Prince George's County, MD Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Plumbing code adopted
- WSSC Plumbing and Fuel Gas Code
- Permit issuer
- Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, not DPIE
- Building permit condition
- Must show valid WSSC plumbing permit
- No service, no permit
- DPIE can't issue if sewer unavailable
- Percolation test fee
- $495 for alternative plumbing permit test
- Unpermitted work fine
- $1,000 per violation, per day
Summary
Prince George's County does not issue its own plumbing permits; Section 4-202 of the County Code adopts the WSSC Plumbing and Fuel Gas Code to govern all plumbing installation, alteration, and repair, and Section 4-345(e) requires anyone applying for a county building permit to first show a valid Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission plumbing permit or house connection application.
Section 2901.1 is amended to read as follows: "Scope." The provisions of this Chapter and the Plumbing and Gasfitting regulations adopted by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission known as the WSSC Plumbing and Fuel Gas Code and Fuel Gas shall govern the erection, installation, alteration, repairs, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of plumbing equipment and systems. ... (e)The applicant for the building permit is required to exhibit a copy of an approved Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission House Connection and Plumbing Application or a valid Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Plumbing Permit for the building or structure for which the building permit is requested. Said documents are to serve as certification by that agency as to the availability and adequacy of the water supply and/or sewerage system.
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
Plumbing work in Prince George's County is regulated by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), not directly by the county's building code. 1 of the adopted building code, states that the WSSC Plumbing and Fuel Gas Code governs the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, and maintenance of plumbing equipment and systems throughout the county. That adoption is reinforced in Section 4-345, the County Code's general administrative provision for grading and building construction: under Subsection (e), an applicant for a county building permit must exhibit either an approved WSSC House Connection and Plumbing Application or a valid WSSC Plumbing Permit for the same building, which the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement treats as WSSC's certification that water and sewer service is available and adequate.
Section 4-345(c) and (d) go further: DPIE cannot issue or grant a building permit at all if the water supply or sewerage system serving the site cannot or will not be ready by the building's estimated completion date, or if WSSC certifies that existing water or sewer capacity is inadequate for the project. 63 prices at $495 for an innovative or alternative plumbing permit percolation test on a new lot.
Violations & Fines
Installing or altering plumbing without the required WSSC authorization, or proceeding on a county building permit obtained without the WSSC documentation required by Section 4-345(e), exposes the responsible party to the same civil fine structure as any other unpermitted building work under Section 4-116: a $1,000 civil fine per violation, with each day of continued work a separate offense, due within 30 days and recordable as a property lien if unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues plumbing permits in Prince George's County?
Can I get a county building permit without a WSSC plumbing permit?
What if my lot isn't served by WSSC water or sewer?
What happens if I do plumbing work without the required permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
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