Design Consultations for Residential and Commercial Projects
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.). It is intended primarily for discussing architectural designs; however, preliminary consultations may be arranged for engineering systems designs. Predesign consultations are virtual and free. If you have a question about your project and do not need a predesign consultation, call 240-777-0311 for assistance.
Design consultations are not for discussing comments resulting from the plan review permit process. Please contact the plans examiner who provided the comments to discuss plan review comments.
Developers of projects that are comparatively large or complex in scope, that involve a special use or occupancy, or that constitute an enlargement of, or change of use in, an existing building are likely to benefit the most from the preliminary design consultation.
Each scheduled consultation appointment is allocated one hour. Your one-hour appointment is your time. In order to gain the maximum benefit from this process, it is important that you are prompt and prepared for your appointment.
Typically, these discussions do not require the whole hour and one meeting is sufficient however, depending on the degree of design development or the project's complexity, additional consultations may be requested.
Design Consultations are not for the discussion of comments resulting from the plan review permit process – please contact the plans examiner providing the comments to discuss their plan review comments.
Anyone contemplating a residential or commercial building construction project may request a preliminary design consultation. However, meetings involving the project architect/engineers tend to be the most productive, thus, it is highly recommended that the design professional(s) attend the meetings. It is not mandatory to have a preliminary design consultation.
No. This service is offered as a courtesy to encourage early contact by the project developer with code officials to discuss the buildings proposed design relative to the County's applicable building and fire safety construction standards.