan District Systems Connection Charges)
The Baltimore County Metropolitan District administers one-time water and sewer connection charges under Baltimore County Code 2015, Article 20. The Systems Connection Charge is a capacity fee based on a five-eighths inch water meter; a larger meter results in a higher charge. Administered by: Baltimore County Department of Public Works, Metropolitan District Financing and Petitions Office.
Systems Connection Charges and Benefit Assessments
| Charge Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Sewer Systems Connection Charge (one-time capacity fee for new connection to Metropolitan District sewer system) | $875 |
| Water Systems Connection Charge (one-time capacity fee for new connection to Metropolitan District water system) | $575 |
| Water and Sewer Property Connection Charge (cost of physical service line from main to property line) | At actual cost (variable; based on physical installation cost from main to property line - not a fixed schedule) |
| Water and Sewer Benefit Assessment - Sewer (Subdivision/Residential, principal) | $28.57 per front foot; annual rate $2.00/front foot (40-year term) |
| Water and Sewer Benefit Assessment - Water (Subdivision/Residential, principal) | $17.14 per front foot; annual rate $1.20/front foot (40-year term) |
Source: Baltimore County Metropolitan District, Water and Sewer Service Charges and Fees (Wayback Machine capture July 20, 2025, 19 days after Executive Order No. 2025-002 effective July 1, 2025). The post-Order capture confirms the Systems Connection Charges are unchanged at $875 sewer / $575 water. Authority: Baltimore County Code 2015, Article 20 (Metropolitan District).
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were closed via official-source search on 2026-06-26. They are disclosed here rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Proffers
Maryland counties do not use cash proffers as a formal development fee mechanism. Virginia's proffer system under Va. Code Section 15.2-2303 et seq. is specific to Virginia localities. Maryland zoning law (Land Use Article) allows conditions on conditional rezoning approvals, but these are project-specific non-monetary conditions or voluntary developer agreements, not published fee schedules. Baltimore County's CZMP and development plan processes do not include a published proffer cash fee schedule. Closed-search paths: the Baltimore County Fee Schedule for Zoning, Development and Appeals (no proffer line item); the Maryland DLS 2025 development impact fee and excise tax report (no proffer surcharge listed); and general knowledge of Maryland law confirming conditional zoning conditions rather than formal cash proffers. No proffer fee schedule exists to publish.
Special District Fees
No developer-facing special district fee schedule was found for Baltimore County. Metropolitan District water and sewer charges are captured under Utility Tap Fees above. Substitute paths probed:
- Maryland DLS 2025 impact fee and excise tax report (mgaleg.maryland.gov) - no special district fee listed
- Baltimore County Fee Schedule for Zoning, Development and Appeals (March 2025 Wayback PDF) - no special district application fee
- Baltimore County Metropolitan District charges page (July 2025 Wayback) - only standard Metropolitan District utility charges, no developer-facing special district creation fee
This item will be re-opened if Baltimore County adopts a formal PID or special district developer application fee in a future session.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore County Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections (PAI) | Zoning petition fees, building and construction permit fees, sign and fence permit fees, development review fees, appeals fees | baltimorecountymd.gov |
| Baltimore County Office of Planning | Development impact fees (Bill 45-24); APFO school impact reviews; nonresidential development impact surcharge | mgaleg.maryland.gov |
| Baltimore County Department of Public Works - Metropolitan District Financing and Petitions Office | Utility connection charges (Systems Connection Charge), water and sewer property connection charges, benefit assessments | baltimorecountymd.gov |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| County Development Impact Fees and Excise Taxes in Maryland (May 2025) (SHA-256 20da48ef...) | Maryland Department of Legislative Services (DLS) | 2026-06-26 |
| Fee Schedule for Zoning, Development and Appeals (effective November 26, 2018) (SHA-256 0e75c9ab...) | Baltimore County PAI | 2026-06-26 |
| Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective 11/26/18) (SHA-256 f912c09f...) | Baltimore County PAI | 2026-06-26 |
| Water and Sewer Service Charges and Fees - Metropolitan District (Wayback capture July 20, 2025) (SHA-256 4f3862ce...) | Baltimore County DPW Metropolitan District | 2026-06-26 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-07-05. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with Baltimore County before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from Baltimore County official schedules and the Maryland Department of Legislative Services 2025 publication. ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. The residential development impact fee ($6.00/sqft) was established by Bill 45-24 effective August 25, 2024, replacing the prior 1.5 percent of gross sales price structure. The PAI zoning, development, appeals, and building permit fee schedules carry an effective date of November 26, 2018. The Metropolitan District Systems Connection Charges ($875 sewer / $575 water) were confirmed unchanged in a July 20, 2025 capture after Executive Order No. 2025-002. Baltimore County does not use Virginia-style cash proffers, and no developer-facing special district fee schedule was located via official sources. Verify all current rates with Baltimore County before relying on this data for land acquisition, project budgeting, or any financial decision. This page is for research and due diligence reference only - it is not legal or financial advice.