
Builders Risk in Maryland
Maryland floodplain development can include grading, filling, storage, and construction in a FEMA-mapped 100-year floodplain. Local permits are required, and MDE says construction in wetlands and floodplains also requires a state permit. For coastal work, Maryland Geological Survey shoreline-change information is updated for only some counties, so check the parcel and map vintage instead of treating a statewide shoreline trend as current.
What Is Builders Risk Insurance?
Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. Read the national Builders risk guide.
What Should You Watch for With Builders Risk Insurance in Maryland?
Include site work and stored materials in the floodplain check
Maryland's floodplain development definition reaches beyond the building to grading, fill, clearing, dredging, and storage. Ask the local permit office whether the laydown area, temporary works, or stored construction materials fall within the mapped floodplain and what permits apply. 1
Track elevation and equipment requirements through closeout
For buildings that must be elevated, MDE describes a local Flood Protection Elevation that adds community-selected freeboard above the 100-year flood elevation; it also calls for an elevation certificate and elevation of electrical and mechanical equipment. Ask the design and permit teams which project elevations and equipment locations apply, then ask the broker how flood loss to the building and equipment is treated during construction. 1
Treat shoreline-change maps as a parcel prompt, not a parcel finding
MGS has refreshed shoreline-rate data for Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Harford, and Prince George's counties, while it says older data elsewhere are becoming less useful. If the site is coastal, check the county, shoreline segment, and observation dates with a coastal professional before relying on the map; ask the broker how the quote treats water, erosion, and storm damage at that location. 2
List work in a waterway or floodplain before binding
Maryland's statewide waterway permit page covers specified work in a waterway or 100-year floodplain, including filling, excavation, construction, and temporary utility work. Match the permit application and work sequence to the values and locations submitted for the builders-risk quote; ask separately about transit and off-site storage. 3
Which Builders Risk Insurance Providers Have Maryland License Records?
No provider in our research has both a state license record and a listing for this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.
Who Regulates Insurance in Maryland?

Maryland Insurance Administration
The Maryland Insurance Administration licenses producers and insurers, reviews rates and forms, and investigates complaints about insurance companies and producers. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 4,5,6
Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Maryland
Reported tax rate. 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums when Maryland is the insured's home state; excludes risks of Maryland and its political subdivisions 7,8
When Maryland is the insured's home state, the tax is 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums, except insurance of risks of the State or a political subdivision. For policies effective on or after July 21, 2011, Maryland taxes the entire premium and the broker must charge the tax in addition to premium. Maryland's property and casualty guaranty corporation excludes surplus-lines policies.
What Should You Ask Before Buying Builders Risk Insurance in Maryland?
- Does any part of the site, laydown yard, temporary access, or stored material occupy a mapped 100-year floodplain or regulated waterway?
- Which county-specific shoreline data are current for this parcel, and what professional site assessment is needed?
- Do the quote's location schedule, flood terms, deductibles, off-site storage, and transit treatment match the actual work phases and material locations?
Builders Risk Insurance in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland floodplain review cover only the finished building?
No. MDE's guidance defines development to include land changes and storage as well as building construction and improvement. Local requirements are project-specific, and MDE says construction in wetlands and floodplains requires a state permit too. 1
Can a Maryland shoreline-change map tell me whether my parcel is eroding now?
Not by itself. MGS notes that current updates cover five tidewater counties and that older statewide data may be less useful; the mapping does not replace a current parcel-level coastal assessment. 2
Builders Risk Insurance Guides for Other States
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Other coverage in MarylandEvery coverage guide for Maryland, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.


