Office of Permitting & Licensing

Permit Process - Land Use and Building Construction

Permitting requirements are addressed through the County’s Zoning Code and are applicable within the unincorporated areas of Allegany County. For projects planned within incorporated areas (e.g. Cumberland, Frostburg), a potential applicant must contact the respective city’s or town’s government relative to permitting requirement. Contact information for the County’s cities and towns is provided as follows: (1) Cumberland; (2) Frostburg; (3) Midland: (4) Lonaconing: (5); Barton: (6) Westernport; (7) Luke.

Within the unincorporated areas of Allegany County, (1) renovation work, (2) structures <100sf and (3) grading activities that disturb less than 5,000sf of area or 50cy, in aggregate, generally do not require a permit issued by County. Nonetheless, all projects shall conform to all applicable Codes. Guidance to permit exemptions may be found here. Note: Renovation work is defined by the P&Z Office of Building Safety and Construction. For assistance certifying that proposed work is classed as renovation work, please contact the Plans Examiner of the Building Safety Office at 301-876-9516.

Homeowners building or improving their own residence or accessory structures may perform construction activities or repair work themselves. Generally, any third-party doing work for compensation must hold a valid State license.

New construction not categorized as exempt requires the issuance of a permit. Prefabricated structures are categorized as “new construction” and therefor are subject to permitting. Earth disturbances (grading) involving heavy equipment generally requires the issuance of a permit. If you have a project in mind and are not sure if a permit is required, please feel free to contact the County’s Office of Permitting and Licensing (OP&L) by email or phone. When a potential applicant is in doubt, they are encouraged to submit an application for staff evaluation. In the event County staff finds the project, as proposed, exempt from a permitting, the applicant will be notified and the application disposed without a processing fee. Land Use and Building Permit Applications are available through the OP&L, located in the Allegany County Office Complex, Suite 111, 701 Kelly Road Cumberland, Maryland, or on our website. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:00 p.m. at the County Office Complex, or by mail, fax or email.

There are two classes of permits issued by the County’s Office of Permitting and Licensing (OP&L): (1) Land Use Permit; and (2) “joint” Land Use/ Building Permit. A Land Use Permit may be issued without a “building code review and release”, but all “building permits” accompany land use authorizations, e.g. “zoning certifications”.

Though certain projects are exempt from a building permit and related process, all work shall nonetheless conform to the Building Code of Allegany County, Maryland. At all times, it is the Property Owner’s responsibility that all improvements on any lands subject to the jurisdiction of Allegany County remain compliant with all adopted codes of the County.

Projects subject to the building permit process will require inspections conducted by certified inspection agencies or County staff. Dwelling units and non-residential structures are subject to the building permit process. The building permit process consist of: (1) application & submittal of construction drawings; (2) issuance of a building permit; (3) inspections/reports; and the (4) issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Projects specifically subject to the building permit process include:

• All non-residential development, excepting certain agricultural buildings

• Multi-Family Dwellings

• Single Family Dwellings

• Duplexes

• Mobile Homes

• One & Two Family Residential related accessory structures with footprint >600sf

• One & Two Family Residential related additions with footprint >600sf

The timeline for processing and issuance of Land Use and/or Building Permits may be viewed here. Guidance for expedient review and approval of an application may be viewed here. Flowcharts depicting the County's permitting process may be viewed here:

Flowchart: Appication process; presubmittal

Flowchart: Appication process; postsubmittal

A detail explanation of the County's permitting process may be viewed here.

All permits are subject to fees that must be paid, in full, prior to application processing and distribution. Fees will be calculated by staff of the OP&L and a project specific invoice generated. This invoice will be conveyed to the applicant or applicant’s agent for payment. Fees are collected by the County’s Tax and Utilities Office, located on the second floor of the County Office Complex. Checks are to be made payable to the Allegany County Commissioners. The average permit fee for a dwelling is $550.00. The average permit fee for a mobile home is $325.00. A complete list of fees may be viewed here.

All processed applications will be expeditiously processed by OP&L staff, then distributed to the necessary release agents for examination. It is necessary for the applicant to make direct contact with some of these agents. OP&L will provide an applicant with a “project specific” Review Checklist upon application submittal. After the applicant has addressed all applicable release agent(s) requirements, and approvals are received at the OP&L, the subject permit will be issued. Unless otherwise instructed, issued permits will be forwarded to the applicant by way of US Mail. A "Permit Issued " placard will be included with “the permit” which will be prominently displayed at the project site and remain through the completion of construction.

Should an applicant decide to abandon the project and elect to cancel an application, it is their responsibility to notify the OP&L of cancellation, in writing. An Applicant may be eligible for a partial refund on cancelled and denied permits. Any permit application not approved within one year after submittal will expire. Any application inactive for a period of six (6) months is subject to “administrative cancellation” without notice. For an approved permit, construction must begin within one (1) year of issuance and be completed within one (1) year after the “start date”. Once construction starts, an extension may be granted by the OP&L. Forms related to permit extensions may be downloaded here. Should a permit be subject to an appeal or to litigation following issuance, the time period for start of construction does not begin until the appeal or litigation is resolved. Permits for uses or occupancy other than building construction are good for an indefinite period. Any conditions attached to the permit apply to subsequent owners.

Please be advised that a permit is not only required by law, it is a service. Utility service accounts are based on the information provided on application. The application process is a conduit for an applicant to make direct contact with release agents necessary for the successful accomplishment of your project: All participating release agents within the County's permit program cooperative are informed of your project with one, concise application summary.