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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.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY26 Operating Budget for the Department of Permitting Services is $48,581,133, an increase of $2,921,578 or 6.40 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $45,659,555. Personnel Costs comprise 80.52 percent of the budget for 247 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 255.03 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 19.48 percent of the FY26 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

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

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

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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 FY25 estimates reflect funding based on the FY25 approved budget. The FY26 and FY27 figures are performance targets based on the FY26 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY27.

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.

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Initiatives

  • The Department of Permitting Services (DPS) has initiated the process of creating a five-year strategic plan with a consultant. The plan will focus on continuous improvement of the department over the next several years in the areas of high performance, technology, data, process streamlining, sustainability, organizational alignment, exceptional customer service, communication, and other key focus areas. The goal is to begin plan implementation in early FY26.

  • Three new DPS positions, including a Program Manager II and a Senior Permitting Services Specialist in the Commercial Building Construction Division, and an Administrative Specialist II in the Director's Office for Outreach, will enhance the workflow tasks within the plan review process of various permits and improve the turnaround time on plan reviews for small businesses, and enhance engagement with residents and the business community.

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • Well and Septic applications can now be submitted, paid, and reviewed electronically reducing the number of visits and/or mail deliveries to DPS. It is mandatory that any legal document that requires recordation be submitted and paid electronically to DPS via Simplifile. Nearly 200 documents have been recorded since its inception in late 2023 resulting in faster permit issuance and a reduction in trips to/from DPS and the courthouse. Since DPS executes the submission, the department can be confident the documents in Land Records are accurate.


  • The third-party e-solar program is designed to alleviate the workload for the commercial electrical review team who assists the residential plan review team. By FY26, the department aims to have 40% of eligible projects utilize e-solar.

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...

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  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,...

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  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...

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  Administration

The Administration program provides policy development and leadership for all programs within the Department.The administrative staff is responsible for daily operations and a full range of administrative task and programs including Budget, Fiscal Management, Human Resources, Data Management, Contracts, McTime, and Fleet Management. DPS' Office of Information Technology (DPS-IT) leverages...

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  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...

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  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...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact Barbara Suter of the Department of Permitting Services at 240-777-6244 or Anita Aryeetey of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2784 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY24
Budget
FY25
Estimate
FY25
Recommended
FY26
%Chg
Bud/Rec
PERMITTING SERVICES
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages26387608.0028996079.00 28835716.00 30379750.004.8
Employee Benefits7087506.007823025.00 7824529.00 8735390.0011.7
Permitting Services Personnel Costs33475114.0036819104.00 36660245.00 39115140.006.2
Operating Expenses6512320.008722851.00 8227111.00 9465993.008.5
Capital Outlay0.00117600.00 117600.00 0.00-100.0
Permitting Services Expenditures39987434.0045659555.00 45004956.00 48581133.006.4
PERSONNEL
Full-Time243.00244.00 244.00 247.001.2
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs249.03252.03 252.03 255.031.2
REVENUES
Building Permits26293231.0026757490.00 26757490.00 24649598.00-7.9
Electrical Permits and Licenses4602577.004500000.00 4500000.00 4571658.001.6
Fire Code Enforcement Permits2329844.002354099.00 2354099.00 2012462.00-14.5
Grading/Storm Drains/Paving/Driveway Permits3444965.004400000.00 4400000.00 4446125.001.0
Occupancy Permits597491.00578272.00 578272.00 581763.000.6
Other Licenses/Permits495613.00578009.00 578009.00 493140.00-14.7
Sediment Control Permits2943789.003437873.00 3437873.00 3145299.00-8.5
Sign Permits179199.00205983.00 205983.00 201696.00-2.1
Special Exception Fee187784.00203782.00 203782.00 197207.00-3.2
Stormwater Mgmt and Water Quality Plan Fee302636.00209117.00 209117.00 197207.00-5.7
Well and Septic398160.00498893.00 498893.00 437930.00-12.2
Automation Enhancement Fee59.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Other Charges/Fees1891389.001690858.00 1690858.00 1890045.0011.8
Other Fines/Forfeitures115591.0086275.00 86275.00 84663.00-1.9
Miscellaneous Revenues5282.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Investment Income3502739.002580520.00 3178350.00 2676510.003.7
Mechanical Construction Permit1976191.002146150.00 2146150.00 2173243.001.3
Information Requests0.00116634.00 116634.00 139756.0019.8
Permitting Services Revenues49266540.0050343955.00 50941785.00 47898302.00-4.9
 
GRANT FUND - MCG
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Employee Benefits0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Personnel Costs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Operating Expenses385.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Expenditures385.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
PERSONNEL
Full-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
REVENUES
State Grants385.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Grant Fund - MCG Revenues385.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
Total Expenditures39987819.0045659555.00 45004956.00 48581133.006.4
Total Full-Time Positions243.00244.00 244.00 247.001.2
Total Part-Time Positions0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
Total FTEs249.03252.03 252.03 255.031.2
Total Revenues49266925.0050343955.00 50941785.00 47898302.00-4.9
FY26 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
PERMITTING SERVICES
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION45659555252.03
Changes (with service impacts)
Enhance: Senior Permitting Services Specialist [Commercial Building Construction]1084821.00
Enhance: New Program Manager Position [Commercial Building Construction]1073191.00
Enhance: Administrative Specialist II for Outreach [Administration]933691.00
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: FY26 Compensation Adjustment16077580.00
Increase Cost: Laptops and Electronic Tablets [Administration]7431120.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Compensation Increases7429680.00
Increase Cost: Lapse Adjustment [Administration]3901090.00
Increase Cost: IT Equipment, Maintenance and Support [Administration]3324400.00
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment2522530.00
Increase Cost: Microsoft License Chargeback [Administration]1504580.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Lapsed Positions1319090.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment1259040.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail Adjustment355750.00
Increase Cost: IT Maintenance and Support [Administration]41710.00
Decrease Cost: Risk Management Adjustment-56160.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs-5442780.00
Decrease Cost: Elimination of One-Time Items Approved in FY25-5974040.00
Decrease Cost: Eliminate Expenditures Associated with Terminated Contract [Administration]-7569510.00
FY26 RECOMMENDED48581133255.03
Program Summary
Program NameFY25 APPR
Expenditures
FY25 APPR
FTEs
FY26 REC
Expenditures
FY26 REC
FTEs
Administration1159175626.131196672427.13
Commercial Building Construction869507654.00947871556.00
Customer Support & Outreach496386441.90527596741.90
Land Development859761354.00909084854.00
Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance722487347.00791424247.00
Zoning and Code Compliance458637329.00485463729.00
Total45659555252.0348581133255.03
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY26FY27FY28FY29FY30FY31
PERMITTING SERVICES
EXPENDITURES
FY26 Recommended48581.00000048581.00000048581.00000048581.00000048581.00000048581.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Annualization of Positions Recommended in FY260.00000090.00000090.00000090.00000090.00000090.000000
New positions in the FY26 budget are generally assumed to be filled at least three months after the fiscal year begins. Therefore, the above amounts reflect annualization of these positions in the outyears.
Elimination of One-Time Items Recommended in FY260.0000002.0000002.0000002.0000002.0000002.000000
Items recommended for one-time funding in FY26, including operating expenses for new staff, computer equipment for department staff and an IT contract, will be eliminated from the base in the outyears.
Labor Contracts0.000000142.000000142.000000142.000000142.000000142.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures48581.00000048815.00000048815.00000048815.00000048815.00000048815.000000
Additional Documentation

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