Pole barns and barndominiums in Easton, Maryland.
Building in Easton.
The Province of Maryland formally recognized Easton in 1710, and today it is the Talbot County seat, covering just over 11 square miles with almost two dozen public parks and open spaces. The Third Haven Meeting House and the Tidewater Inn are among its landmarks, and the Easton Historic District has been on the National Register since 1980. US 50, the Easton Parkway, MD 33 and Peachblossom Road all serve the town.
Inside town limits Easton runs its own zoning and building permits, and Talbot County’s permit office has no jurisdiction there. Our part is to draw the building, assemble the construction documents the town requires and manage both permit steps, working from our Dover office about 48 miles and 73 minutes away. Outside town limits, we follow the county’s process instead.
- County
- Talbot County, Maryland
- Population
- 17,101 (2020 Census)
- ZIP code
- 21601
- From our office
- About 1 hr 13 min (48 miles) by car
- Permits
- Town of Easton Building Inspection Division
- Main roads
- US 50 (Ocean Gateway), MD 322 (Easton Parkway), MD 33, MD 333 (Peachblossom Road)
Permits and rules in Easton.
Easton’s path has two steps. First, the Town of Easton Department of Planning and Zoning, 410-822-1943, issues the zoning certificate, and in the historic district the Historic District Commission must grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for any exterior work; the building permit can’t issue without it. Second, the Town of Easton Building Inspection Division, 410-822-2526, issues the building permit. Both offices are at 14 S. Harrison Street, and the Building Inspection Division takes applications only by hand delivery or mail.
Residential applications need three sets of construction documents prepared by a registered design professional, and the town’s FAQ asks for engineered truss drawings when trusses are part of the job. Only residential accessory structures of 220 sq ft or less, with eaves of 10 feet or less and no permanent foundation, skip the permit, so any pole barn or garage needs one. Before occupancy, the town collects approvals from Planning and Zoning, Engineering, Easton Utilities, the State Fire Marshal, Environmental Health, Soil Conservation, MDE and SHA. Easton enforces the 2021 IBC, IRC and IECC as of July 1, 2024.
Who issues the permit
Town of Easton Building Inspection Division
- Address
- 14 S. Harrison Street (P.O. Box 520), Easton, MD 21601
- Phone
- 410-822-2526
- Website
- Permit information(opens in a new tab)
Where this comes from
- eastonmd.gov (opens in a new tab)
- eastonmd.gov (opens in a new tab)
- eastonmd.gov (opens in a new tab)
- eastonmd.gov (opens in a new tab)
- eastonmd.gov (opens in a new tab)
- eastonmd.gov (opens in a new tab)
Permit details checked October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the current requirements for your parcel before anything is drawn.
What people build around Easton.
Easton’s zoning keeps a detached garage or shed out of the front yard, holds it to the side setbacks and sets it at least 15 feet from the centerline of any alley. Detached garages, sheds and a pool together may cover no more than half the rear yard, and any one garage or shed is capped at the lesser of 10% of the lot or 1,000 sq ft. Bigger pole barns, horse barns and farm shops belong on acreage outside town, under Talbot County rules.
Easton questions.
Have a question about your property? Call 302-399-4420 and we’ll look it up.
How big can a detached garage be in Easton?
The footprint can’t exceed 10% of your lot area or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less. Detached garages, sheds and any pool together also can’t cover more than half the rear yard. We size the building to those limits before the drawings go to the town.
Do I need a permit for a pole barn in Easton?
Yes. Easton exempts only small residential accessory structures of 220 sq ft or less, with eaves of 10 feet or less and no permanent foundation. A pole barn or garage needs a zoning certificate from Planning and Zoning and then a building permit from the Building Inspection Division.
How long is the drive to Easton?
Easton is 48 miles from our office at 575 N Dupont Hwy in Dover, about 73 minutes by car. It sits inside our service area, and we handle the paper filing the town requires, by hand or by mail.
Let’s plan your building in Easton.
Tell us what you’d like to build and where, and we’ll come back with drawings and a free quote.
- info@pbuincde.com
- Office
- 575 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901 (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
- Hours
- Mon to Fri, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
- We build in
- Easton and all of Talbot County