The county handles permitting for all unincorporated areas and the City of Annapolis, while other incorporated municipalities like Highland Beach may have specific local requirements. The county maintains extensive Critical Area overlays due to its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, which requires additional environmental review for most development projects. Floodplain management and forest conservation regulations are strictly enforced across all jurisdictions.
The county enforces a strict Critical Area Program that mandates specific mitigation and buffer requirements for any development within 1,000 feet of tidal waters.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Maryland Home Improvement Commission; Maryland Department of Labor. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.
Source · Anne Arundel County Department of Inspections and PermitsLast verified · 05 / 2026