Happy New Year: A Message from the Director

It’s going to be an exciting year at the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) as we are preparing to launch a new permitting system that will improve and streamline our processes for our stakeholders and staff, and we will celebrate some major projects happening across the County this year, including the opening of the new Marriott headquarters and hotel in downtown Bethesda.  

As we look back on 2021, it was another busy and productive year for DPS! We moved 200+ employees to our new offices in Wheaton and we continued to innovate and utilize technology to serve our customers. Despite another year marked by the COVID-19 health crisis, DPS continued to serve our customers online, at the office and in the field. Our work is imperative for our County’s economy to grow and thrive, and we continue to adapt to meet the challenges and demands of safely serving our customers during this ongoing pandemic.

The enterprise cloud-based system we will bring on this year will change the way we do business in Montgomery County as all our permits will be online, and on the cloud with almost no down time. As we migrate data from the current systems to the new cloud-based system, we will keep you posted of our progress. This change requires a lot of work and may require closing our systems for a few days to roll over to the new system. I am proud of our DPS team who is making this happen behind the scenes while continuing to serve the public on our current systems.  

By the numbers, DPS issued or approved more than 56,000 permits, completed over 152,000 inspections, fielded more than 52,000 MC311 service requests, and renewed more than 5,200 licenses in 2021. Our inspectors are instrumental in guiding commercial businesses in new COVID procedures and code compliance.

At DPS, we are committed to providing exceptional customer service. That focus is reflected in the positive feedback our employees have received over the last year for simply doing their jobs. Whether it’s processing door-to-door vendor applications, issuing building permits or explaining how to make an online payment, our focus is on customer satisfaction!  

Speaking of a job well done, the Maryland Building Officials Association recently announced that the 2021 Maryland Plan Reviewer of the Year is DPS employee Mariella Dallas. Mariella was recognized for her outstanding service and commitment, and her recognition is well deserved. 

We also received a couple of 2021 NACo achievement awards, including for the Pandemic Response and Management Program and the COVID-19 Outdoor Dining Program, a collaboration with several other departments.

At the end of last year, I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newest Design for Life community in Montgomery County — Parc Redland. Universal Communities, the builder, has been a champion for the Design for Life program for years. Check out our Design for Life program online for information about how you may qualify for tax incentives for making your home more accessible. 

If you are active on social media, follow our #MoCoDPS posts on the County’s Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up with the latest news from our department. I hope you will also follow me on Twitter @mitrapedoeem.

Please continue to let us know in this new year how we are doing at DPS, and what we can do better. Our offices are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday at 2425 Reedie Drive (7^th floor) in Wheaton. We look forward to seeing and serving you in 2022!

Wishing you — our Montgomery County residents and businesses — a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Mitra Pedoeem
DPS Director

Plan Reviewer of the Year

A Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) employee has been recognized as the Plan Reviewer of the Year by the Maryland Building Officials Association. DPS’ Mariella Dallas received the 2021 award last month. She was honored for her outstanding commitment, contributions and service. 

“The award means a lot to me,” Mariella said. “It is nice to be recognized for my work and it will strengthen my drive to have the highest level of dedication to my job.”

Her job requires review of residential permit applications to verify that the proposed scope of work complies with adopted building codes. She is one of six plan reviewers on the DPS residential team.

“I complete over 60 reviews per week — from complex new home projects and residential additions to interior alterations and exterior decks and porches,” said Mariella. “I think what I do is extremely important. We ensure that the buildings constructed in Montgomery County are safe and built to the highest standards. I also hope to help create a better understanding of the importance of building codes and how they ensure the safety and welfare of the residents of Montgomery County.”

She said applicants can improve their plans by becoming more familiar with the building codes.

“The number one issue with submitted plans is the inability to show code compliance by incomplete knowledge of the codes or by providing deficient and incomplete plans and documents,” Mariella said. “Unlike the commercial team the residential team also provides services to applicants that are not design professionals. This can be challenging sometimes but I believe we strive to guide and support them to achieve code compliance.”

Mariella, who has worked at DPS since 2018, was nominated by her manager Robert Kelly who said she always “goes out of her way to help all.”

A Montgomery County resident since 1994, Mariella graduated with honors from the Catholic University School of Architecture in Washington D.C. She is a Maryland licensed architect and AIA member and has worked in the building industry for more than 20 years with experience in residential and commercial buildings.

A New Design for Life Community

Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Director Mitra Pedoeem joined local officials and developers last month to cut the ribbon for Parc Redland, a new Design for Life community in Rockville.  

The townhouse community, located at 17217 Redland Road, overlooks a 10-acre park and is less than two miles from the Shady Grove Metro Station. The builder is Universal Communities, and the homes feature elevators, entrances without steps, enlarged doorways, smart controls and more. 

“We appreciate and congratulate Universal Communities on building this impressive residential community for all ages and stages of life,” said Pedoeem. “We hope this is the start of more Design for Life communities in Montgomery County. We are committed to helping grow this program, which helps us live longer in the home we love.”

Learn more about Montgomery County’s Design for Life program and how you could qualify for a tax credit by making your home more accessible.

Kari's Law

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) — Fire Code Compliance Section — is educating local businesses and organizations about Kari’s Law.

This law requires a multi-line telephone system (MLTS) to provide direct access to 911 without having to press any other number. It was named after Kari Hunt who was killed by her estranged husband in a motel room in Texas in 2013. Her nine-year-old daughter tried to call 911 but the motel phone required a “9” to be dialed to reach an outside line.  

The State of Maryland passed HB 1080 requiring a person that installs or operate an MLTS ensures that the system is connected to the public switched telephone network in a way that an individual calling 911 is connected without having to dial any other number.

DPS encourages you to check your organization’s telephone system as soon as possible to ensure you are in compliance:

• Contact your telephone or network provider and inquire how their services are set up to reach 911.
• Ask for a direct connection to 911 without having to press any other number.
• If you have questions or need additional information about Kari’s Law, contact DPS at 311 or 240-777-0311.

Parking News

This month, parking rates and hours are increasing at the Wheaton Parking Garage (effective as of Jan. 3) and parking lot (beginning Jan. 10) on Grandview Avenue. Both the garage and lot are adjacent to the Wheaton Office Building where the Department of Permitting Services is located.

According to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, the new hourly rate at the parking garage and parking lot is $1.00 an hour from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Street parking in Wheaton is slated to increase to $1.25 an hour (Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.) in April of 2022.

For details about these parking changes, read the Montgomery County Department of Transportation news release and visit the County’s website.  Payment stations and meters accept credit card and coin payment, and all locations accept Pay-by-Cell transactions using the ParkMobile app.

Schedule Note

DPS offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17 for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Apply for permits and submit construction plans online at any time. Our offices will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

DPS is Hiring

Are you looking for a new job? The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services is hiring. We are looking for building inspectors, permit technicians, plan reviewers, a data analyst, and more. Consider a rewarding career as a code official. Apply today!

Customer Service Survey

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services is committed to providing exceptional customer service. Please take this quick survey to let us know how we are doing and what we can do to improve in the new year. We value your input!

Stay in the Know

Please subscribe to Constructive Comments to receive this online newsletter in your inbox each month. In between issues, follow #MoCoDPS on Montgomery County’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest news and information from the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services.