Bolthole Index

Calvert County, Maryland

Town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland: building permits, zoning and septic

In the Town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, start with town zoning review before Calvert County building-permit approval; most projects begin with the town before county submission.1 Chesapeake Beach sets its own zoning and water-and-sewer connection requirements, while Calvert County Health Department handles on-site sewage disposal systems where applicable.234

At a glance

Building permits
Town review first; Calvert County provides final building-permit approval1
Zoning
Town zoning applies inside Chesapeake Beach limits2
Minimum lot size
R-LD: 10,000 square feet; R-MD: 7,500 square feet, subject to applicable exceptions and health requirements56
Water and sewer
Town connection requirements apply where specified; confirm parcel applicability3
Septic permits
Calvert County Health Department; licensed installer obtains the Sanitary Construction Permit47
Private wells
Calvert County Environmental Health; applications accepted only from licensed well drillers8

Who to call

Zoning

Town of Chesapeake Beach Planning & Zoning

Town zoning and land-use review; coordination of town approvals before county building-permit review

(410) 257-2230

8200 Bayside Road P.O. Box 400 Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732

Septic permits

Calvert County Health Department - Environmental Health Services

Septic (on-site sewage disposal) permits, site evaluations, subdivision review and septic-installer licensing for Calvert County

(410) 535-5400

975 Solomons Island Road North, PO Box 980, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Well permits

Calvert County Health Department - Environmental Health Services (Well Water)

Well construction permits, site evaluations for new wells, replacement-well applications and potability certificates

(410) 535-5400

975 Solomons Island Road North, PO Box 980, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD?

Chesapeake Beach’s published approval process assigns zoning and land-use review to the town and final building-permit approval to Calvert County.1 Most Chesapeake Beach projects begin with town review before submission to the county, so contact Town Planning & Zoning before sending a construction application to the county counter.1 The town also identifies county final approval for electrical work, grading and use-and-occupancy permits.1 Ask Town Planning & Zoning which approvals your particular construction, renovation or change of use needs, and request the applicable residential zoning checklist.1

Does Town of Chesapeake Beach have zoning, lot-size and height rules?

The Town of Chesapeake Beach administers its own zoning inside town limits.2 Chesapeake Beach’s R-LD Residential Low-Density District has a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, subject to health requirements and applicable older-lot or nonconforming-lot exceptions.5 The R-MD Residential Medium-Density District minimum is 7,500 square feet, also subject to health requirements.6 Both districts list a maximum building height of 35 feet, with floodplain measurement and qualifying nonconforming-lot exceptions potentially affecting the result.910 Before choosing a house plan, ask Town Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, setbacks and Critical Area status; the town directs applicants to review those items before applying.1

How do septic permits and water connections work in Town of Chesapeake Beach?

Chesapeake Beach has town water-and-sewer connection provisions, including required connections where applicable, tapping permits, sewer allocation and closing septic tanks.3 Ask the town whether the parcel must connect before planning a private well or septic system; the town directs applicants to its water-and-sewer connection and hardship applications.1 Where an on-site sewage disposal system is applicable, Calvert County Health Department Environmental Health administers the process under delegated Maryland Department of the Environment authority.4 A Calvert County licensed septic installer must obtain a Sanitary Construction Permit before installation, and the system must be inspected and approved before being covered or used.711 New individual well applications go through Calvert County Environmental Health and are accepted only from licensed well drillers.8

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Town of Chesapeake Beach?

We could not confirm a general Chesapeake Beach rule allowing RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on private land; ask Town Planning & Zoning about the proposed use before buying a unit.1 Chesapeake Beach has its own zoning, so a parcel’s district and permitted-use classification need town review.21 Ask the town to distinguish a dwelling on a foundation from a vehicle used as temporary accommodation, and to identify any occupancy approval needed for your proposal.12 The town’s water-and-sewer connection requirements are a separate question from whether the proposed residential use is allowed.3

Building a home in Town of Chesapeake Beach: what are the steps?

  1. Start with Town Planning & Zoning: confirm the Chesapeake Beach zoning district, review the land-use table and setbacks, and complete the Critical Area Worksheet if applicable.1
  2. Resolve town water-and-sewer connection requirements; where private systems are applicable, arrange septic review with Calvert County Health Department and well permitting through a licensed well driller.348
  3. Submit the town’s residential zoning checklist, supporting documents and required fees; town fees are due at submission.1
  4. Follow the town review with the county submission for building-permit approval and the applicable electrical, grading and use-and-occupancy approvals.1

What should you check before buying land in Town of Chesapeake Beach?

