Site Development
When Are Permits and Inspections Required?
Permits are required when:
- Clearing over 5000 square feet
- Working in Tree Conservation Plan (TCP) areas
- Installing driveways or aprons
Site/Road Development Inspectors' Enforcement and Inspection Responsibilities
(Click the links for additional information.)
Erosion and Sediment Controls
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) delegates the erosion and sediment (E&S) control enforcement authority to Prince George’s County. The County must demonstrate every two years to MDE it has the ability to effectively enforce State erosion and sediment control requirements. Valid MDE certification is required for all engineers, designers, contractors, project managers, supervisors, inspectors, and personnel responsible for E&S control implantation, installation, maintenance, and inspections working on projects in the State of Maryland.
TCP2/Woodland Conservation
The TCP2 is required to follow an approved TCP1 and for any application that requires a Forest Stand Delineation (FSD). At the Type 2 phase, final decisions are made for techniques that will be incorporated on the site to ensure adequate woodland conservation and tree protection.
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (CBCA)
The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area includes all land within 1,000 feet of Maryland’s tidal waters and tidal wetlands. It also includes the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Coastal Bays, their tidal tributaries and the lands underneath these tidal areas. In Prince George’s County this includes areas along the Patuxent, the Potomac and the Anacostia Rivers. See PGATLAS.com for locations of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
Storm Drain/Stormwater Management
There are a variety of stormwater facilities in Prince George's County, such as ponds, sand filters, bioswales, and others. These facilities help improve water quality and help prevent flooding. All these facilities are used to treat, clean, and filter stormwater from County roadways, creating cleaner water that will eventually end up in the Chesapeake Bay. Inspections are performed on these facilities from start to finish.
Street Construction
Street construction means improvement of the County right‑of‑way (ROW) by excavation and placement of curbs, driveway aprons, subbase materials, asphalt and appropriate street drainage appurtenances, and sidewalks if requested or as needed to meet Prince George's County standards.
Haul Roads
A Haul Road Permit is required for the following:
- Hauling materials from mining, grading, excavation and reclamation operations on County Roads
- Hauling timber and related logging equipment on County Roads
Restoration Bond
Required if a permittee is proposing to drive construction equipment across completed public streets, as is sometimes needed to build structures or additional site/road infrastructure. This permit requires fees and bonds, and the permittee is required to repair the public roadway prior to permit closure.
Driveway Apron
A driveway apron is the section of the driveway that meets the road. It extends beyond the sidewalk (if present) and crosses what is technically considered the Prince George's County ROW.
Site/Road Inspections Listed by Permit Type
A bulleted list of Site/Road Inspections is categorized under each permit type (in bold).
Site Development Rough Grading
- Preconstruction Meeting
- Initial Inspection
- Notice of Violation
- Civil Citation
- Stop Work Order
- Erosion and Sediment Control
- Tree Conservation Plan
- Grading
- Storm Drain/Stormwater Management
- Final Inspection
Site Development Fine Grading
- Erosion and Sediment Control
- Tree Conservation
- Grading
- Storm Drain/Stormwater Management
- Paving
- Sidewalks/Curb and Gutter/Concrete
- Floodplain
- Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (CBCA) Program
- Notice of Violation
- Civil Citation
- Stop Work Order
- Driveway Apron
- Landscaping
- Maintenance of Traffic
- Street Trees
- Streetlights
- Street Signs
- Pavement Markings
- Final Inspection
Storm Drain/Stormwater Management
- Notice of Violation
- Civil Citation
- Stop Work Order
- Pipe
- Structure
- Bedding
- Embankment/Core Trench
- Landscaping
- Concrete Cradle
- Inflows
- Outfalls
- Headwalls
- Final Inspection
Street Construction
- Street Trees
- Streetlights
- Street Signs
- Notice of Violation
- Civil Citation
- Underdrain
- Stop Work Order
- Pavement Markings
- Subbase
- Subgrade
- Paving
- Sidewalks/Curb and Gutter/Concrete
- Maintenance of Traffic
- Final Inspection
Haul Road
- Initial Inspection
- Routine Inspection
- Final Inspection
Restoration Bond
- Initial Inspection
- Routine Inspection
- Final Inspection
Driveway Apron
- Initial Inspection
- Form Inspection
- Concrete Inspection
- Final Inspection
Complaint
- Complete Response Form
Sediment Control Final under Building Permit
Site Development Inspection Requirements
The following inspection types require these inspections:
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (CBCA) Program
