Carroll County, Maryland - County Development Fees
Carroll County | County | Baltimore Metro northwest / Piedmont Maryland | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA | County seat: Westminster | FIPS 24013
Carroll County sits in the Piedmont northwest of Baltimore between Frederick County (west) and Howard County (south). The Carroll County Department of Public Works administers building permit, plumbing, electrical, fire plan, and residential impact fees through its Division of Permits and Inspections (225 North Center Street, Westminster MD 21157; phone 410-386-2674; Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Permit applications are filed through the Carroll Permitting Plan Review and Licensing (CPPL) portal. Residential statutory impact fees adopted under County Code Title 33 Chapter 33.55 (Development Impact Fees) are paid in full prior to building permit issuance. Carroll County contains 8 incorporated municipalities (Westminster, Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge, New Windsor) each of which administers its own municipal services. The Freedom District water and sewer service area is operated by the County Department of Public Works under a separate rate ordinance.
Recent Fee Changes
Carroll County Residential Impact Fee Schedule effective September 1, 2023. Schedule: Single Family Detached $3,533; Mobile Home $1,998; Townhouse $3,944; Multi-Family $1,600. Statutory authority is Carroll County Code Title 33 Chapter 33.55 (Development Impact Fees) with waivers under Chapter 33.69. The fee is paid in full prior to building permit issuance and applies to all new dwelling / living units; apartments in or over an existing detached building are charged the Single Family rate; units occupied after March 1989 being replaced on the same parcel are not subject. The current schedule does not apply impact fees to commercial development.
Carroll County Building Permit Fee Schedule effective April 6, 2021. Residential New Construction $170 base + $0.12 per sq ft (includes $70 filing fee, U&O, low voltage, grading). Commercial New Construction $120 + $0.20 per sq ft + $80 U&O+low voltage (minimum $170). Plumbing, Electrical, and Fire Plan and Inspection fee schedules effective July 1, 2020 published as separate PDFs on the Fee Schedules page (Electrical includes an EV charger and HVAC revision).
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Impact Fee (Single Family Detached) | Confirmed | $3,533 SFD; $1,998 Mobile Home; $3,944 Townhouse; $1,600 Multi-Family | September 1, 2023 |
| Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Confirmed | $170 base + $0.12 per sq ft (includes $70 filing fee, U&O, low voltage, grading) | April 6, 2021 |
| Commercial Building Permit (New Construction) | Confirmed | $120 + $0.20 per sq ft + $80 U&O+low voltage (minimum $170; 50% reduction for agricultural) | April 6, 2021 |
| Building Codes Appeal Filing Fee | Confirmed | $150 per appeal; Re-Inspection $50 first additional / $100 repeated | April 6, 2021 |
| Plumbing / Electrical / Fire Plan Schedules | Source captured | Separate per-fixture / per-circuit / per-inspection schedules published on Fee Schedules page (Electrical revised with EV charger and HVAC line items) | July 1, 2020 |
| Utility Tap Fees (water / wastewater connection) | Not administered by Carroll County | County does not operate a countywide water/sewer utility for unincorporated areas; 8 municipal water/sewer systems and the Freedom District schedule are administered separately | - |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Maryland jurisdictions do not use Virginia-style cash proffers; MD substitutes APFO mitigation and Article 25 Section 9J statutory impact fees | - |
| Special District Fees (CDA / TIF) | Does not apply | No county-level CDA / TIF / service-district development-side fee schedule located on the official Permits and Inspections pages | - |
Residential Impact Fee Schedule - Effective September 1, 2023
Statutory authority: Carroll County Code Title 33 Chapter 33.55 (Development Impact Fees) and Chapter 33.69 (Impact Fee Waivers). The fee is intended to offset the burden of new development on schools and parks per the official Division of Permits and Inspections Impact Fees page. Currently no impact fees apply to commercial development. The fee is paid in full prior to building permit issuance and applies to all new dwelling / living units. Apartments or dwelling units in or over an existing detached building are charged the Single Family rate. Units occupied after March 1989 being replaced on the same parcel are not subject to the impact fee. Administered by: Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections.
| Dwelling Unit Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single Family Detached | $3,533 |
| Mobile Home | $1,998 |
| Townhouse | $3,944 |
| Multi-Family | $1,600 |
Source: Carroll County Division of Permits and Inspections - Impact Fees page (SHA-256 ca63a0e8...). Statutory references: Carroll County Code 33.55 + 33.69.
