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Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services to Celebrate May as ‘Building Safety Month’ with Series of Events Including Free Residential Deck Inspections

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 1, 2020

Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) will join in the celebration of the 40th Annual “Building Safety Month” with a series of activities including free inspections of residential decks. The theme of this year’s worldwide safety campaign is “Safer Buildings, Safer Communities, Safer World.”

The theme highlights the importance of building codes for providing a strong and resilient-built environment, and regularly updated codes that ensure that communities are protected in the face of disasters.

Although residents are under restrictions for group gatherings, even in private settings, during the COVID-19 health crisis, it is anticipated that future improving conditions will lead to social gatherings—including those on residential decks. Last year, there were two reported collapses in Montgomery County—making the free DPS deck inspection program even more critical.

Residents can call 311 or 240-777-0311 to find out more information about the deck inspection program and to schedule an appointment.  

“As the new director for Permitting Services, I am excited to highlight on how DPS works to keep our communities safe,” said Mitra Pedoeem. “The DPS ‘Check Your Deck’ program has been a staple of the celebration of Building Safety Month. Even though we are working within the protocols necessitated by the health crisis, DPS will be able to offer residents free deck inspections again this May. We hope many residents take advantage of this program to ensure that their families and guests will be safe.”

This year’s Building Safety Month includes four weekly themes and DPS has webinars planned corresponding to each. The schedule:
  • May 1-10: Disaster Preparedness. DPS will host a webinar on how to make sure structures are safe. This will include a “Check Your Deck” webinar.
  • May 11-17: Water Safety. DPS will emphasize programs that help keep the water and environment clean. There will be a Clean Water webinar.
  • May 18-24: Resiliency. Sustainability. Innovation. DPS will focus on innovations and Green Building codes through a webinar.
  • May 25-31: Training the Next Generation. Students from Thomas Edison High School in Wheaton will be featured in a webinar on how to get young residents involved in building a cleaner and safer future.

For actual times of webinars, visit the DPS web page at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dps/

Building Safety Month will allow DPS to highlight its availability to homeowners and businesses, even during the health crisis. The department continues to perform key inspections, reviews, issuance of certificates and processing of licenses and permits. 

During the health crisis, DPS has been adapting and modifying its business processes to provide a broad range of uninterrupted services to help businesses operate if they were not under restrictions.

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Release ID: 20-233
Media Contact: Jessica Fusillo 240-401-6570