Building Plan Review Notices & Alerts

Momentum logo showing green & blue letter M in a circle

New Trade Permits Accepted in Momentum

New trade permits (electrical and mechanical) that do not require a building permit are now accepted in Momentum. Read more here.

Change of Occupancy Use per the Building Code, provides clarity in planning change of use vs bldg.

New Document Clarifies Requirements for Change of Occupancy (Use) per Current Codes

DPIE's Building Plan Review Division's (BPRD) chief, Nabeel Waseem, has written a document in collaboration with Associate Director Bellur Ravishankar and staff to review applicable building codes to assist customers who need clarity in planning change of use vs. building changes. The document provides information on: applicable building codes to determine the change of occupancy/use; conditions where a plan review Is NOT required by the BPRD; BPRD's requirements for change of occupancy/use; and common examples of change of occupancy/use. Click to access the "Change of Occupancy (Use) per the Building Code" document.

Residential Fence and Gate Owner Certification form for Fence Permits

New Requirement Helps Streamline the Permit Process for Residential Fences

DPIE's Site/Road Plan Review Division (SRPRD) has streamlined permitting procedures for Residential Fence Permits by designing a form that establishes when a permit review is needed or not needed by the SRPRD. The landowner is required to sign and submit the new "Residential Fence/Gate Owner Certification" form for all residential fence permits. This form will help shorten the timeframe for residential fence permits by predetermining the review steps in order to keep the permit moving forward.

Permits, blueprint plans stamped Approved

Important Message

DPIE is experiencing lengthy delays in permit application and building plan reviews for several reasons: higher than normal application submittals, staff shortages due to retirement, staff resignations and other factors.  To address these delays, DPIE is utilizing overtime, employing contract plan reviewers and providing residential templates for deck design to reduce review times. DPIE is also providing outreach community information sessions to walk residents through processes.

Predesign Review Meeting, icon of requirements being put into place

Preliminary Design Review Meeting (PDRM) Overview

The purpose of the Preliminary Design Review Meeting (PDRM) is to have the requester, the applicant and/or architect/engineer meet with the County's Building Plan Review Division to discuss code-related design items in reference to building/structural, electrical, mechanical, fire & life safety, health and ADA accessibility.

Please be aware that the Site/Road Plan Review Division, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) reviews are not part of the Building Plan Review Division, but they are required to obtain a permit. Contact these agencies separately as needed:

For more information, visit the Preliminary Design Review Meeting web page.

DDPIE Connect Mini Preliminary Design Review Meeting, icon of puzzle pieces connecting

DPIE Connect — Mini Preliminary Design Review Meeting

Effective May 1, 2022, DPIE is encouraging small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in our new DPIE Connect program. DPIE Connect will bring agency experts together with entrepreneurs aspiring to open businesses in one-hour mini preliminary design review meetings (PDRM). Staff from DPIE’s Permitting and Licensing Division, Building Plan Review Division, Inspections Division, and Business Development Section (BDS) will participate. Topics of discussion include application requirements, permits, licenses, inspections, fees, and plan review code-related questions covering building/structural, electrical, mechanical, fire & life safety, health and ADA accessibility. The scope of projects applicable for DPIE connect include:

1. Projects requesting straight U&O — no construction;
2. Projects with change of occupancy —  no construction;
3. Projects with interior alterations not exceeding 3,000 sq. ft. in area; or
4. Projects not more than 1 story in height.

For more information, visit the DPIE Connect web page.

Wet Stamp, representational red seal of approval

In an Effort to Reduce Paper and Increase Efficiencies, DPIE No Longer Requires Paper Copies Delivered with Wet Seals/Signatures to DPIE; All Approved Permit Plans Are Still Required at the Construction Site at All Times

  1. Final Permit Plan Submission Requirements:
    Effective, May 1, 2022, DPIE will no longer require paper copies of final approved permit plans, calculations and design reports delivered to DPIE with wet seals/signatures. The applicant is still required to upload signed and sealed drawings, calculations and design reports at the time of plan submission for every drawing sheet and on the cover page for all calculations and design reports.
  2. Permit Plans at Project Site:
    Pursuant to the Prince George’s County Code adopting the International Building and Residential Code, a (24" x 36") full-size copy of the final set of approved signed/sealed permit plans, in color, must be at the construction site for inspection at all times and available upon request by the Building Code Official. The final approved set of permit plans on the construction site shall always display a red DPIE approval stamp and design professional signatures and seals. Copies of the final approved set of permit plans can be downloaded by the applicant of record from the approved permit set folder in ePlan. Failure to have the approved permit plans on site will result in the cancellation of an inspection and the re-inspection fee will be assessed. Applicants are still required to maintain copies of the approved plans. 
  3. Green Stamp Erosion/Sediment Control Plans Approved by the Prince George’s County Soil Conservation District:
    Prior to issuance of site/road permits, the applicant shall deliver one set of green stamp final erosion/sediment control plans to DPIE. The permittee shall also keep a copy of the original green stamp final erosion/sediment control plan on the construction site at all times, along with all other site/road permit plans. If you have questions regarding green stamp erosion/sediment control plans, contact the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District at 301-574-5162 ext. 3 or visit www.pgscd.org.
Solar Panel, photo of 2 men adding solar panels to roof

