Do you need a permit for a pergola, play set, or carport in Prince George's County, MD?
It depends on the details of your project.
The one exempt accessory structure per lot is under 150 sq ft, and a shed uses it up.
Accessory structures more than 10 ft tall must step back 1 ft from the side and rear lines for every foot over 10 ft.
A carport needs a permit at any size.
A person last checked these rules on October 20, 2026. This is guidance only, so confirm with Prince George's County before you build.
Check your exact lot
Your zoning district sets the setbacks, and a flood zone can change the permit answer. Enter your address to see both.
Permits a pergola, play set, or carport can need in Prince George's County
| Permit | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Building permit | DPIE exempts one detached accessory structure under 150 sq ft per lot. A second structure, a bigger one, an attached one or a carport needs a permit.Medium confidence |
| Electrical permit | Lights, fans or outlets need an electrical permit.Medium confidence |
| Floodplain development permit | Structures in a FEMA special flood hazard area need a floodplain permit. |
| Historic Area Work Permit (HPC) | Exterior work on a designated historic site, in its environmental setting or in a county historic district needs a Historic Area Work Permit from the Historic Preservation Commission. |
| Chesapeake Bay Critical Area review | Within 1,000 ft of tidal water, the county reviews new work under the Critical Area Overlay Zone. A project that disturbs 500 sq ft or less, stays out of the 100 ft Critical Area Buffer, and is on a lot with no existing Conservation Plan can get a staff-level review from DPIE (301-636-2060); anything else goes to M-NCPPC Environmental Planning (301-952-3650). |
Local details
- Call 811 at least a few days before you dig footings or post holes. Utility locating is free.
- HOA covenants and deed restrictions can be stricter than city rules. Check yours before you build.
- Prince George's renamed its zones in 2022. If a plat or listing says R-55 or R-80, the lot is now RSF-65 or RSF-95.
How to apply
Common questions
- When does a pergola, play set, or carport need a building permit in Prince George's County?
- DPIE exempts one detached accessory structure under 150 sq ft per lot. A second structure, a bigger one, an attached one or a carport needs a permit. One detached structure under 150 sq ft, if there is no other exempt accessory structure on the lot, needs no permit. Play equipment isn't a building.
- Where do I apply for a pergola, play set, or carport permit in Prince George's County?
- Apply through DPIE Momentum permitting portal, or call (301) 636-2050.
Sources
- Prince George's County DPIE, What work is exempt from obtaining a permit?. Checked 2026-10-21
A one-story detached accessory structure on one- and two-family dwelling properties with less than 150 square feet of floor space not designed or intended for occupation or habitation and limited to 1 accessory structure only per property... All forms of pa…
- 2024 IRC R105.2, Work exempt from permit (text published by the City of Benson, AZ). Checked 2026-10-19
One-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. Fences not over 7 feet high. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a…
- 44 CFR 59.1, definition of development (NFIP). Checked 2026-10-19
Development means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures...
- 44 CFR 60.3, floodplain management criteria. Checked 2026-10-19
Require permits for all proposed construction or other development in the community...
- Prince George's Planning, Historic Area Work Permits. Checked 2026-10-21
[In Prince George's County, properties] designated as a historic site, or those within a locally designated historic district, may require a HAWP... Here are examples of projects that always require a HAWP: Replacement, alteration, or the addition of roofs,…
- Prince George's County DPIE, What projects qualify for a Critical Area Staff Level Review?. Checked 2026-10-23
A Critical Area Staff Level Review of your project can be done if it meets the following conditions: disturbance of 500 square feet or less will occur; there is no existing Conservation Plan for the lot; the project will not be located in the Critical Area …
- Maryland Critical Area Commission, Critical Area basics. Checked 2026-10-21
The Critical Area includes all lands within 1,000 feet of the tidal waters... and a minimum 100-foot buffer landward from the mean high water line of tidal waters, tidal wetlands, and tributary streams.