Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Newest Podcast Guides Homeowners Through Permitting Process for Home Projects

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 8, 2024

The spring and summer months are typically the busiest at the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) when it comes to permitting residential projects. The 14th episode of the DPS podcast series, “Home Improvements and Permits,” provides homeowners with an overview of when residential projects need and do not need a permit.

“If you are sprucing up the inside or outside of your home, we encourage you to listen to this 15-minute podcast for guidance to help you complete your project, from start to finish, successfully,” said DPS Customer Support and Outreach Division Chief Gail Lucas, who hosts the podcast. “We get a lot of questions from DPS customers wondering if they need a permit or not. We try and provide the answers to those questions in this episode.”

Providing expertise and guidance on this topic, alongside Division Chief Lucas, is DPS Residential Program Manager Dave Burch, who is a field supervisor.

“We want homeowners to know that a permit is required prior to reconstruction or renovation to an existing structure other than a repair,” said Field Supervisor Burch. “A permit is not required for painting, wallpapering, replacing cabinets, installing flooring or windows as long as no structural changes are made.”

Other topics covered in this episode include electrical work, hiring a contractor, inspections, plumbing, swimming pools and properties in a historical district.

This episode of the Permitting Services Podcast is now available on the DPS website and various podcast platforms including Amazon, Apple and Spotify. It also is available at https://permittingservicespodcast.buzzsprout.com/. Subscribe to the podcast by tapping the “plus” or “follow” sign on the podcast provider’s platform. This episode is also available on video to watch on-demand on the County’s YouTube channel.

Previous podcast episodes have covered building safety, accessory dwelling units, deck permits, the Design for Life program, use and occupancy certificates, fences, fire code compliance, GIS maps, the public right-of-way, septic systems, urban farming and zoning. Listeners are encouraged to send questions and ideas for future podcast episodes to dps.podcast@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. No appointment is necessary to get in-person assistance. Customers may also reach out to DPS staff by calling MC 311 or 240-777-0311.

For more information about the permitting process, visit the DPS website at montgomerycountymd.gov/dps.

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Release ID: 24-168
Media Contact: Sonya Burke 240-855-9813