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Happy Spring!
With the arrival of warm weather, we ask you to "Spring into Compliance!" to address property maintenance violations as you prepare your property for the season. We also ask you to bring any home-based businesses into compliance. DPIE's new "Stepped-Up Enforcement Blitz" is reaching out to unlicensed business owners to assist them in getting the appropriate permits and licenses to operate as a legal business in the County.
Please share the news to help spread the word regarding the importance of bringing home-based businesses into compliance.
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 Code Enforcement inspector investigates complaint for an illegal car business.
Prince George’s County is taking action against illegal home-based businesses following a surge in resident complaints regarding kitchen cafés, makeshift clubs, driveway auto repair shops, and other unpermitted businesses. The Stepped-Up Enforcement Blitz, which was launched on March 1, is being spearheaded by DPIE utilizing trained Enforcement Division inspectors.
During the first 30 days of the blitz, DPIE is visiting neighborhoods passing out enforcement information. Inspectors are also working with community and County agency partners and utilizing social media to spread the message about the program. Inspectors are converging on certain areas on designated weekends and evenings.
“Unlicensed businesses pose a threat to our community's integrity and safety," said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. "This initiative is about more than shutting people down. We also aim to work with residents operating businesses illegally to bring them into compliance, whenever possible, ensuring fairness and fostering a thriving business environment throughout the County."
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 Zoning Inspector Ellington Adams, Jr., investigates a suspected illegal nightclub in Hyattsville. DPIE investigates dozens of illegal businesses operating within homes and commercial structures each month.
DPIE’s "Stepped-Up Enforcement Blitz" is targeting two categories of unlicensed businesses: those that can achieve compliance and those that cannot.
Businesses that can achieve compliance are establishments operating outside of County Code that be changed to comply, such as:
- Unpermitted residential hair salons and barber shops
- Food trucks vending on the side of public roads
- Home-based tax preparation businesses
- Unlicensed room and boarding house rentals
- Unlicensed day care or elder care
- Operating a store from your home
DPIE is educating owners of these businesses about securing required permits and licenses and providing a 90-day period for them to come into compliance before issuing fines.
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DPIE Associate Director Mary Giles Selected as Acting Deputy Director
Mary Giles, who spent 10 years as Associate Director of the DPIE Site/Road Plan Division, has been named Acting Deputy Director of the agency. In her new position, Giles, who is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland, oversees the Permitting and Licensing, Building Plan Review and Site/Road Plan Review Divisions.
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Rey de Guzman Named Acting Associate Director of Site/Road Plan Review
Site/Road Plan Review Chief Engineer Rey de Guzman will take over the leadership of the Site/Road Plan Review Division after the promotion of former Associate Director Mary Giles to Acting Deputy Director of DPIE.
De Guzman has more than 35 years of experience in Prince George’s County. . .
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As temperatures warm, DPIE is asking homeowners or those who are responsible for property upkeep to “SPRING into Compliance!” Be a good neighbor, avoid violations and fines, and protect the aesthetic value of your properties and our communities by taking the following steps:
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Spruce up your yard by trimming plants, clearing fallen branches, etc.
Prettify your house by repairing peeling paint, loose siding, ragged gutters, broken windows, torn screens, damaged doors, etc.
Remove junk such as old appliances, building materials, unused furniture, untagged vehicles, vehicles parts, etc., from your yard. For information on residential collections and bulky trash pickups, visit the Department of Environment's (DoE) Clear the Curb webpage.
Improve the curb appeal of your vacant property and avoid a fine by keeping the structure and grounds secured and safe.
Nurture your property values by ensuring no deck or patio furniture or recreational equipment for children is put out until it is cleaned and repaired.
Guarantee you don’t get a violation notice for tall grass and weeds by keeping your grass cut and weeds pulled. Grass and weeds over 12 inches high violate code.
Remember to report property maintenance violations to PGC311.
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 BEFORE the cleanup at left: open (outdoor) storage, debris and untagged vehicles littered the yard. AFTER the cleanup: open storage, debris and untagged vehicles were removed by the County and a lien placed on the property.
DPIE has a message for property owners whose yards are cluttered with old vehicles, broken appliances, junk and debris: Clean it now! DPIE inspectors are investigating complaints, and the County has contracted to clean dozens of properties in violation of property maintenance codes, such as this lot in Upper Marlboro. The cost will then be recouped from the property owner.
Be a good neighbor and clean up your property ASAP! Report properties in violation of property maintenance standards to PGC311.
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 Check the Status of Momentum Permits Using the DPIE Plan Review Tracker
Do you want to know the status of your permit application? DPIE’s Application Tracker is a tool that gives users a snapshot of where a permit application is in the plan review process. Momentum applications in the plan review process can be found here.
To use the DPIE Application Tracker:
- Go to the DPIE Application Tracker.
- Enter your application number including the letters* (Ex. 12345-2024-ABC) and click “search.”
- Review your plan review progress. If your application is not in the review process, your application will not be visible in Application Tracker.
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 LookSee — Property Explorer
To research Momentum permits and related information in Prince George's County, use Looksee, DPIE's newest software tool.
