Happy Building Safety Month!
This year marks the 44th anniversary of Building Safety Month, which was established by the International Code Council (ICC) to spotlight the importance of safety in construction and building maintenance. DPIE’s main responsibilities center around building safety. The men and women of DPIE are diligent in their commitment to ensure the safety of Prince George’s County’s residents and business partners. During Building Safety Month, we celebrate them along with the nation’s building and construction professionals. We ask you to partner with us by ensuring your residential or commercial property is code compliant.
Together, we can make Prince George’s a safer place!
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Inspections Division Associate Director Behdad Kashanian supervises employees who review structures for compliance related to building life safety, electrical, mechanical, energy, accessibility and all site/road development activities. Each day, his inspectors are checking requirements at the top of tall buildings, walking new home developments, climbing into trenches to inspect framing and footings, investigating suspected unpermitted construction and more. |
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Val Cary, Associate Director of the Enforcement Division, said zoning requirements such as those enforced by her team help keep customers safe at commercial establishments.
“We don’t enforce to interfere with businesses,” she said. “We just want to make sure that people are safe inside our commercial and industrial operations. Aesthetics are important but safety is key."
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Associate Director Bellur Ravishankar, who heads the Permitting and Licensing and Building Plan Review divisions, said the plan review and permitting processes guarantee that projects meet code requirements. His staff works with residential and commercial customers to help them obtain the appropriate permits for projects.
“Obtaining the applicable building and trade permits will ensure proposed construction work is done in compliance.”
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Rey de Guzman, Acting Associate Director of the Site/Road Plan Review Division, oversees the review and permitting of all bridge and roadway construction, roadway improvements, storm drain infrastructure, stormwater management and flood mitigation facilities and policies, floodplain management, management of projects within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, and site grading as it relates to land development in the County. |
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Five of DPIE’s seven divisions perform functions related to safety.
Permitting and Licensing: Processes building and site permits and issues licenses
Building Plan Review: Reviews plans for residential and commercial projects
Site/Road Plan Review: Checks and approves site and roadway plans for proposed development and road improvement projects
Inspections: Regulates construction, development and grading through inspection and enforcement of codes
Enforcement: Conducts inspections of residential, commercial and industrial properties to ensure compliance with zoning and property maintenance requirements
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Chief Inspector Darrell K. Terry, Inspections Division
As the northern area supervisor for the Construction Standards/Commercial Construction/Life Safety team, Terry supervises 10 inspectors who check the code compliance of residential and commercial structures. He describes his job as a never-a-dull-moment adventure that regularly brings him into contact with County residents. He takes pride in the fact that he assists people with fulfilling the American dream of home ownership.
Terry has been part of the DPIE team since the agency’s inception in 2013. Previously, he worked for the Department of Environmental Resources (DER), from which DPIE was created. Terry also owned a construction and consulting company in Charles County.
He loves helping residents and describes his colleagues as “a great group of dedicated people.” Terry is an ordained minister who was recently installed as senior pastor at Unity Baptist Church of District Heights. He is also a volunteer with the County’s Christmas in April program.
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Staff at Work: Promoting Building Safety
From ensuring multi-level commercial structures are constructed to established standards, to assisting residents with completing appropriate processes to renovate their homes, to checking to make sure commercial and industrial property maintenance standards are followed, our inspectors, engineers, techs and other staff stand ready to help every day!
 1. Rebecca Metcalf, a temporary staffer in the Permit Center, assists a customer with an application question; 2. Maher Mirza, Supervisor of Peer Review and Third-Party Plan Review Programs, and Engineering Tech Scott Davenport-Smith discuss a project under review; 3. Enforcement Division Zoning Inspector James Laws inspects a home-based commercial property; 4. Inspector Monica Hemmatian, a member of the Inspections Division team, inspects footers at a construction project; 5. Code Enforcement Officer Mike Metz of the Director’s Office inspects a commercial building; 6. Inspections Division Construction Standards inspectors check a house under construction.
Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council (ICC) each May to focus on safety in construction and building.
According to the ICC website, the event raises awareness about the need for jurisdictions to adopt modern building codes and for the codes to be updated regularly. Building Safety Month also helps residents and businesses understand what is needed to create safe and sustainable structures. The ICC theme for the May 2024 commemoration is “Mission Possible.”
“The International Code Council, its members, and a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety communities come together with corporations, government agencies, professional associations and nonprofits to promote building safety through proclamations, informational events, legislative briefings and more,” the website said.
For more information, visit the ICC website.
DPIE offers County residents and business owners helpful information to protect their homes — and their families.
 1. Maintain working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors; 2. Refrain from storing flammable materials on your property; 3. Keep walkways and stairs free of clutter; 4. Ensure appliances are in good repair. Make needed electrical, mechanical and structural fixes immediately.
Among the biggest threats this time of year is damage due to the hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods, heavy rains and hail that come with warm weather. Any of these conditions can turn a beautiful warm day into a dangerous situation in your home. DPIE’s permitting and inspection processes are the best tools to guarantee structures are built safely and more likely to withstand weather damage.
Take precautions and prepare your family. Develop a family evacuation plan and remember your pets because many shelters won’t allow animals. Be ready for emergencies!
 1. Stay tuned to the internet, TV, and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio for storm updates and information; 2. Create a disaster supply kit for use if you remain in your home or are forced to evacuate after a disaster; 3. Establish at least two exit routes from your home or neighborhood; 4. Have a designated meeting place for your family and include a plan for your pets.
For more information, visit the ICC website. For more tips from DPIE, contact DPIEPIO@co.pg.md.us.
 Click to view "DPIE Alert: Storms" flyer in English.
Haga clic para ver el folleto "Alerta DPIE: Tormentas" en español.
(From left) DPIE Director Dawit Abraham, Permit Center Manager Clarence Moseley, and Prince George's County DCAO Jared McCarthy attend the Public Service Recognition Awards.
Permit Center Manager Clarence Moseley was recognized for excellence when he was honored with the County’s Public Service Recognition Award for DPIE at a ceremony on May 13, 2024. Only one employee may be nominated per agency. The awards are bestowed during County Public Service Recognition Week.
Read more here: Clarence Moseley Receives Public Service Award.
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