Builder contract review in Chevy Chase

As of 2026, the Town of Chevy Chase charges $3,000 to permit a new house, plus a $2,000 bond. A builder contract should say who pays.

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The Service

Builder contract review

A builder contract review reads the document the way the builder’s lawyers wrote it, flagging escalation clauses, deposit exposure, delay remedies that only run one direction, and warranty language full of exits.

A builder contract review in Chevy Chase often begins with fees absent from any sales sheet. The Town of Chevy Chase charges $3,000 to permit a new house and $500 for a main-house demolition, plus a $2,000 performance bond for each. Chevy Chase View charges $2,000 for a new-home permit and $1,700 for a variance application. County permits and utility connection charges come on top. On a custom rebuild, the contract has to name which party pays each one.

Water connection charges deserve a line of their own. WSSC Water’s System Development Charge on a new house runs $5,342 for three to four toilets and $7,479 for five. A larger plan can cross into the higher tier. We confirm whether the quoted price includes it, because some agreements shift it to the buyer at settlement.

Deposits follow. Maryland law says a builder collecting money before completion must hold it in escrow, post a bond or secure a letter of credit. We confirm which safeguard applies before any wire leaves your account. Upgrade deposits for cabinets or finishes need the same check. Should the job stall, that safeguard determines whether funds come back.

Then the fine print. Production and custom agreements often permit delivery date changes, material substitutions and a title company of the builder’s choosing. Implied warranties run one year, or two for structural defects, unless a disclosed plan replaces them. Each clause that moves risk toward you gets marked, with suggested wording. Builder contract review lays out the general service. Choosing among projects happens on new construction buyer representation in Chevy Chase, and lot rules on buildable land in Chevy Chase. Larger custom lots appear in Builder contract review in Potomac. Owners with a house to sell as well can price it with a Chevy Chase real estate agent.

Where We Work

Chevy Chase

Agreement types vary by project. Townhouse phases near Chevy Chase Lake rely on production contracts with long option menus. Custom houses in the Town of Chevy Chase, Chevy Chase Village and Section 3 use fixed-price or cost-plus agreements with local builders. Chevy Chase View and North Chevy Chase rebuilds add their own municipal permit fees. Each format places risk differently, so a clause that looks routine in one can be costly in another. Our review checks the contract against the plans, municipal rules and warranty booklet before signing.

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Answered

Chevy Chase, answered.

Q: Which municipal fees apply to building a new Chevy Chase house? A: It varies by municipality. The Town of Chevy Chase charges $3,000 to permit a new house plus a $2,000 performance bond, while Chevy Chase View charges $2,000 for a new-home permit. County permits and utility charges come on top, so every Chevy Chase builder contract should assign each fee by name. Q: What protects my deposit with a Chevy Chase builder? A: Maryland Real Property 10-301 does, at least on paper. A builder collecting money before completion must escrow it, bond it or secure a letter of credit. We confirm which safeguard covers your Chevy Chase deposit before any funds move, and we repeat the check for later upgrade deposits. Q: Does the buyer or builder pay WSSC charges on a Chevy Chase new build? A: Whichever party the contract names. WSSC Water’s System Development Charge runs $5,342 for a house with three to four toilets and $7,479 for five. Some Chevy Chase builder agreements shift it to the buyer at settlement, so we find that clause before you sign.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2, 2026 by Levi Loveless, licensed in Maryland and Virginia. Every rule, rate and figure on this page links to the source we checked.

Town of Chevy Chase, Permitting and Bond Fees
Chevy Chase View, Building Permit Fee Schedule, April 25, 2016
Md. Code, Real Property 10-301
Md. Code, Real Property 10-204, 10-602
WSSC Water, July 1, 2026

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Read the fee clauses before wiring a deposit.

Email the builder’s agreement, option sheet and addenda as soon as they reach you. Our markup flags each clause that shifts cost or risk your way, confirms how the deposit is protected and proposes specific wording for the changes worth requesting.