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.

Related Links

Helpful Sites

Site Development

When Are Permits and Inspections Required?

Site/Road Development Inspectors' Enforcement and Inspection Responsibilities

Site/Road Inspections Listed by Permit Type

Site Development Inspection Requirements

Additional Information about Regulatory Requirements

Quicklinks

Quicklinks

Contact Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement