Maryland law requires notice to Miss Utility at least two full business days before digging, and a Maryland ticket is valid for 12 full business days from the start date. Permits depend on the city or county. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do I need a permit to dig on my own property in Baltimore?
A small dig may need no permit, but it always needs a Miss Utility ticket. Permits are commonly needed for razing, foundations, plumbing, work in the right-of-way, and grading above the county's limits. HomeGuide puts excavation permits at $50 to $400; the local office sets the fee.
When is a grading permit required in Baltimore County?
A Baltimore County grading permit is required when grading disturbs more than 5,000 square feet or brings in more than 100 cubic yards of fill, and for any grading in a floodplain, a historic district, a county landmark site or the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. By HomeGuide's national count, grading permits cost $50 to $400.
When is an erosion control or stormwater permit needed?
MDE's general permit for stormwater associated with construction activity covers all construction with a planned total disturbance of one acre or more. Below that, an approved erosion and sediment control plan is still required before earth disturbance in many cases, and Baltimore County uses standard plans for smaller sites.
Do I need a permit for clearing, tree removal or work near water?
You need approval for clearing and grading in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, near tidal water and stream buffers, and larger sites fall under forest conservation rules. Wetlands need state review. Street trees belong to the city or county. Small brush clearing inland usually needs none.
In Baltimore, who pulls the permits, the excavator or me?
Permit duty depends on the type of work. Contractors usually pull their own trade permits, and the owner or general contractor pulls building and razing permits. In the city, the razing application names the demolition contractor. Agree in writing who handles each one.
Do I need to call 811 before a small dig in Baltimore?
Yes. Contact Miss Utility before any digging, even a few inches deep, by calling 811 or filing online. Utility members mark their lines. They do not mark privately owned lines, such as sprinklers or septic lines.
How much notice does Miss Utility need, and how long are the marks valid?
Miss Utility needs at least two full business days of notice, excluding weekends and legal holidays, before the dig starts. Maryland business days run Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Maryland ticket is valid for 12 full business days from the selected start date, so a longer job needs a new ticket.
Who is responsible if an excavator damages a utility line?
Responsibility for a damaged utility line depends on whether a valid ticket existed, whether the line was marked correctly and how carefully the digger worked near the marks. Whoever digs without a ticket takes on most of the risk. If a line is damaged, contact the utility at once; if gas is leaking, leave and call 911. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can I dig along the property line without my neighbor's permission in Baltimore?
You can dig on your side of the property line, but not onto your neighbor's land, and not in a way that undermines a shared wall or fence, which matters on rowhouse blocks. A boundary survey, which HomeGuide prices at $300 to $900, marks where the line is. This is general information, not legal advice.
Want to know what your job will cost? Call or text (410) 873-7935. We visit the site and then write up the scope and price.