Ask Town Planning & Zoning to confirm both the zoning district and Critical Area status before committing to a Chesapeake Beach lot; the town’s application guidance specifically calls for those checks.1 Chesapeake Beach regulates subdivision and plat approval, so do not assume that dividing a parcel is merely a survey exercise.13 Development in Chesapeake Beach’s designated flood-hazard areas falls under the town’s floodplain chapter, including application review, inspections and final-inspection submissions.14 Maryland also requires local floodplain development permits, and construction in wetlands and floodplains requires an MDE Wetlands and Waterways permit.15 For a parcel outside town limits, use the Calvert County guide; the county zoning dataset excludes incorporated Chesapeake Beach because the town has separate zoning regulations.16

Watch-outs

  • Town zoning review and county building-permit approval are separate stages; most Chesapeake Beach projects start with the town.1
  • A Chesapeake Beach lot may be subject to town water-and-sewer connection requirements; ask the town before budgeting for private systems.3
  • We could not confirm RV or tiny-home occupancy rules in Chesapeake Beach; ask Town Planning & Zoning for the permitted-use classification before purchasing a unit.1

Sources

  1. Town of Chesapeake Beach Planning & Zoning (chesapeakebeachmd.gov)
  2. Chapter 290: Zoning - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 217: Sewers and Water - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  4. Guidelines for the Installation and Inspection of On-site Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Article V: Dimensional Requirements - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article V: Dimensional Requirements - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  7. Guidelines for the Installation and Inspection of On-site Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  8. Well Water, quoted and re-checked
  9. Article V: Dimensional Requirements - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article V: Dimensional Requirements - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  11. Guidelines for the Installation and Inspection of On-site Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  12. Article VII: Administration - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 245: Subdivision of Land - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 149: Floodplain Management - Town of Chesapeake Beach, MD (Town of Chesapeake Beach), quoted and re-checked
  15. Floodplain Permitting in Maryland (Maryland statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Zoning, quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Chesapeake Beach

Town of Chesapeake Beach’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Chesapeake Beach town limits; the Town adopts and administers Chapter 290 Zoning.

    • Chapter 290 was adopted by the Town Council on 2-19-2004 by Ordinance O-04-1; the code states amendments are noted where applicable.
    “Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Chesapeake Beach 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. O-04-1”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • The code identifies R-LD, R-MD, R-HD, RV-1, RV-2, RC, RPC, NC, TC, PC, and MC districts; district applicability and uses are governed by Chapter 290.
    “Zoning districts are established to provide appropriate location for different types of land uses.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Buildings and development inside Chesapeake Beach town limits where the Town water and sewer mains or connection requirements apply.

    • The code separately contains provisions on tapping permits, connection of existing buildings, closing septic tanks, sewer allocation, deposits, renewals, and outstanding charges.
    • The exact applicability and exceptions are in Chapter 217 §§ 217-1 through 217-16.
    “§ 217-5 Connection to sewer main required. [...] § 217-7 Connection to water main required.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • The chapter contains subdivision control, plat approval, application procedures, design standards, required improvements, fees, and appeals.
    • The chapter was adopted by the Town Council on 5-26-1972; amendments are noted where applicable.
    “§ 245-8 Subdivision control. § 245-9 Plat approval required.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in designated flood-hazard areas inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • The floodplain chapter applies to flood-hazard areas and includes permit expiration, application, review, inspections, and final-inspection submissions.
    • The chapter was adopted on 10-16-2014 by Ordinance O-14-17; the ordinance repealed the former Chapter 149 adopted in 2011.
    “§ 149-14 Permits required; expiration. § 149-15 Application required.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term lodging operated as a bed-and-breakfast inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • An owner or manager must live on the premises.
    • The facility must be part of a dwelling unit.
    • No separate kitchens may be provided.
    • Meals are for overnight lodgers only.
    • The facility must operate through a state-approved bed-and-breakfast registry.
    • One off-street parking space is required for each guest room.
    • The use is a special exception with conditions in residential districts and a conditional use in NC, TC, PC, and MC districts.
    “Bed-and-breakfast establishment: special exception with conditions use in the R-LD, R-MD [...]”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Town zoning permitting inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • The code includes administration of the permitting process, enforcement, zoning permits, and conditions for zoning and occupancy permits.
    “Receive and examine all applications for zoning permits and other applications required by this chapter.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Chesapeake Beach

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-LD Residential Low-Density District inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • Lot areas must conform to State and County Health Department requirements.
    • The table's exceptions for pre-May 26, 1972 lots and nonconforming lots may apply.

    minimum lot size: >= 10000 square feet

    “A. Minimum lot size (square feet except where noted) 10,000 7,500 5,000 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 20 acres”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-LD Residential Low-Density District inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.

    • For buildings in the designated 100-year floodplain, height may be measured from the flood protection elevation.
    • Other dimensional exceptions may alter the height limit for qualifying nonconforming lots.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Floodplain measurement and nonconforming-lot exceptions may apply.)

    “H. Maximum building height (feet) 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders constructing inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Chesapeake Beach town limits.
13 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Lot coverage
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

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 Chesapeake Beach publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Calvert County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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