INSPECTIONS

The Inspections division provides customer assistance and inspection services to verify compliance with zoning, building, electric, plumbing, Floodplain Regulations, Minimum Livability and Maryland Accessibility Codes, and ordinances. Tracking and collection of Economic Impact Fees, which were deferred prior to Dec. 2, 1996; permit and inspection record keeping and retrieval; Mobile Home Park licensing; and assistance to Zoning Administration staff are also provided. Technical assistance is provided at pre-issuance (permit and construction drawing review), and as a follow-up (inspection coordination and technical assistance to the builder and the contract inspection agency MDIA) to issuance of construction permits by the Permits Review Section. Upon collection, review and approval of inspection reports from the contract inspection agency, as well as the zoning inspection staff, structures are "certified" for occupancy.

Zoning inspection and compliance functions of this section range from follow-up on citizen inquiries, violations to site inspections for compliance with conditional uses, over lot grading and stormwater management. Additional tasks include land use inventory activities such as nonconforming use and sign inventories.

Inspections Services

Commercial Plan Reviews	Residential Site Development Inspections
Commercial Site Development	Stormwater Management Inspections
Critical Area Inspections	Zoning Inspections
Investigate Work Without Permits	ADA/Handicap Inspections
Home Occupation Inspections	Investigate Citizen Inquiries
Floodplain Regulations	Issuance of Use & Occupancy Certificates
Schedule Zoning Inspections	Minimum Livability Code Inspections (Rental Code)
Maintains Records for Inspection, Inquiries, Unsafe Structures, etc.	Perform Initial Damage Assessment for the Department of Public Safety after a Natural Disaster
Research and Prepare Legal Documents for Recordation and Release Previously Recorded Economic Impact Fees (EIF) Agreements

customer assistance Guides

Our Customer Assistance Guides, or CAGs, are information sheets answering questions relating to many aspects of Land Use & Growth Management. Below is a list of the CAGs that are helpful in understanding aspects of the inspection process and procedures.

Building Permits for Pools

Building Permits for Decks

Building Code Inspections and Fees

Codes & Amendments

Click Here for a complete list of all building codes currently being used by St. Mary’s County.

Minimum Required Inspections

Click Here to view the county’s Minimum Required Inspections for Residential Projects

Citizen Inquiry Form

When filled out in its entirety, the Citizen Inquiry Form will allow you to inquire about the status of a permit, work being performed, or alert the county to unpermitted, illegal activities.

Additional Resources

The following websites are great resources for the inspections community. Find information on current codes, new products and as well as purchase inspections-related materials, code books, etc.

• International Code Council - www.iccsafe.org
• National Fire Protection Agency - www.nfpa.org
• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors Association - www.phccweb.org
• MDIA - www.mdia.net
• Maryland Building Officials Association - www.mdboa.org