The portal will allow you to view information related to Momentum permits, licenses, inspections, and enforcement by entering the full application/permit number or an address.
Please note: Only Momentum applications/permits are displayed in LookSee.
If your application number does not contain letters,* your application will not be in this system. (The status of ePermit cases may be checked at Permit History by Street Address.)
To start your search, click to enter LookSee.
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DPIE recently approved and issued numerous permits for these key economic development and community infrastructure projects (July 2023 to March 2024). They are listed by category:
Flex/Warehouse
- Alliance TC Mid-Atlantic III (133k SF warehouse building), Landover
- Brightseat Road Technology Park, Landover
— Site Development Concept Approval (87-acre project, 4.1M SF data center)
- Collington Center (103k SF Amazon warehouse building), Bowie
- National Capital Business Park, Upper Marlboro
— Four Grading Permits (300+ acres of land development)
— Three Commercial Building Permits (829,000 SF warehouse distribution)
- Prologis Flex Warehouse (131k SF), Forestville
- Target (1.17 million SF warehouse space), Upper Marlboro — U&O permits
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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. This change will allow applicants to access their licenses soon after issuance instead of waiting for delivery by mail. The licenses for which IDs will no longer be issued by DPIE Business Licensing include. . .
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The Site/Road Plan Review Division recently added substantial information to the DPIE website for programs in the following categories:
Be sure to review other categories listed in the right navigation bar on the website for useful information on topics ranging from district engineering to Site/Road forms.
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- The Business Development Section (BDS) supports the growth of County businesses by providing guidance and assistance to entrepreneurs and established business owners in navigating the permitting and licensing processes. For more information, visit the BDS web page or contact Charles Cooper at DPIEBIZDEV@co.pg.md.us.
- Homeowners can file 24 types of building permits through the Virtual Permit Center (VPC) to achieve walk-through processing. Use the VPC option to fast track your homeowner permit. In most cases, homeowners are issued their permits the same day. For more information, view the Walk-Through Permit Process and VPC webpages.
- DPIE is open Monday through Friday to serve you. Hours of operation are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, from 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
- The Maryland Department of the Environment's Advancing Stormwater Resiliency in Maryland (A-StoRM) Regulations Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is proposing to update the current state stormwater management model ordinance, Maryland’s Stormwater Management Design Manual, in the near future. The draft model ordinance and design manual, specifically Supplement 2, are circulated to members of the A-StoRM TAG. DPIE staff are participating members.
- If you are a property owner who installs stormwater management devices on your property, you may be eligible for a Rain Check Rebate. Permits are not required for qualifying projects if less than 5,000 square feet of land is disturbed, and the project intent is to treat or remove an existing impervious area (paving, driveways, rooftop, etc.). The program offers rebates for eligible stormwater management practices for residential, commercial and public property. To apply, visit DoE's Rain Check Rebate webpage or call DoE at 301-883-5927.
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Beginning April 1, 2024, Building Plan requirements for both in-ground and above-ground pools will change from "Outdoor swimming pools shall meet the setback requirements for main buildings (not for accessory structures)" to "Demonstrate the pool details and fence/barrier." Swimming pool applications are completed online. Go to the Momentum portal and enter the information directly into the system. For more information, visit DPIE's website. |
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The Department of Environment is hosting the virtual Community Partners' Spring Meeting in collaboration with DPIE and the Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. It's not too late to sign up to attend. Residents are encouraged to participate to learn about agency initiatives, updates and helpful information. Send questions to BGarner@co.pg.md.us. Registration is required at: https://ow.ly/zHuz50R16Xc. |
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 Danielle Robinson is presented with DPIE’s Outstanding Customer Service Award.
Permitting and Licensing Division Administrative Aide Danielle Robinson was recently honored for her stellar performance in customer service. Her supervisor, Permitting Office Manager Robin McLean, and top managers presented her with the agency’s Outstanding Customer Service Award certificate. (From left: Acting Deputy Director Mary Giles, Robinson, Director Dawit Abraham, Assistant Associate Director Karen Spears, and McLean.)
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 Mario Martinez (left) and De’Shawn Fraser
For more than a month now, De’Shawn Frazer and Mario Martinez have been assisting customers with the DPIE permit application process as members of the Permitting and Licensing Division.
Frazer and Martinez joined the DPIE team through the Project HIRE Disability Apprenticeship Program, which provides people ages 18-25 with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities with paid job training with a Prince George’s County Government agency.
Apprentices are assigned to work within a host agency for one year. The program gives the young apprentices a chance to expand skills they already have and to learn others. It provides County agencies with enthusiastic helpers with whom to share their expertise.
Permitting and Licensing Division Assistant Associate Director Karen Spears said the two staffers are assisting customers by responding to application and permit status inquiries and explaining processes.
“They are helping customers to understand what is needed to successfully submit an application and obtain a permit for their residential, homeowner projects,” Spears said. “They are a great service to the Permit Center because they are quick learners, courteous, patient with the customers, and willing to assist customers throughout the process.”
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Prince George’s County
Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement
9400 Peppercorn Place
Largo, MD 20774
(301) 636-2000
http://dpie.mypgc.us
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