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Commissioners ask staff to convene stakeholders to study exempting detached sheds up to 600 sq ft
Summary
Land use staff will invite stakeholders to examine whether Saint Mary’s County should raise the building code exemption for accessory detached sheds from 300 to 600 square feet and clarify foundation, electrical and permit triggers.
The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on April 25 authorized the Department of Land Use and Growth Management to invite stakeholders to review a proposal to exempt accessory detached sheds up to 600 square feet from the county building code (the county currently exempts sheds up to 300 square feet).
Interim Land Use Director Bill Hunt and staff explained the narrow scope: the focus group should evaluate whether the county should expand the existing building‑code exemption and, if so, what technical conditions should apply (for example, what footing/foundation standard is acceptable, and whether the presence of electrical or plumbing should still trigger separate permits). Commissioners raised specific concerns regarding the sediment/erosion control and stormwater thresholds (a 5,000‑square‑foot disturbed area can trigger additional controls) and whether larger prebuilt steel structures or two‑car garages would be improperly captured by a larger exemption.
Staff noted that electrical and plumbing installations would still require separate permits regardless of any building‑code exemption and that zoning permits and cumulative calculations for stormwater/sediment control remain applicable. The International Residential Code (IRC), which the county adopts, currently requires footings/foundations for structures over 300 square feet; the focus group will examine acceptable alternatives, including lighter‑touch foundation standards commonly used for delivered metal buildings.
The board approved the request to assemble stakeholders and report back. The focus group’s charge is to provide technical recommendations on draft code language, foundation/installation standards, and recommended thresholds for requiring standard building permits or specialized permits for electrical/plumbing.
