Montgomery County Maryland Operating Budget

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Mission Statement

The Department of Permitting Services' (DPS) primary mission is to ensure the health, safety, sustainability and economic vitality of residents, businesses, communities and the built environment in Montgomery County. This is accomplished by accurate, consistent and timely review and issuance of submittal documents and permits and extensive outreach. DPS conducts prompt and thorough inspections for residential, commercial, land development, zoning and code compliance and responds to service requests and emergencies.

Budget Overview

The total approved FY25 Operating Budget for the Department of Permitting Services is $45,659,555, an increase of $3,996,659 or 9.59 percent from the FY24 Approved Budget of $41,662,896. Personnel Costs comprise 80.64 percent of the budget for 244 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 252.03 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 19.36 percent of the FY25 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

A Growing Economy
A Greener County
Easier Commutes
Effective, Sustainable Government

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY24 estimates reflect funding based on the FY24 approved budget. The FY25 and FY26 figures are performance targets based on the FY25 approved budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY26.

The department combines department and applicant time components when measuring "total time to issue a permit." These times may be impacted by satisfaction of related preconditions such as sediment control submissions and approvals and outside agency approvals.

Initiatives

Two new positions will be responsible for developing data analytics, customer and internal facing tools, and assisting with code development. This requires in-depth knowledge and understanding of how the energy code, green code, and general DPS functions interact with the Climate Action Plan.
Plan review staff will absorb responsibility for reviewing plans related to Streetlights, Signs and Markings and Mobile Cranes, historically reviewed by MCDOT. This change is in line with the "One Stop Shop" model and will eliminate conflicts with review comments and result in faster permit issuance. One reviewer will be responsible for the entire public right-of-way construction plan set.
The Department of Permitting Services is working with the Department of Health and Human Services to streamline the restaurant plan review process. Two new Environmental Health Inspector positions, to be funded in the Permitting Fund, will be added to ensure timely completion of plan reviews and provide education and assistance through outreach to local restaurants.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

Adoption of 2021 IBC, IECC, IEBC, IgCC, 2020 NEC and 2021 NFPA Codes (Building, Energy, Existing Building, Green Building, Electrical & Fire Codes), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2020 National Electric Code (NEC).
Upgrade electronics plans submission system to improve system reliability, scalability, collaboration, security, and performance.
Adopted and implemented the Compliance Engine application to better protect county residents and businesses with enhanced, proactive fire prevention related to maintenance and testing compliance of fire protection systems in buildings.
Permitting Services' Podcast is an archive of topics featured on social media platforms that include news releases that raise awareness, feature subject-matter experts, and discuss a variety of topics that promote innovation and outreach within the community.
Reinstituted the Residential Fast Track program with the goal of significantly shortening the issuance time (1 day) for small residential projects.

Program Descriptions

Land Development

The Land Development Division is responsible for ensuring the protection of the County's land and water resources, the protection of the environment, and the safety of residents and businesses through its engineering and inspection functions related to storm water management; sediment control; floodplain management; special protection areas; storm drain design...

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY22	Actual FY23	Estimated FY24	Target FY25	Target FY26
Total number of public right of way permits issued (roadside trees, driveways, plats, et al.)	3,478	3,790	3,400	3,400	3,400
Number of Sediment Control inspections completed	18,959	20,646	19,500	19,500	19,500
Number of roadside tree plan reviews	1,796	1,615	1,450	1,450	1,450
Percent of Sediment Control inspections that pass inspection indicating a compliant site	95.6%	96.4%	95.0%
Successful Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Delegation of Review of Sediment Control and Storm-Water Management ¹	Yes	N/A	Yes

Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance

The Residential Construction staff is responsible for ensuring public safety through the effective application of residential building, structural, electrical, mechanical, and energy conservation codes. This is accomplished through technical plan review and inspection processes.The Fire Code Compliance staff is responsible for ensuring compliance with adopted National Fire Codes and Standards,...

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY22	Actual FY23	Estimated FY24	Target FY25	Target FY26
Percent of service requests completed within 3 business days	92.1%	95.0%	95.0%
Percent of commercial establishments in compliance with the Fire Code	78.5%	86.3%	78.0%
Number of inspections performed by Residential and Fire Code Compliance FCC inspectors	69,820	66,171	63,000	63,000	63,000
Number of residential plan reviews performed	9,491	9,761	9,500	9,500	9,500
Residential Permits - Percent of inspections completed on the scheduled day	99.4%	99.1%	99.0%

Commercial Building Construction

The Commercial Construction program is responsible for ensuring public safety through the effective application of commercial building, structural, electrical, mechanical, fire-safety, accessibility, and sustainability construction codes and standards. As the "First Preventers," this is accomplished through plan review and construction site inspections to facilitate compliance with approved plans and...

