DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING APPROVAL OF BUILDING PERMITS

Prior to final approval by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, application for building permits are referred to the Department of Planning and Zoning to be reviewed and approved for compliance with the Howard County Zoning Regulations, Subdivision and Land Development Regulations, and Design Manual requirements. The Zoning Regulations govern the land uses allowed in each zoning district in the County and establish requirements for density, setbacks, building heights, parking and other development controls.

ZONING APPROVAL IS REQUIRED FOR:

• Construction or expansion of a structure.
• A change in use or expansion of a use.

BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED BY:

• Division of Public Service and Zoning Administration
• Development Engineering Division

BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT:

• USE - The proposed use of the building is permitted in the zoning district.
• BULK REGULATIONS - THe proposal is in conformance with the density, lot size, lot coverage, height and setback requirements of the Zoning Regulations.

SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (SDP)

A site development plan may be required to indicate the location and construction specifications for buildings, structures, access, paved areas, grading, drainage, stormwater management, on-site utilities, sidewalks, required forest conservation areas, landscaping and other improvements within a site proposed for development prior to issuance of grading permits or building permits.

For development projects requiring a site development plan, zoning compliance is determined through review of the site development plan, which must be submitted with or referenced on the building permit application.

If a SDP is not required, a plot plan depicting the proposed improvements is necessary. The plot plan must show all existing and proposed improvements be drawn to scale, and show distances of all structures to property lines.

INFORMATION REQUIRED ON A PLOT PLAN:

• Street address and name of abutting streets
• Property lines and lot dimensions
• Show and label required building restriction lines (setback) and easement lines
• Showing existing improvements (footprint), with distances to property lines and dimensions of square footage
• Show and label proposed improvements, with distances to property lines and dimensions
• Show and label driveway or access
• Subdivision name, section and area
• Height of structure
• North arrow

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING PERMIT APPROVAL:

• ACCESSORY APARTMENT WITHIN A DWELLING
  The property owner must submit a completed and signed copy of DPZ’s “Accessory Apartment Permit Application” for approval by DPZ prior to or concurrent with the submission of the building permit application.
  
  
• BUILDING HEIGHT
  The applicant must provide the height of all proposed structures on the building permit application. The height is measured as the vertical distance from the average grade adjoining all exterior walls of the structure to the average of the highest points of a flat roof surface, to the deck line of a mansard roof; and to the mean height level between the eaves and ridge for a gable, hip or gambrel roof.
  
  
• FILE REFERENCES
  The applicant must provide any applicable DPZ file reference on the building permit application and should include a copy of any relevant DPZ decision and order letter (i.e., administrative adjustments, waiver petitions, Board of Appeals variances or conditional uses).
  
  
• IN-GROUND SWIMMING POOLS
  The applicant must attach a certified plot plan bearing a surveyor’s seal for the swimming pool location, or a copy of DPZ’s “Pool Disclosure Statement Form” must be completed, signed and submitted to DPZ with the building permit application for in-ground swimming pools on residential lots less than 20,000 square feet in size.
  
  
• MINOR ADDITIONS OR CHANGE IN USE FOR EXISTING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
  All building permits for minor additions or change in use for existing commercial developments must be in accordance with an approved site development plan (SDP), a red-line revision of an existing SDP, a waiver petition of the SDP requirement or a letter of authorization from the Subdivision Review Committee (SRC) to proceed directly to a building permit.
  
  
• NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ON DEEDED PARCELS
  The applicant must attach a copy of the recorded deeds for all non-subdivision parcels of land with the building permit application for the construction of a new residential dwelling. The deeds shall trace the chronological history of the subject parcel of land to its original date of establishment. The DPZ must verify the parcel of land’s establishment to determine the property’s legal validity in accordance with the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. If a deeded parcel is in the planned service area an SDP will be required.
  
  
• STRUCTURES FOR HOUSING OF ANIMALS
  The applicant must designate on the plot plan submitted with the building permit application the dimensioned location of all existing off-site dwellings on adjacent lots from the proposed structure for housing the animals. The Zoning Regulations require a minimum setback distance of 200 feet.

WHO TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE:

• Division of Public Service and Zoning Administration
  410-313-2350
• Division of Land Development
  410-313-2350
• Development Engineering Division
  410-313-2420