DPIE News
Trainings, Events and News
Events
You are invited to join us for the Third-Thursday Community Information Session on May 16, 2024.
This will be an open forum Zoom seminar where you may ask questions and share your concerns with DPIE's top management. Send questions in advance to DPIEPIO@co.pg.md.us. There's no need to preregister. Simply click here at 11:00 a.m. on May 16 to join the Zoom meeting.
Trainings
ePlan Customer Trainings Offered via Zoom
Thursday, May 16, 2024
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
DPIE is offering monthly VIRTUAL training sessions on how to upload applications and plans for review in our ePlan system. Training sessions are FREE and are held the third Thursday of every month. The Zoom link will be provided to registered customers 48 hours prior to the training.
All those who wish to attend the May virtual class need to reply no later than May 9th by sending an e-mail to one of the following contacts or calling the phone number:
| Robin — ramclean@co.pg.md.us | Danielle — dmrobinson1@co.pg.md.us |
| Shanti — snwilliams@co.pg.md.us | Shaniqua — sjreed@co.pg.md.us |
| (301) 636-2050 |
To cancel or reschedule, please notify one of the above persons via e-mail or call the phone number.
Please Note: If there are less than 4 people signed up for a training, the class will be canceled; the persons signed up to attend will be notified and moved to the following month’s class.
All customers scheduled to attend an ePlan Customer Training session must print a copy of the "ePlan Applicant User Guide" for the class.
Occurs every 3rd Thursday of every month! This year's remaining trainings will be held on:
| May 16, 2024 | June 20, 2024 | July 18, 2024 |
| August 15, 2024 | September 19, 2024 | October 17, 2024 |
Events — ICYMI!
Third-Thursday Community Information Session
February 2024
"Unlicensed Home-Based Businesses Are Illegal in Prince George's County" | Spanish
Community Partners' Meeting
Spring 2024
DPIE's Community Partners' Spring presentation here.
News
Special Enforcement Blitz Is Addressing Illegal Home-Based Businesses
Prince George’s County is taking action against illegal home-based businesses following a surge in citizen complaints regarding kitchen cafés, makeshift clubs, driveway auto repair shops, and other unpermitted businesses. . .
How Does the Blitz Work?
DPIE’s "Stepped-Up Enforcement Blitz" is targeting two categories of unlicensed businesses: those that can achieve compliance and those that cannot.
DPIE Business Licensing ID Card Issuance Changing
Effective April 15, 2024, DPIE Business Licensing will no longer issue physical identification cards for certain business and health licenses. In lieu of ID cards, applicants will be able to download their licenses from the online Momentum system.
DPIE Announces the New Acting Associate Director of the Site/Road Plan Review Division Is Reynaldo S.P. de Guzman, P.E.
Rey de Guzman has over 35 years of experience in various departments and divisions within the Prince George’s County regulatory system. Most recently, he serves as Chief Engineer at DPIE’s Site/Road Plan Review Division and. . .
DPIE Announces Acting Deputy Director Position Selection!
Mary Giles, P.E. Is the New Acting Deputy Director of Permitting and Plan Review Divisions
Ms. Giles, P.E., is a civil engineer with 43 years of experience in the profession. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland, and she is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Maryland.
Prince George’s County Announces Winter 2023/2024 Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal Inspection Program
The Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) wants to remind residents and businesses that owners, tenants and managers of residential and commercial properties with paved sidewalks adjacent to their properties are responsible for ensuring that sidewalk areas are cleared of snow and ice. Failing to clear snow and ice may result in the levying of fines.
Community Information Sessions Move to Quarterly Presentations
DPIE’s virtual Third-Thursday Community Information Sessions have changed from monthly to QUARTERLY. These meetings allow citizens to interact with agency staff. Each session focuses on a particular topic and includes a brief presentation, comments by agency experts and a Q&A period.
- Sessions take place from 11 a.m.–12 noon on the third Thursday every three months.
