Building Safety Month: Game On!
Throughout the month of May, the Department of Permitting Services will participate in the 45th annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council (its members and partners) to promote building safety. This year’s campaign theme, “Game On,” encourages people to get involved in all aspects of building safety and raise awareness of the importance of building safety. This campaign reinforces the need for the adoption of modern, regularly updated building codes and helps individuals, families, and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.
Free residential deck maintenance safety inspections
As part of the annual Building Safety Month campaign, DPS offers free residential deck maintenance safety inspections in Montgomery County during the month of May. To make an appointment, contact MC 311 or 240-777-0311 beginning on Thursday, May 1. The program is limited to the first 300 appointments, properties inspected last year as part of this service are not eligible.
Homeowners can find more information about the permitting and inspection process for
residential decks on the DPS website, including a deck maintenance checklist. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. Remember, DPS is Your Project Partner!
Local Resources
For more info about Building Safety Month and local resources, see the links below:
- Fire Code Compliance Video
- Check Your Deck Video
- Home Improvements and Permits Podcast and Video
- Guide to Building Permits and Home Improvements ( en Espanol)
- Commercial Building Safety Podcast and Video
- Check Your Deck: DPS Podcast Episode (Audio only)
- Deck Maintenance Inspection Guidelines (En Espanol)
- Fire Pit Guidance for Single Family Homes and Townhomes
- Fire Pit Guidance for Multi-Family Housing
Week 1 - The Warm Up (May 1–3)
Discover how building safety impacts our daily lives including the places where we work, learn and play.
Week 2 - Build Your Offense (May 4–10)
Create a plan to actively support building safety programs in your community.
Week 3 - Build Your Defense (May 11–17)
Stay prepared for natural hazards such as severe weather, wildfires, earthquakes and more with our disaster toolkits.
Week 4 - The Starting Lineup (May 18–24)
Meet building safety professionals and learn about rewarding careers in building safety.
Week 5 - Going Into Overtime (May 25–31)
See what’s next for the building safety industry, including global trends, artificial intelligence and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
DPS offices are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday) at 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th Floor, Wheaton. You do not need an appointment to visit the office.
A design consultation is a voluntary design conference with plan review staff (typically architectural/life safety examiners, unless other disciplines are requested) to discuss preliminary/schematic design drawings for commercial and residential projects prior to preparation of final construction documents (working drawings, specifications, etc.). Design consultations are held virtually, and will connect you directly with local code officials. Remember, this service is free. Visit the DPS queue of online services to schedule your appointment.
The Department of Permitting Services offers several resources for homeowners to assist in understanding the permitting processes, scheduling inspections, making your home environmentally friendly, safer, and accessible for all ages and stages of life. See this webpage for more information: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DPS/homeowners/index.html. Remember, building safety starts at home.
Consider a rewarding career as a code official. Visit the Office of Human Resources webpage for the latest information about job openings with Montgomery County.
Please call MC 311 (240-777-0311) for assistance. The DPS Staff Directory is also posted online to connect you directly with staff.