Building Permit Fee Schedule - Effective April 6, 2021
Source: Carroll County Building Permit Fee Schedule (coded), 1-page PDF on the Division of Permits and Inspections Fee Schedules page (SHA-256 628775f1...). Permit applications are filed through the CPPL portal (amprod.carrollcountymd.gov/citizenaccess).
Residential Permits
| Scope | Fee |
|---|---|
| New Construction (SFD, Duplex, Tri-plex, Townhouse, Mobile Home, Multi-Family, Apartments) - base | $170 + $0.12 per sq ft (includes $70 filing fee, U&O, low voltage, grading) |
| Additions / Garages / Pole Building / Sheds (over 500 sq ft) | $60 + $0.12 per sq ft + $30 U&O + $30 Grading |
| Carports / Sheds 500 sq ft or smaller / Porches / Decks / Gazebos / Pavilions | $60 |
| Farm Buildings (Schedule 1040 F) | $100 (includes $60 filing fee) |
| Interior / Exterior Alterations, Repairs, Remodeling, Finished Basements | $85 (includes $60 filing fee) |
| Swimming Pool Above-Ground | $60 |
| Swimming Pool In-Ground | $120 (includes $60 filing fee) |
| Retaining Walls (over 48 in) / Chimneys / Footer and Slab / Driveway Entrances | $60 |
| Solar Panel / Wind Turbines | $60 |
| Pre-Fab Sheds (1 story single unit on skids) | $30 |
| Demolition | $60 |
Commercial Permits
| Scope | Fee |
|---|---|
| New Buildings / Additions (Minimum $170) | $120 + $0.20 per sq ft + $80 U&O+low voltage |
| Interior Alterations | $120 + $0.10 per sq ft + $30 U&O |
| Tenant Fit-Outs | $120 + $0.10 per sq ft + $30 U&O |
| Change of Use | $120 + $0.10 per sq ft + $30 U&O |
| Change of License (not new construction) | $120 + $50 |
| Signs (On Building / Freestanding / Portable) | $75 per side |
| Solar Panels / Wind Turbines | $120 + $50 |
| Public Swimming Pools | $120 + $400 |
| Demolition | $100 |
| Early Start (Commercial Projects Only) | $100 |
| Pre-Permit Plan Review | $170 |
Miscellaneous
| Fee Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| In-ground Fuel Storage Tank (per tank, Remove) | $70 |
| In-ground Fuel Storage Tank (per tank, Install) | $100 |
| In-ground Fuel Storage Tank (per tank, Remove and Install) | $150 |
| Building Codes Appeal Filing Fee | $150 |
| Re-Inspection 1st Additional Inspection | $50 |
| Re-Inspection Repeated Violation / Additional Inspections beyond 1st | $100 |
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were not closed via confirmed fee amounts on this page. They are disclosed here rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Plumbing / Electrical / Fire Plan Per-Fixture Line Items
The Carroll County Plumbing, Electrical, and Fire Plan and Inspection fee schedules are published as separate PDFs effective July 1, 2020 on the Division of Permits and Inspections Fee Schedules page. Each PDF was captured as a verified primary source during the 2026-05-14 source review (Plumbing 253 KB, SHA-256 14c13572...; Electrical 176 KB, SHA-256 b4b8b3d7...; Fire Plan and Inspection 222 KB, SHA-256 47dd1a2c...). The Electrical schedule includes a revision adding EV charger and HVAC line items. Per-fixture, per-circuit, and per-inspection dollar amounts from those schedules are not enumerated on this page; a future ZoneFee source review will extract the per-line-item values and publish them as a dedicated zoning_fees expansion. The PDFs themselves remain authoritative for current charges.
Freedom District Water and Sewer Hookup Charges
The Freedom District water and sewer service area (covering parts of Eldersburg and Sykesville) is operated by the Carroll County Department of Public Works under a distinct rate ordinance separate from the Division of Permits and Inspections fee schedules captured above. Developer-side hookup charges within the Freedom District are administered separately. A future ZoneFee source review will target the Department of Public Works directly to capture any Freedom District developer-side capital recovery charges. Closed-search outcome: not currently in scope for this page.