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY22	Actual FY23	Estimated FY24	Target FY25	Target FY26
Number of permits receiving final approvals ¹	10,868	6,747	6,800	6,800	6,800
Commercial Permits - Percent of inspections completed on the scheduled day	98.2%	98.3%	98.0%
Percent of plans receiving a complete first review within 22 business days	89.5%	86.0%	90.0%

Administration

Central Services UnitThe Administration program provides policy development and leadership for all programs within the Department.The administrative staff are specialists responsible for a full range of administrative, financial, and budgetary tasks, including daily operations, revenue collection (fees and development taxes and charges), reporting and management, automation, human resources, fleet management,...

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY22	Actual FY23	Estimated FY24
Percent of screenings passed with fewer than 2 returns to the customer	98%	98%	95%
Percent of inspections passed - all divisions	85%	84%	85%
Percent of customers satisfied with DPS services ¹	91%	75%	77%

Zoning and Code Compliance

The Zoning and Code Compliance Division protects the quality of life, public health, safety, and welfare of Montgomery County. This is accomplished through the effective application and enforcement of the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance development and use standards; Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission certified site plan requirements; and ensure...

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY22	Actual FY23	Estimated FY24	Target FY25	Target FY26
Number of zoning and fire department access reviews	32,427	29,614	29,500	29,500	29,500
Percent of MNCPPC active site plans in compliance every 10 business days	94%	96%	95%
Percent of Zoning service requests started and responded to the customer within 2 business days	87%	87%	90%

Customer Support & Outreach

The Customer Support and Outreach Division is responsible for all administration and issuance of building, land development, and zoning-related permits, applications and licenses, information requests, pre-design consultations, and other specialty services. This Division was formed to provide a multi-prong approach to enhance the methods in which our services are delivered...

Program Performance Measures	Actual FY22	Actual FY23	Estimated FY24	Target FY25	Target FY26
Number of applications processed (at intake) by permit technicians ¹	51,124	50,247	50,000	50,000	50,000
Percent of screenings completed (plans ready for review) within 2 business days	73%	83%	75%
Percent of customers satisfied with DPS Customer Service Division	97%	98%	95%

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2025 APPROVED Budget

Archives

Data

Budget Snapshot

45.7M FY25 Approved
Operating Budget

252.0 Full Time
Equivalents

Budget Trends

Program Contacts

Contact Barbara Suter of the Department of Permitting Services at 240.777.6244 or Justine Jones of the Office of Management and Budget at 240.777.2627 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links

Montgomery County MD Home Page

Budget Summary

Title	Actual FY23	Budget FY24	Estimate FY24	Approved FY25	%Chg Bud/App
PERMITTING SERVICES
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages	23921076.00	26110430.00	26191870.00	28996079.00	11.1
Employee Benefits	6336763.00	7009753.00	7083195.00	7823025.00	11.6
Permitting Services Personnel Costs	30257839.00	33120183.00	33275065.00	36819104.00	11.2
Operating Expenses	8012290.00	8542713.00	8181493.00	8722851.00	2.1
Capital Outlay	0.00	0.00	0.00	117600.00	0.0
Permitting Services Expenditures	38270129.00	41662896.00	41456558.00	45659555.00	9.6
PERSONNEL
Full-Time	243.00	243.00	243.00	244.00	0.4
Part-Time	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
FTEs	249.03	249.03	249.03	252.03	1.2
REVENUES
Building Permits	25859436.00	25865408.00	22248652.00	26757490.00	3.4
Electrical Permits and Licenses	4805962.00	4907130.00	4295694.00	4500000.00	-8.3
Fire Code Enforcement Permits	2381418.00	2548228.00	2245628.00	2354099.00	-7.6
Grading/Storm Drains/Paving/Driveway Permits	4513455.00	4075018.00	3554574.00	4400000.00	8.0
Occupancy Permits	568645.00	498435.00	577209.00	578272.00	16.0
Other Licenses/Permits	313141.00	314662.00	706536.00	578009.00	83.7
Sediment Control Permits	3143285.00	2798592.00	3041736.00	3437873.00	22.8
Sign Permits	188992.00	197600.00	186169.00	205983.00	4.2
Special Exception Fee	204809.00	189052.00	189052.00	203782.00	7.8
Stormwater Mgmt and Water Quality Plan Fee	286171.00	248396.00	217346.00	209117.00	-15.8
Well and Septic	577457.00	315194.00	341520.00	498893.00	58.3
Automation Enhancement Fee	59.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Other Charges/Fees	2233264.00	1600479.00	1766457.00	1690858.00	5.6
Other Fines/Forfeitures	54683.00	27543.00	135387.00	86275.00	213.2
Investment Income	1998370.00	2595390.00	3278130.00	2580520.00	-0.6
Mechanical Construction Permit	1900114.00	1680824.00	1886815.00	2146150.00	27.7
Information Requests	0.00	136533.00	114825.00	116634.00	-14.6
Permitting Services Revenues	49029261.00	47998484.00	44785730.00	50343955.00	4.9

GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Employee Benefits	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Operating Expenses	275.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures	275.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Part-Time	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
FTEs	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
REVENUES
State Grants	-2960.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues	-2960.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0

DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures	38270404.00	41662896.00	41456558.00	45659555.00	9.6
Total Full-Time Positions	243.00	243.00	243.00	244.00	0.4
Total Part-Time Positions	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.0
Total FTEs	249.03	249.03	249.03	252.03	1.2
Total Revenues	49026301.00	47998484.00	44785730.00	50343955.00	4.9

FY25 Approved Changes

Title	Expenditures	FTEs
PERMITTING SERVICES
FY24 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION	41662896	249.03
Changes (with service impacts)
Enhance: Provide Funding for Two Environmental Health Specialists in HHS to Expedite Restaurant Facility Plan Reviews [Commercial Building Construction]	270046	2.00
Enhance: New Permitting & Code Compliance Inspector [Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance]	149221	1.00
Enhance: New Plan Reviewer Position [Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance]	91706	1.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Compensation Increases	1484518	0.00
Increase Cost: FY25 Compensation Adjustment	1360908	0.00
Increase Cost: Lapse Adjustment	452204	0.00
Increase Cost: Increase in Utilities/Maintenance/Parking [Administration]	260664	0.00
Increase Cost: Increase IT Maintenance and Support [Administration]	223849	0.00
Increase Cost: Transfer Fiscal Assistant to Central Services Unit [Administration]	209826	2.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY24 Personnel Costs	169206	0.00
Re-align: Transfer Plan Reviewer Position from Residential to Land Programs [Land Development]	128180	1.00
Increase Cost: Operating Expenses for Wheaton Office Building [Administration]	15040	0.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail	2685	0.00
Decrease Cost: Retirement Adjustment	-34394	0.00
Decrease Cost: Risk Management Adjustment	-65560	0.00
Decrease Cost: Eliminated One Term Imaging Operator [Administration]	-74928	-1.00
Re-align: Transfer Plan Reviewer Position from Residential to Land Programs [Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance]	-128180	-1.00
Decrease Cost: Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY24	-150000	0.00
Decrease Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment	-158506	0.00
Decrease Cost: Transfer Fiscal Assistant to Central Services Unit [Customer Support & Outreach]	-209826	-2.00
FY25 APPROVED	45659555	252.03

Program Summary

Program Name	FY24 APPR Expenditures	FY24 APPR FTEs	FY25 APPR Expenditures	FY25 APPR FTEs
Administration	10758484	25.13	11591756	26.13
Commercial Building Construction	7416598	52.00	8695076	54.00
Customer Support & Outreach	4950527	43.90	4963864	41.90
Land Development	7619215	53.00	8597613	54.00
Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance	6547188	46.00	7224873	47.00
Zoning and Code Compliance	4370884	29.00	4586373	29.00
Total	41662896	249.03	45659555	252.03

Funding Parameter Items ($000s)

Title	FY25	FY26	FY27	FY28	FY29	FY30
PERMITTING SERVICES
EXPENDITURES
FY25 Approved	45660.000000	45660.000000	45660.000000	45660.000000	45660.000000	45660.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Annualization of Positions Approved in FY25	0.000000	132.000000	132.000000	132.000000	132.000000	132.000000
New positions in the FY25 budget are generally assumed to be filled at least two months after the fiscal year begins. Therefore, the above amounts reflect annualization of these positions in the outyears.
Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY25	0.000000	-597.000000	-597.000000	-597.000000	-597.000000	-597.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY25, including a vehicle purchase and a decrease in lapse, will be eliminated from the base in the outyears.
Labor Contracts	0.000000	684.000000	684.000000	684.000000	684.000000	684.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures	45660.000000	45879.000000	45879.000000	45879.000000	45879.000000	45879.000000