Maryland / Prince George's County
Plumbing Permit in Prince George's County, Maryland
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing new plumbing or natural gas piping, before replacing a water heater, and before installing a testable backflow device. Apply to WSSC, not to DPIE.
Issued byPrince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
This is a jurisdictional handoff, and it is the answer: DPIE does not review plumbing plans or issue any plumbing permits at all, and every plumbing permit in Prince George's County is issued by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which keeps a satellite office inside DPIE at 9400 Peppercorn Place, Suite 650. Not all plumbing work needs a permit. Owners of an existing single family dwelling or conventional townhouse may perform certain plumbing work without a permit, and DPIE states that permits are generally not required to replace existing plumbing fixtures, with water heaters and testable backflow devices as the named exceptions. Installing plumbing or natural gas piping requires an application by a Registered Master Plumber/Gasfitter licensed by WSSC, homeowner installation of plumbing is generally not permitted, and installing natural gas piping or appliances by anyone other than a Registered Master Gasfitter is strictly prohibited.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before installing new plumbing or natural gas piping, before replacing a water heater, and before installing a testable backflow device. Apply to WSSC, not to DPIE.
What a plumbing permit costs in Prince George's County
How Prince George's County compares in Maryland
No Maryland jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore County | Permit required | ...Fee Schedule effective 11/26/18: Inspection, New, for 1st fixture $30.00... |
| Howard County | Permit required | $50 non-refundable filing fee (other than Express Plumbing Permit) |
| Montgomery County | Permit required | See schedule |
| Prince George's Countythis page | It depends | See schedule |
How to apply in Prince George's County
In Prince George's County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Prince George's County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Prince George's County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) sets the exact checklist for Prince George's County.
Where to apply in Prince George's County:
Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)
- 9400 Peppercorn Place, Largo, MD 20774
- Phone: 301-636-2000
- Email: dpiebprd@co.pg.md.us
Plumbing Permit in Prince George's County compared with nearby Maryland localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Maryland schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George's County | It depends | Before installing new plumbing or natural gas piping, before replacing a water heater... | See schedule | |
| Baltimore County | Permit required | Any size | ...Inspection Fee Schedule effective 11/26/18: Inspection, New, for 1st fixture $30.00... | |
| Howard County | Permit required | Any size | $50 non-refundable filing fee (other than Express Plumbing Permit) | |
| Montgomery County | Permit required | Any size | See schedule |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Prince George's County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Prince George's County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Prince George's County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Prince George's County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Prince George's County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Prince George's County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Prince George's County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Prince George's County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Prince George's County permit portal or by phone at 301-636-2000.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Prince George's County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Usually needed: Before installing new plumbing or natural gas piping, before replacing a water heater, and before installing a testable backflow device. Apply to WSSC, not to DPIE.
- Budget the fee. The DPIE Fee Schedule effective March 2, 2025 carries no residential plumbing permit line item, because DPIE does not issue plumbing permits. Plumbing and gasfitting permit fees are set by WSSC under its own Development Service Code, not by Prince George's County. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Prince George's County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Prince George's County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE). Phone: 301-636-2000. Address: 9400 Peppercorn Place, Largo, MD 20774.
- Plan for inspections. In Prince George's County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Prince George's County?
- This is a jurisdictional handoff, and it is the answer: DPIE does not review plumbing plans or issue any plumbing permits at all, and every plumbing permit in Prince George's County is issued by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, which keeps a satellite office inside DPIE at 9400 Peppercorn Place, Suite 650. Not all plumbing work needs a permit. Owners of an existing single family dwelling or conventional townhouse may perform certain plumbing work without a permit, and DPIE states that permits are generally not required to replace existing plumbing fixtures, with water heaters and testable backflow devices as the named exceptions. Installing plumbing or natural gas piping requires an application by a Registered Master Plumber/Gasfitter licensed by WSSC, homeowner installation of plumbing is generally not permitted, and installing natural gas piping or appliances by anyone other than a Registered Master Gasfitter is strictly prohibited. Always confirm with the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Prince George's County?
- The DPIE Fee Schedule effective March 2, 2025 carries no residential plumbing permit line item, because DPIE does not issue plumbing permits. Plumbing and gasfitting permit fees are set by WSSC under its own Development Service Code, not by Prince George's County. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Prince George's County?
- You can apply through the Prince George's County permit portal or contact the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Prince George's County?
- Under Maryland law (Md. Code, Bus. Occ. and Prof. 12-301(b), 6-607(1); Public Safety 12-505): It depends on the trade and the county. Plumbing: state law exempts an individual who personally provides plumbing services in their own residence, but homeowners may not make final connections between the residence and public or private water supply or disposal systems, and Baltimore County plus the WSSC-area counties are largely carved out of the state plumbing title. Electrical: the Maryland Electricians Act prohibits providing electrical services for compensation without a license; it has no express homeowner exemption, so uncompensated work on one's own home falls outside the licensing prohibition, but each county decides whether it will issue an electrical permit to an unlicensed homeowner. Building permits are issued by local jurisdictions, which set their own owner-applicant rules. Confirm how Prince George's County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Prince George's County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...effective March 2, 2025, line item "Deck or Pergola", minimum permit fee $151.00:... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...work by item: "Electrical Permit Fee - Rough Wire Outlet, Segment of 15"... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fence height above grade, with a permit required at any height on a corner lot, in a historic or protected area, or in the 100-year floodplain | ...effective March 2, 2025, line item "Fence - Residential", minimum permit fee $145:... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing or replacing a furnace, boiler, heat pump, central air conditioner... | ...line item "Mechanical Permit - Commercial/Residential", minimum permit fee $86:... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | area of an at-grade patio, with a permit required at any size if stairs or ramps are built due to elevation change | ...March 2, 2025, line item "Patio - Residential > 500 Sq Ft", minimum permit fee... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated pools accessory to one- and two-family dwellings that are installed entirely above ground, hold no more than 5,000 gallons, and have a four-foot fence around the pool perimeter | ...March 2, 2025: "Swimming Pool (In-ground) - Residential", minimum permit fee $297... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Before replacing roof sheathing or plywood, or doing any roof work that involves... | ...Residential" to "Alteration/Repair without U&O - Exterior", minimum permit fee... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor space of a one-story detached accessory structure, and only one such exempt structure is allowed per property | DPIE Fee Schedule, effective March 2, 2025, line item "Shed > 150 Sq Ft", $1.17 per SF:... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...2, 2025: "Solar Panels (Roof-mounted) - Residential", minimum permit fee $158... |
Plumbing Permit in other Maryland localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Prince George's County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Prince George's County was verified. 2 official sources: princegeorgescountymd.gov, princegeorgescountymd.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Maryland localities