Prince George's County, MD Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Default rule
- Any construction needs a DPIE permit
- Exempt shed
- Under 150 sq ft, one per lot
- Exempt fence
- 4 ft or less, not on corner
- Exempt paving
- Under 500 sq ft impervious area
- Permit expires
- 180 days without work started
- Civil fine
- $1,000 per violation, per day
- Work hours
- 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. only
Summary
Prince George's County requires a building permit for nearly all construction; Section 4-244 lists the only exemptions. A permit is not needed for accessory structures under 150 square feet, driveways or patios under 500 square feet of impervious area, retaining walls under two feet, or fences four feet and under off a corner lot. Everything larger needs a DPIE permit.
(a)Section R105.2, Work Exempt from Permit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for property located within Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zones, permits shall not be required for the following, provided that the construction does not result in any violation of this Subtitle and the building codes:1.Building Permits:(a)A one-story detached accessory structure (tool, storage shed, playhouse and similar uses) on one- and two-family dwelling properties with less than one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor space not designed or intended for occupation or habitation and limited to one (1) accessory structure only per property.(b)All forms of impervious area less than five hundred (500) square feet except for parking surfaces (per property/lot) and except for impervious area in the public road right of way.(c)A retaining wall not greater than two (2) feet in height unless supporting a structure.(d)Fence(s) four (4) feet or less in height a permit is not required except fences on a corner lot per Subtitle 27-421.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
2, sets the line between construction that needs a Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) permit and construction that does not. The default is that a permit is required; Section 4-244(a) then lists narrow carve-outs for one- and two-family dwelling properties: one detached accessory structure under 150 square feet not used for habitation, impervious area under 500 square feet (except parking surfaces), a retaining wall of two feet or less unless it supports a structure, and a fence of four feet or less except on a corner lot under Subtitle 27-421.
None of these exemptions apply inside a Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zone, where a permit is always required. A separate Historic Area Work Permit from the Historic Preservation Commission is also required before exterior work on a designated historic property, layered on top of the DPIE permit. unless an after-hours permit is obtained.
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit is an IBC violation carried into County Code § 4-116 (Section 114.4.1.1): the Building Official can issue a notice of violation assessing a $1,000 civil fine per violation, with each day the work continues counted as a separate offense. The fine is due within 30 days of the notice, and an unpaid fine gets recorded as a lien against the property and collected like a county property tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed in Prince George's County?
Does a backyard fence need a permit in PG County?
How long does a PG County building permit stay valid?
What is the penalty for building without a permit in Prince George's County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
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