Please read all information before completing application form. All information must be complete and legible. Incomplete or illegible entries may result in delays or non-issuance of permit. Application must be received at our Annapolis office on or prior to June 1 to retain preferential treatment for riparian landowners.

1. Applicant – the person applying for the license.

1. Complete name, organization (if applicable), mailing address (street, city, state, zip code).
2. Indicate if you want to license the offshore blinds or shoreline for three years ($60) or one year ($20).
3. Please include daytime phone number. This way we can contact you immediately if we have any questions.
4. Sign form as applicant.

2. Property description:
Indicate county and body of water where property is located

3. Establish offshore site?
Indicate whether or not you desire to establish an offshore blind(s) (stationary blinds or blind sites). The location of the offshore blind(s) must be indicated on the map you submit, or your blind(s) will not be licensed. In all cases, your shoreline will be licensed.

For landowners with at least 250 yards of shoreline, offshore blinds must also be located at least 125 yards from the property line of adjoining landowners. So for example, if a licensee owned exactly 250 yards of riparian shoreline, a stationary blind or blind site would have to be located midway between the licensee’s property lines. In the case of a landowner who does not own or have written permission from adjoining neighbors totaling 250 yards, the blind site must be at least 125 yards from the nearest licensed shoreline. Offshore stationary blinds and blind sites must be at least 250 yards apart from each other. Stationary blinds and blind sites must be at least 150 yards from any dwelling, unless the licensee has the written permission of the owner of the house. Stationary blinds and blind sites must generally be located within 300 yards of the shoreline or one-third the distance to the opposite shore, whichever is less. An exception to the distance from shore rule, is that in the Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties, and in Prospect Bay in Queen Anne's County, stationary blinds and blind sites may be up to 800 yards from the shoreline.

Property #1 through #3
List the property owner(s) of the shoreline you are licensing. If the shoreline is a single tract of legally described land, you only need to complete the “Property #1” section. If you (the applicant) and the shoreline owner are the same person, write “Same as above” as the name of the property owner.

Property Account Identifier: The Department uses the records of the Department of Assessment and Taxation to track property boundaries and ownership. Please include the “account id” information from your most recent property tax bill to help us identify the property in the tax records. You can lookup your property account through the website of the Department of Assessment and Taxation, at http://www.dat.state.md.us. Click on “real property data search”. Provide us with the “district”, “subdivision” (AA County only) and “Account Identifier” associated with each property included in the license application.

At least one of the owners of each property must sign the form to give permission to license the shoreline. This is not necessary if the applicant and the landowner are the same person. A letter or lease may be included from the landowner in lieu of having them sign the form; write “see attached” on the signature line. If you are applying as a community or homeowners’ association, please include names, addresses and signatures from each riparian homeowner. (This information can be included on an attachment). If there is a break in continuity of properties, then each contiguous segment of shoreline must be applied for and licensed separately.

Additionally, you must:

1. Include a legible map showing the exact location of the shoreline to be licensed, the entire property boundaries and the exact locations of the proposed offshore stationary blinds or blind sites (mark sites with an “X”), if any. Tax maps are preferred. Remember we do not license blinds on property you own, only in the offshore waters.
2. Remember to include a check made payable to DNR for $60 (for three years) or $20.00 (for one year) per application. If you are licensing one continuous piece of shoreline, regardless of the number of stationary blinds or blind sites, or the size of the property, you only have to complete one application and pay one fee. If the shoreline is not continuous, or if it is separated by bodies of water, then you must complete a separate application and enclose the fee for each separate shoreline or property. Please make as many copies of the application form as you need. Property owned and licensed by governmental entities are exempt from the fee requirement.

Application Form

Offshore Blind and Shoreline Licensing Laws for Riparian Landowners

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This page updated on 01/30/2008