Bolthole Index

Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Highland Beach, Maryland

Town of Highland Beach is a town in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Town of Highland Beach adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Town of Highland Beach’s rules apply, not the county’s. 3 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 3, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Anne Arundel County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Highland Beach

Town of Highland Beach’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Highland Beach town limits (Anne Arundel County, MD): the Town administers its own zoning ordinance, and zoning approval is needed before building

    • Town zoning permit application requires a $50 fee and Planning and Zoning Commission review; approval is valid one year from date of approval per the form.
    • The applicant must also obtain Anne Arundel County building permits after zoning approval.
    “the highland beach planning and zoning commission will consider your application after receipt of the application fee.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Town zoning permit applications for work inside Highland Beach town limits

    • Fee applies to the Town zoning application; Anne Arundel County building permit fees are separate and were not retrieved.

    zoning application fee: 50 USD

    “submit $50 application fee payable to "town of highland beach."”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Highland Beach

Town of Highland Beach does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building permitRequired

    Building work inside Highland Beach town limits: Anne Arundel County building permits are required after Town zoning approval, per the Town's zoning permit form

    • Requirement is stated in the Town zoning form; the county building code and permit rules themselves were not retrieved.
    • Applicant must comply with regulations of both the Town and Anne Arundel County.
    “i understand that upon approval of this zoning application, i must obtain all required anne arundel county building permit(s).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Highland Beach or Anne Arundel County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in Highland Beach town
  • Building code adopted — Building codes for Highland Beach town
  • Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Highland Beach town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Highland Beach town
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts of Highland Beach town
21 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Highland Beach publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Anne Arundel County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Highland Beach means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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