The DPIE Business Development Section continues to support local businesses. They recently assisted the Afrique Fashion House, located at 5311 Water Street in Upper Marlboro, with the permitting process. Maxwell and Dora Boakye-Ansah started their business with online sales. As their inventory and customer base increased, they moved to the Prince George’s County brick-and-mortar location, which features African clothing and custom, handcrafted pieces that fit the style, personality and lifestyle of their customers. The company specializes in contemporary African print dresses, jumpsuits, two-piece outfits, shoes and accessories for women, men, and children — all made in Ghana and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit the Afrique Fashion House website.

Effective Tuesday, December 27, 2022, food trucks, or mobile food vending businesses, will no longer be restricted to operating in food truck hubs in Prince George’s County. In lieu of the hubs, food trucks may operate in certain areas where they have permission from a person authorized to enter into an agreement with the food truck operator or company.

Sites allowed by the County include:

• Certain office and business parks

• Industrial areas

• Commercial areas and shopping centers

• Faith-based organizations

• Membership pools and non-profit organizations; and more.

Food trucks may not vend from the side of public roadways or in unapproved locations.

DPIE no longer will issue food truck hub licenses, however the County Department of Health still requires licensure. For questions regarding FOOD SERVICE applications, including food trucks, contact 301-883-7690 or FoodProtectionProgram@co.pg.md.us.

See the legislation that eliminated the food truck hubs, CB-053-2022, Attachments: 1. B2022053 on the County Legislative/Zoning Information System (LZIS) website.

Many of the County’s restaurants offer outdoor seating during the spring and summer seasons. The Restaurant Temporary Outdoor Seating Area (RTOSA) authorization, issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended through April 1, 2024. Restaurants that have a valid Use and Occupancy Permit for outdoor seating but would like to modify their space to add a tent or certain heating sources are required to submit an RTOSA Revision Application.

• For information on the extension, view NOTICE: RTOSA Authorization Extended.

• Use this link to access the RTOSA Revision Permit Process Instructions and Checklist.

• For additional details and required documents on the RTOSA program, view DPIE’s Temporary Restaurant Outdoor Seating page.

Holders of outdoor seating permits issued under the legislation need to take no action to renew their RTOSA permits and will suffer no penalty if their restaurants are otherwise in compliance. Applicants for new RTOSA permits need to follow the application process.

The original authorization for RTOSA was granted by the County Council in 2020 as part of a reopening effort to allow qualifying restaurants to offer service to customers while abiding by social distancing mandates. The Council extended the authorization with passage of CB-68-2022, which became effective December 12, 2022. View the text related to the RTOSA extension legislation, CB-068-2022, by clicking on Attachment 1. B2022068 and reading pages 43-45.

Register to Attend!

Join the Business Development Team at 12 noon on Thursday, February 28, 2023, for a discussion on how to obtain a permit for Special Events.

Register for this free webinar at https://event.webinarjam.com/register/110/8v1y8ap4.

Over the last year, the BDS has conducted several webinars and prepared PowerPoint presentations for the business community on a variety of DPIE processes. Topics include Building and Use and Occupancy Permits, Inspections, Special Events, Business Licensing, and more. Customers may access the BDS presentations here.