- Initial Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Routine Inspection (Inspector generally performs every two weeks but can also be requested)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Driveway Apron
- Preconstruction Meeting (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Form Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Concrete Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Erosion and Sediment Control
- Preconstruction Meeting (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Initial Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Routine Inspection (Inspector generally performs every two weeks but can also be requested)
- Removal of Erosion and Sediment Controls (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Haul Road
- Preconstruction Meeting (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Initial Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Routine Inspection (Inspector generally performs every two weeks but can also be requested)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Restoration Bond
- Preconstruction Meeting (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Routine Inspection (Inspector generally performs every two weeks but can also be requested)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule
Street Construction
- Preconstruction Meeting (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Subgrade (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Subbase (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Sidewalks/Curb and Gutter/Concrete (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Underdrain (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Paving (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Pavement Markings (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Streetlights (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Street Signs (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Maintenance of Traffic (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Storm Drain/Stormwater Management
- Preconstruction Meeting (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Pipe, structure and materials inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Routine Inspection (Inspector generally performs every two weeks but can also be requested)
- Core trench/embankment inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Concrete Cradle Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Riser Structure Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Landscaping Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Tree Conservation Plan, Type 2 (TCP2)
- Initial Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
- Routine Inspection (Inspector generally performs every two weeks but can also be requested)
- Final Inspection (Contact Site/Road Inspector to schedule)
Additional Information about Regulatory Requirements
Erosion Control
The effects of erosion and sedimentation are detrimental to a site, a property, and to local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Typically, when the earth’s surface is exposed to the impacts of rainfall, there is an increase in the volume and velocity of runoff. This sets off a chain reaction that results in the transport and deposition of sediment, reduced stream capacity, and ultimately increased stream scour and flooding. Additionally, suspended sediment contributes to a decline in water quality by blocking sunlight, reducing photosynthesis, decreasing plant growth, destroying bottom dwelling species’ habitat, as well as carrying attached pollutants such as phosphorous, nitrogen and suspended solids.
Enforcing Erosion Controls
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) delegates the erosion and sediment control enforcement authority to Prince George’s County. The County must demonstrate every two years to MDE it has the ability to effectively enforce State erosion and sediment control requirements.
Roadway, infrastructure and stormwater management inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with all applicable codes.
Grading inspections assure compliance with regulations for the placement and movement of soil through the inspection and monitoring of grading operations. Inspections are conducted for proper soil placement, excavations, final grade elevations and stabilization.
Woodland Conservation
Woodland Conservation inspections ensure compliance with the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M–NCPPC) Tree Conservation plans and specifications. Woodlands benefit the County as a whole by increasing property values, providing privacy and screening from adjacent properties, and reducing heating and cooling bills.
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (CBCA) Program
All construction or grading operations in the area that fall within 1,000 feet from the tidal water are regulated by this program.
Helpful Sites
- MD DLLR State License Check
- MD DLLR Code Administration
- MD Sediment and Erosion Control Online Training
- NICET Check
- MOSH
- State Highway Notification (roadway complaints, etc.)
- Translate or Google Translate
- MD Elevator, Escalator, Amusement Rides
- COMAR
- Municipal Overview
- OSHA Training
- WSSC Permit Check
- M–NCPPC Planning
- M–NCPPC PG Atlas