Utility Tap Fees (Municipal and Rural)
Carroll County government does not operate a countywide water and sewer utility for unincorporated areas. Municipal water and sewer service is administered independently by Westminster (the county seat) and the towns of Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge, and New Windsor. Rural and unincorporated areas are largely served by private wells and on-site septic. Closed-search outcome: not administered by this jurisdiction at the county level.
Proffers
Maryland jurisdictions do not use Virginia-style cash proffers. Va. Code Section 15.2-2303 has no Maryland counterpart. Maryland substitutes Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) mitigation and statutory development impact fees. Same closure as Frederick County MD, Howard County MD, and Montgomery County MD. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Special District Fees (CDA / TIF / Service Districts)
Carroll County does not administer a Community Development Authority, TIF zone, or service-district development-side fee schedule of the kind that appears as a county-level line item. The 8 incorporated municipalities each administer their own services. The Freedom District water and sewer service area exists but its developer-side hookup charges are administered under utility_tap_fees scope by Public Works (separately from Division of Permits and Inspections). Doctrinally consistent with Frederick County MD, Howard County MD, and Montgomery County MD. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Qualitative Narrative
Carroll County uses an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance program under County Code Title 33 as a complement to the statutory impact fee. The APFO is a regulatory test rather than a posted fee schedule. Quantitative APFO impact is captured indirectly through the impact_fees schedule above. A future ZoneFee source review will add an APFO narrative section once the APFO chapter has been reviewed against the current Carroll County Code.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | Building permit fees, plumbing fees, electrical fees, fire plan and inspection fees, residential impact fees, use and occupancy and grading fees; CPPL permit portal | carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/public-works/permits-inspections/ |
| Carroll County Department of Public Works - Freedom District (water and sewer) | Freedom District water and sewer hookup and capital recovery charges (separate rate ordinance; not in DPW Division of Permits and Inspections namespace) | carrollcountymd.gov |
| Incorporated Municipalities (Westminster, Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge, New Windsor) | Municipal water and sewer connection charges and municipal-level building / zoning fees within each incorporated city / town (not in county fee namespace; out of scope for this page) | Separate municipal websites |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Division of Permits and Inspections - Impact Fees subpage (residential schedule effective September 1, 2023) | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
| Building Permit Fee Schedule (coded, effective April 6, 2021) - official PDF | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
| Plumbing Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2020) - official PDF | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
| Electrical Fee Schedule (coded, effective July 1, 2020 with EV charger and HVAC revisions) - official PDF | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
| Fire Plan and Inspection Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2020) - official PDF | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
| Permits and Inspections department landing | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
| Fee Schedules subpage (PDF index) | Carroll County Department of Public Works - Division of Permits and Inspections | 2026-05-14 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-05-14. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the Carroll County Department of Public Works Division of Permits and Inspections before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the Carroll County Division of Permits and Inspections Impact Fees subpage (residential schedule effective September 1, 2023) and the Carroll County Building Permit Fee Schedule PDF (coded, effective April 6, 2021), with the supporting Plumbing, Electrical, and Fire Plan and Inspection fee schedule PDFs (each effective July 1, 2020) captured as additional verified primary sources. ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. Per-fixture, per-circuit, and per-inspection dollar amounts in the Plumbing, Electrical, and Fire Plan and Inspection PDFs are not yet enumerated on this page; the PDFs themselves remain authoritative. The Carroll County Development Impact Fee Ordinance (Title 33 Chapter 33.55) currently applies to residential development only; the schedule does not apply impact fees to commercial development. Carroll County does not operate a countywide water and sewer utility for unincorporated areas; the 8 incorporated municipalities and the Freedom District (operated by the County Department of Public Works under a distinct rate ordinance) administer water and sewer connection charges separately. Maryland jurisdictions do not use Virginia-style cash proffers (Va. Code 15.2-2303 has no Maryland counterpart); Maryland substitutes APFO mitigation and statutory development impact fees. No county-level CDA / TIF / service-district development-side fee schedule is located on the official Permits and Inspections pages. Verify all current rates directly with the Carroll County Department of Public Works Division of Permits and Inspections 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.