Do I need a permit? in Montgomery County, MD

The details

• Permit needed: accessory structures, decks, fences, garages, hot tubs, pools, retaining walls over 48 in, sheds, HVAC heating replacement, driveway aprons and land disturbance over 5,000 sq ft or 100 cubic yards.High confidence
• No permit: patios, private walkways, driveways on the property, playground equipment, playhouses and treehouses, prefabricated pools under 18 in, roofing and siding, like-for-like fence replacement if the original fence was permitted.High confidence
• Exterior work on a historic property needs a permit (and a Historic Area Work Permit) even when the same work elsewhere wouldn't.High confidence
• Towns such as Chevy Chase, Kensington and Garrett Park add their own permits on top of the county's.Medium confidence

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Common questions

Which small projects need no permit in Montgomery County?

Montgomery County permits every shed and every new fence. No permit is needed for patios, walkways, driveways on the lot, play equipment and treehouses, prefabricated pools under 18 in deep, or retaining walls up to 48 in with no surcharge.

Sources

1. Montgomery County DPS, Permits Required / No Permits Required (2024). Checked 2026-10-21
   [Likely requires a permit:] Accessory Structure; Deck; Driveway (apron only); Electrical Work; Exterior Work on Historic Property; Fence; Garage; Hot Tub; HVAC Heating (replacing); Land Disturbance (greater than 5,000 square feet or 100 cubic yards or more …
2. Montgomery Planning, Historic Area Work Permits. Checked 2026-10-21
   Work requiring a HAWP includes but is not limited to the following: [new construction, additions, removing porches and other exterior work on Master Plan historic sites and properties in Master Plan historic districts, reviewed by the Historic Preservation …