Building Safety in Washington County, MD (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Washington County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Washington County's Livability Code requires any painted surface in a rental or residential structure that presents a potential lead-paint health hazard to be abated. Surfaces intact and in good condition are exempt unless children could bite them, and abatement follows Health Department procedures.
Washington County Lead Paint Abatement Rule
Some RestrictionsWashington County Livability Code § 2-209(h)
(h) Lead paint abatement. (1) In this subsection, "surface" includes walls, ceilings, doors, trim molding, window frames, radiators, and stair banisters. (2) All surfaces that present a potential health hazard due to lead paint shall have the painted surfaces abated by procedures established by the Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management of the Environment or the Washingt...
Childcare Center Rules
Washington County, Maryland zoning treats a registered nursery school or child care center as only an incidental accessory use, never a stand-alone use, under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.18. A center tied to a business must serve that business's own employees and families, and a church-run center must stay inside the place of worship's primary building.
Washington County, MD Child Care Center Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsWashington County Zoning Ordinance § 4.18 (Nursery Schools and Child Care Centers)
(a) Registered nursery schools or child care centers shall be considered an incidental accessory use for any business located in the BL, BG, IR, IG, AP, PB, PI, "MX" and HI districts. Nursery schools and child care centers permitted as accessory uses under this section shall be for the use of employees and their families of the business. When it is necessary to construct additional buildings to...
Door Locking Hardware
Every exterior door on a Washington County rental unit must carry a single-cylinder deadbolt for keyed entry from outside and a thumb latch on the inside, and all door hardware must stay in good repair and capable of securing the door tightly.
Washington County, MD Rental Door Lock Rule
Some RestrictionsLivability Code for Washington County, Maryland § 2-208(p)
(p) Same - Door hardware. (1) Each exterior door and its hardware shall be maintained in good condition. (2) Door locks on exterior doors entering individual housing units shall be in good repair and capable of tightly securing the door. (3) Exterior doors shall be equipped with a single-cylinder deadbolt door lock for keyed access to the exterior and a thumb latch on the inside.
Building Permits
Washington County, Maryland requires a building-intentions report before anyone erects a new building or an addition worth $1,000 or more, under Code of Public Local Laws Section 1-502. The Supervisor of Assessments takes the report at no charge, and skipping it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $100 fine.
Washington County, MD Building Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsCode of the Public Local Laws of Washington County, Maryland § 1-502 (Building permits required)
(a) Building permit required. Before erecting any new building or any addition to any existing building involving a total expense of $1,000 or more, all persons, firms, or corporations shall make a report of the building intentions to the Supervisor of Assessments of Washington County. (b) Fee. The Supervisor of Assessments shall acknowledge receipt of the report in writing on a suitable form. ...
Electrical Permits
Washington County, Maryland requires anyone doing electrical work to be a licensed Master or Restricted Electrician, and bars unlicensed individuals or firms from even obtaining a permit for electrical work. Unlicensed practice is a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000.
Licensed Electrician Required for Permits, MD
Some RestrictionsWashington County, MD Code of Public Local Laws §§ 8-113(b), 8-114
(b) Unlicensed electricians. An unlicensed individual, firm, or corporation may not obtain a permit to perform electrical work under the authority of a licensee. ... 8-114. Fees; disposition. All fees collected under the provisions of this subtitle shall be collected by the Washington County Department of Permits and Inspections.
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