- Registration information will be provided in the DPIE Developments newsletter and on DPIE's website at dpie.mypgc.us closer to each event.
- Participants may submit questions in advance to DPIEpio@co.pg.md.us.
The quarterly Third-Thursday Community Information Sessions will be held in February, May, August and November.
New Associate Director of the Administrative Services Division Joins DPIE's Senior Management Team
Eric Ampedu joins DPIE after nearly 18 years in the District of Columbia government. He is a seasoned government services executive with extensive HR and operations experience. Eric started his DC Government career at the. . .
Special Event Expedited Review Fee Increases
On May 30, 2023, the Prince George’s County Council adopted the Special Event Expedited Review Fee via Resolution (CR-15-2023) to cover expedited plan reviews and inspections for the issuance of Special Event Temporary Use and Occupancy Permit applications. Effective October 1, 2023, the Special Event Expedited Review Fee will be assessed. The fees and charges are designated in the DPIE Fee Schedule or click to view the Special Event Expedited Review Fee Table.
New After-Hours Permit Fee
On May 30, 2023, the Prince George’s County Council adopted a new After-Hours Permit Fee for the review and issuance of an After-Hours Permit. The new fee of $60 (+ 5% technology fee) will be assessed starting on
October 1, 2023. It will cover the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) costs of reviewing and issuing an After-Hours Permit Application. The fees and charges are designated in the DPIE Fee Schedule. View the text related to the After-Hours Permit Fee at CR-017-023 and CB-36-2023 on the legislation site.
Trade Permits Accepted in Momentum
New trade permits (electrical and mechanical) that do not require a building permit are accepted in Momentum. If your electrical or mechanical permit is related to an existing construction permit that was issued in ePermits, you must continue to use this process to apply for that electrical or mechanical permit in ePermits with the same link you have been using, referencing the existing case number.
Rent Stabilization Act of 2023 Went into Effect in April Limiting Rent Increases for Some Renters to 3 Percent Annually
Landlords in Prince George’s County are now limited in the amount they can increase existing rent in certain rental units. To learn more, see the Rent Stabilization Act FAQs.
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.
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.
School Facilities Surcharge Fees and Public Safety and Behavioral Health Surcharge Fees Adjusted
Effective July 1, 2023, the School Facilities Surcharge fees and Public Safety and Behavioral Health Surcharge fees were adjusted for inflation for Fiscal Year 2024 by an increase of 4.9% on new residential construction for which a building permit is issued, as required by Maryland State Law and ordinances (CR-069-2023 and CR-063-2023) enacted by the Prince George’s County Council per the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the United States Department of Labor.
Pursuant to the Prince George’s County Code, except for residential construction in certain areas qualified for a reduction in the School Facilities Surcharge fee, the School Facilities Surcharge fee for Fiscal Year 2024 shall be $11,560 for permits issued for buildings located between Interstate Highway 495 and the District of Columbia. For permits issued for buildings included within a Basic Plan or Conceptual Site Plan that abut existing or planned mass transit rail station sites operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the School Facilities Surcharge fee shall also be $11,560. The School Facilities Surcharge fee shall be $19,826 for permits issued for all other buildings. Additionally, pursuant to the Prince George’s County Code, the Public Safety and Behavioral Health Surcharge fee shall be $3,123 for permits issued for construction located inside the Transportation Service Area I as defined by the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission in the Prince George’s County Approved General Plan and for construction in an area included in a Basic Plan or Conceptual Site Plan that abuts an existing or planned mass transit rail station site operated by WMATA and that complies with the requirements of any Sector Plan, Master Plan or Overlay Zone approved by the Prince George’s County District Council. The Public Safety and Behavioral Health Surcharge fee shall be $9,362 for all other buildings.
Click to view the "Notice: School Facilities Surcharge and Public Safety and Behavioral Health Surcharge Fees Adjusted" document.