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1. Who can I contact to have my fire systems inspected and certified?

If you are installing a brand new system, you would first need to obtain permit(s) by submitting Fire Protection Engineered plans for approval through the DPIE Plan Review Division; Or if you are conducting a maintenance inspection and testing, you can utilize at least a NICET level 3 up to a fire protection engineer to certify the testing and inspections of the system. The NICET inspector must be certified for the system(s) in which they are inspecting. 

For a fire protection engineer, you will need to utilize one of the authorized inspectors provided in the Third-Party Inspection Program Fire Protection Consultants list.

2. Can I use any electrical inspector for a third party electrical inspection?

No, you will need to utilize one of the authorized inspectors provided in the Approved Third-Party Electrical Inspector list.

3. How do I set up a Third-Party Inspection Program (TPIP) Pre-Construction Meeting?

First, your construction project must meet the criteria and/or be approved to be part of the TPIP. If you are utilizing a third-party team that is familiar with the program, please assign a point person as a contact for the DPIE Inspections Division at 301-883-3820. Make sure they specify whether or not the preconstruction meeting is for site development or the building construction portion.

4. How can I find out what time my inspector will arrive?

Due to each inspection day being different from the day before, with unpredictable amounts of inspection requests, the Inspections Division usually provides a time between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. However, division staff will make an effort to provide you with a more accurate time frame, such as a.m. or p.m.

5. Can I operate a business of any type without a Use and Occupancy Certificate issued by Prince George’s County DPIE?

No.

6. What is the Third-Party Inspection Program (TPIP)?

The Third-Party Inspection Program (TPIP) establishes a building inspections procedure that utilizes qualified, third-party professionals, in addition to the County’s Quality Assurance Inspectors, to conduct and document field inspections of commercial building construction projects and other projects permitted by DPIE. The use of third-party inspection teams is based on their ability to expedite project inspections resulting in the timelier issuance of a project use and occupancy certificate. The TPIP is usually required for all projects with total construction cost amounts greater than $200,000. The Building Code Official or designated representative may include or exclude a project from the TPIP due to its complexity, simplicity, or innovation, based on recommendations from the Associate Director for the Inspections Division (ID) or designee, and/or upon written request from the property owner.

7. Why do I see DPIE vehicles parked after hours and during the day at private residences?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prince George’s County Executive has authorized remote work locations and telework from home. DPIE staff, depending on their positions, may frequently be away from their private residences, or the County-owned vehicle may infrequently be mobile due to that employees’ duties, such as management; these managers still must respond to critical and essential emergencies that may arise from day to day. Also, the employee may be performing their duties as an inspector at this particular location.

8. My neighbor is performing illegal construction, who should I contact?

You should contact PGC311 by dialing 3-1-1 if you are inside the County or 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County, Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. except Federal and County holidays. You may also report this activity, as well as other violations, to PGC311 online.

9. Do I need a permit to do work in Prince George’s County?

Any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installations of which is regulated by the adopted codes of DPIE and WSSC, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit(s).