NOTICE:  Change in Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) Fees

Effective May 1, 2022 — With constant innovation in Photovoltaic (PV) technology, solar products continue to be readily available to customers at competitive pricing. This has also impacted the cost of construction/installation. Currently, Prince George’s County permit fees for Photovoltaic (solar panel) are based on Cost of Construction, as calculated based on the formula indicated below:

  • Residential PV system:  $5.00 per watt
  • Commercial PV systems on roof (100 kW-2 MW):  $3.00 per watt
  • Commercial Utility-scaled PV systems on ground (5 MW-100 MW):  $2.00 per watt

Considering data from National Renewable Energy Laboratory of U.S. Department of Energy on Q1 2020, effective May 1, 2022, Prince Georges County Government, Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) will be using the following formula to calculate the cost of construction, based on which permit fees will be assessed.

  • Residential PV system: $3.00 per watt
  • Commercial PV systems (100 kW-2 MW):  $2.00 per watt
  • Utility-scaled PV systems (5 MW-100 MW):  $1.50 per watt

For questions, contact Nabeel Waseem, Building Plan Review Division Chief at NWWaseem@co.pg.md.us.

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Building Permit Fee Multiplier Adjustment

Effective April 1, 2022, the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement will change the building permit fee multiplier used for new building construction and additions.

The new formula will be calculated by using the Building Valuation Data (BVD) issued by the International Code Council dated February 2022. The International Code Council updates the BVD table bi-annually; however, Prince George’s County will update the fee multiplier annually.

The BVD table provides the “average” construction costs per square foot, when calculating permit fees for new construction and additions within a jurisdiction. The 2018 International Building Code gives instructions concerning permit fee schedules in Section 109.2 and building permit valuations in Section 109.3.  Permit applications submitted prior to the effective date will be calculated by the appropriate BVD.

For additional information or questions regarding this Notice, please call 301-636-2070.

electrician-notice

Electrical Code Changes

Effective June 28, 2021, DPIE will implement Electrical Code changes in conjunction with the 2017 edition of the National Electrical Code associated with County Subtitle 9 (Electrical).

There will be transitory provisions as per County Building Code Subtitle 4, Section 4-113 (g).

electrician-notice

Building Code Changes

Effective February 15, 2021, DPIE will implement Building Code changes in conjunction with the 2018 editions of the International Codes for Building, Mechanical, Energy Conservation, Existing Building, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Residential Codes for One- and Two-Family Dwellings associated with County Subtitle 4 (Building).

There will be a transition period of six months from the effective date, when the requirements of new codes become mandatory.

All single family and town house plans-on-file (POF) submitted on or after August 15, 2021 will be required to comply with the new codes as referenced.

electrician-notice

Building Permit Fee Multiplier Adjustment

Effective July 1, 2019, the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement will change the building permit fee multiplier used for new building construction and additions.

The new formula will be calculated by using the Building Valuation Data (BVD) issued by the International Code Council dated February 2019. The International Code Council updates the BVD table bi-annually; however, Prince George’s County will update the fee multiplier annually.

The BVD table provides the “average” construction costs per square foot, when calculating permit fees for new construction and additions within a jurisdiction. The 2015 International Building Code gives instructions concerning permit fee schedules in Section 109.2 and building permit valuations in Section 109.3.  Permit applications submitted prior to the effective date will be calculated by the appropriate BVD.

electrician-notice

Change to Building-Mounted Sign Applications Approval

All building-mounted "Sign Permit Application" forms must be reviewed by the Building Plan Review Division’s Structural Section, located in the Permit Center. Should you have any questions regarding this Notice, please call 301-636-2070.

electrician-notice

Fire Protection Systems Change

Beginning January 2016, Fire Sprinklers and Fire Alarm Systems MUST go through the Third-Party Plan Review Program approval process.

Fire Protection Designers, Consultants and Peer Reviewers

Effective Friday, July 1, 2016, all Fire Sprinkler Site releases for single family residences are required to go through the Third-Party Plan Review Program approval process. This requirement, per Section 4-157 of the County Code, was postponed from the original implementation date of January 1, 2016 to allow for additional time to meet this mandate.