Code Enforcement FAQs

Code Enforcement (Property Maintenance) Frequently Asked Questions

  1. My neighbor’s grass is very tall. Is this a violation and who should I call to report this?
    Grass in excess of 12 inches tall is a violation of the County Code. Complaints about tall grass may be reported by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  2. How many unlicensed vehicles can I keep on my property?
    Only one vehicle, whether wrecked, dismantled or unlicensed, may be kept on private property; and, it must be in an enclosed garage, not on exterior property.
  3. Can I operate an auto repair business from my house or garage?
    No. It is a violation of the County's Zoning Ordinance. Any such repair activity must cease immediately if this is being done on your property. If you notice this illegal activity on a property, please report it by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  4. A house in my neighborhood is in disrepair and may be abandoned. What should I do?
    Please report the property by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  5. I am cleaning out my basement. Can I pile the unwanted debris in the rear yard until I am finished?
    No. It is a violation of the County Code to store rubbish and debris on the external premises. Please contact Bulky Trash at 301-952-7600 to schedule a pickup. If you notice debris stored on a property, please report it by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  6. There is a vacant lot with a large amount of debris. Who would handle getting the debris removed?
    A vacant, unimproved lot (no house/structure) would be investigated by the Enforcement Division. When reporting, please be sure to advise that there is no structure on the lot. Please report the property by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  7. My neighbor has a pool with stagnant water. Is this a violation?
    Yes. Pools containing stagnant water or pools in disrepair are in violation of the Housing Code. Please report the problem by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  8. I am moving and would like to rent my house out. Do I need a permit to do so?
    A rental license is required. Visit DPIE's Enforcement Division page for Rental License information. All rental license applications are submitted through Momentum. Email dpierentallicenses@co.pg.md.us for questions.
  9. I live in an apartment, and I have problems inside the unit. Who do I report this to?
    If you have reported the problems to the management office and the problems have not been repaired or resolved in a reasonable length of time, an investigation will be conducted and appropriate follow up taken, if applicable. Report the problems by calling PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 301-883-4748 if you are outside of the County.
  10. How do I file a complaint?
    Please include the address of the property in question and a brief description of the complaint. To file a complaint, please call PGC311 at 3-1-1 if you are inside the County. Dial 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.
  11. I submitted an application for a Single-Family Rental License and received a temporary license. What's the next step to get a permanent license?
    Once an approved application is submitted, a temporary license is issued for 30-90 days so the area inspector can perform an inspection. The inspector will visit the property, either in person and/or virtually, to conduct an exterior inspection and place a hang tag on the front door. If there are no violations and the tenant does not have any concerns within their rental unit, then a license will be issued after 48 hours of the visit.
    (Please note:  If there are concerns from the tenant, an inspection will be scheduled to view any violations. The owner will be notified of the violations and given (10) days to come into compliance. If he/she does not, then this will start a process of denying the license application and possibly issuing a citation.) Email dpierentallicenses@co.pg.md.us for questions.