Minor Grading Permit Submission Guidance

Minor grading permits are required for any earth disturbance exceeding 5,000 square feet or 100 cubic yards.

Major grading permits are required for any earth disturbance exceeding 30,000 square feet or 500 cubic yards.

Step 1: Submit Application. Application is made electronically through the County’s online Application Portal. Please make sure to upload a plot plan of the property for review.*

Step 2: Completeness Check. County staff checks the application to confirm it includes the required information and documents. 

• If any submission documentation or requirements are missing, the applicant will receive an email that the application was sent back with a link to the online Application Portal.

Step 3: Pay Application Fees. When an application is deemed complete by County staff, the applicant will receive an email with instructions to pay the application fees. 

Step 4: Agency Review*. After the fees are paid, the application is reviewed by the appropriate agencies. Due dates are 1-week from the date the permit is assigned to the review agencies.

4a. No Comments or Corrections. If there are no review comments, the application will move to Step 5 where the application is approved and the Minor Grading Permit is issued.

4b. Corrections Needed. If corrections are needed, the applicant will receive an email to review staff comments. Revise plans based on reviewers' comments and resubmit on the online Application Portal under Applicant Actions.

Step 5: Application is Approved and Minor Grading Permit is issued.

** To receive a Use and Occupancy Certificate once the associated building permit is complete, the lot must be stabilized or a surety provided until final stabilization is achieved. The amount required is calculated by multiplying the square footage of earth disturbance as entered on the permit by .06 cents. This will need to be provided in the form of a check made payable to Frederick County Government with the grading permit number written on the check. The check will be returned upon final inspection of the stabilized lot.

Directions for Plot Plan Submission:

• The Limit of Disturbance (LOD) needs to be delineated on the plan sheet and must include all proposed work (excavated areas), pathways to the work area, utility connections, and proposed grading. 
• Plans need to show existing impervious areas on the property and those in proximity to the work area on neighboring properties.
• Contours need to be shown. 
• To create a simple site plan to include the above information, follow these procedures:
• Go to the Frederick County Property Explorer
  • Type the address in the search tool in the upper right corner, click the magnifying glass, and select the property address on the left margin.
  • Zoom to include the entire parcel. 
  • Click on the Layers tab in the lower left-hand corner.
  • Check the contours and parcel boxes.
  • At the bottom of the plan view, shift the Street/Arial bar halfway between the Arial Imagery and Street Map.  (The parcel lines, Arial Imagery, and Contours should all be visible.)
  • Print the plan in color.
  • Draw the project’s Limit of Disturbance, proposed impervious areas, and proposed grading area on the printed plan.
  • Upload the plan as an attachment to the minor grading permit application.

*** Upon approval of the improvement plans and prior to issuance of the grading permit, a plumbing permit that covers all onsite private water, sewer and storm drain utility work is required. The application must be approved prior to start of construction for all proposed private portion of utilities including storm drains, water and sewer lines, monitoring manholes, hydrants, and any other on-site private utility work. Applications can be submitted by the Frederick County Licensed utility contractors on the online Application Portal.