Earlier this month, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Natali Fani-González proclaimed May as “Building Safety Month” at a joint ceremony. Representatives from the Department of Permitting Services (DPS), the Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS), the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), and the Department of Transportation (MCDOT) also attended. The theme for this year’s international campaign is “Built to Last.”
In Montgomery County, DPS helps ensure structures are built to code and able to withstand daily use and long-term stress through its review, permitting, and inspection processes.
Free Residential Deck Maintenance Inspections Begin May 1
Starting Friday, May 1, DPS will offer free residential deck maintenance inspections as part of Building Safety Month. Homeowners can request an inspection by submitting an online service request through the DPS website. In the description section of the updated online form, residents should note that they are requesting a deck maintenance inspection and include their property address and contact information. Residents may also schedule an inspection by calling MC 311 or 240-777-0311.
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“Our free residential deck inspection program helps Montgomery County residents stay aware of essential deck maintenance and safety,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The inspection takes less than 30 minutes, and it’s a great way to learn directly from our inspectors about the condition of your deck. Once on site, the inspector will check the overall condition of the structure, including the deck support structure and the ledger attachment. Spots are limited to 300 appointments, so early booking is recommended.”
The County does not provide free deck inspections in the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville because the municipalities have their own permitting departments.
DPS has also a 2026 Building Safety Month webpage with additional information and resources, including a deck maintenance checklist.
Residential Permitting Open House Set for May 20
On Wednesday, May 20, DPS will host a Residential Permitting Open House from 4:30-8 p.m. at the auditorium in the Isiah Leggett Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. Partner agencies attending include the Department of Environmental Protection, DHCA, MCFRS, Office of Consumer Protection, WSSC Water, and the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville.
“When it comes to building safety, residents can help by obtaining or making sure their contractors obtain required permits and inspections to ensure code compliant work, and keeping up with property maintenance,” said DPS Director Rabbiah Sabbakhan. “We encourage residents and contractors to join us at the May 20th Open House to get permitting questions answered directly by DPS staff. Bring the kids, we’ll have building safety information available for them to learn about the importance of building safety as well. We want this message of safety and resilience amplified throughout our community during Building Safety Month and beyond.”
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This year’s Building Safety Month weekly themes include:
Safe Homes, Strong Communities (May 1–10) focuses on simple actions homeowners can take to improve home safety.
Voices of the Built Environment (May 11–17) spotlights building safety professionals and the roles they play in keeping communities safe.
Prepared to Protect (May 18–24) encourages community preparedness and highlights how disaster-resilient building codes protect people and property.
Communities Without Limits (May 25–31) showcases the importance of accessibility in building construction and design.
DPS will also share building safety resources from 7:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. at its Wheaton office at 2425 Reedie Drive, 7th floor. Customers who visit DPS during Building Safety Month will be invited to participate in a “Spin the Wheel” question-and-answer game to learn more about DPS services and building safety topics.
For more information about Montgomery County permitting and inspections, visit the DPS website.
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Read the original article at mcdps