Montgomery County’s Building Code Program Achieves a Best Rating Category

For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has improved its building code effectiveness rating and is now in the best rating category for insurance rate credits for new construction. This higher rating can result in lower property insurance rates for those building in the County. 

According to the Insurance Services Office (ISO), only two percent of the jurisdictions in the State of Maryland are included in the best rating category and Montgomery County’s score is one of the top three scores for building code enforcement agencies in Maryland.

Every five years, the ISO rates and reviews the DPS for how it applies and enforces building codes to minimize risks associated with natural hazards, such as wind damage. The latest “report card” indicates DPS has improved from the intermediate rating range to the best rating range for its building code effectiveness. This rating, the highest the department has ever received, is important because it means new construction projects are now eligible for the most favorable insurance rate discounts from insurers that follow the ISO advisory ratings.

“The Department’s improved score on building code effectiveness is a considerable accomplishment and advances our mission of assuring that our residents and businesses are safe and realizing economic value,” said DPS Director Diane Jones. “We want residents and business owners to take advantage of the new rating, which can result in discounted insurance rates for new construction projects.”

The department’s use of checklists for plan reviews and inspections, staffing to work volume, timely adoption of current codes, and training contributed to its improved score.

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Release ID: 18-439
Media Contact: Jessica Fusillo 240-777-6272