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Schedule a Free Residential Deck Inspection with the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services During ‘Building Safety Month’ in May

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 29, 2024

Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) inspectors will provide free residential deck maintenance inspections for homeowners during the month of May as part of the County’s annual “Building Safety Month” campaign. The DPS free deck inspection program is limited to 250 appointments. 

“Mission Possible” is the theme for the 2024 Building Safety Month campaign to raise awareness about building safety and the importance of adopting modern and regularly updated building codes.

DPSBUILDIGNSAFETYMONTH

“This is the County’s 15th year providing residential deck inspections to educate homeowners about the importance of preventative deck maintenance for you and your visitors,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “During that time, inspectors have conducted more than 2,800 free residential deck inspections as part of our commitment to safety. We encourage homeowners who have questions about the status of their deck to book an appointment for this free service and to review the educational resources that are available on the DPS website.”

To request a deck maintenance inspection by telephone, homeowners should contact the County’s central call system at MC311 or 240-777-0311 beginning Wednesday, May 1. Homeowners also can schedule an inspection online by visiting the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps and submitting a service request.  The form is in the online services queue on the front page of the website. On the description section of the online form, residents should note they are requesting a deck maintenance inspection and include the property address and contact information at the top of the form. Requests cannot be anonymous and must be requested by the homeowner.

“Building safety is our mission 365 days a year and Building Safety Month is a great opportunity to reemphasize the importance of safeguarding our homes inside and out,” said DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan. “A free deck maintenance inspection should take about 20 to 25 minutes. Once on site, an inspector will check the support structure of the deck, fastener conditions, ledger attachment and overall condition of the deck. Because of our inspectors’ workload at this busy time of the year, the program is limited to 250 appointments. Customers will find additional resources about decks and the permitting process on the DPS website, and we are always available to answer questions.”

One resource titled, “Plan Submittal Guidelines for Residential Decks,” is designed for homeowners submitting plans for a new deck.  It contains information about the permitting and inspection process. There is also a video to watch on-demand with DPS inspector Jeremy Shupp, who provides an overview of a deck inspection and who encourages homeowners to contact a licensed contractor. Another resource for homeowners, “Deck Maintenance Inspection Guidelines,” may be of interest for those who were not able to schedule a deck inspection. For more information about these resources and others, including frequently asked questions and answers, visit the DPS website and search for “residential decks.”

DPS’ free deck inspection program does not extend to the city limits of Gaithersburg and Rockville as those municipalities have their own permitting departments and protocols.

The Montgomery County Council is scheduled to have ceremonies for a joint Building Safety Month proclamation at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30. An outreach table will be available in the DPS customer service lobby in Wheaton throughout the month of May with information about building safety and other permitting topics.  

The weekly themes for this year’s Building Safety Month campaign include: “Understanding the Mission,” (May 1-4); “Preparing a Building Safety Plan,” (May 5-11); “Learning from the Pros,” (May 12-18); “Engaging Your Community,” (May 19-25); and “Celebrating Success in Building Safety,” (May 26-31).

Learn more about Building Safety Month on the DPS website and join the conversation on social media using #MoCoDPS, #BuildingSafetyMonth2024 and #BuildingSafety365.

The Department of Permitting Services is located at 2425 Reedie Drive, seventh floor, in Wheaton. The customer service lobby is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, and customers do not need an appointment to get assistance. For more information, visit the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps.

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Release ID: 24-202
Media Contact: Sonya Burke 240-855-9813