Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of University Park, Maryland

Town of University Park’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Exterior construction and alteration on property inside University Park town limits (town building permit)

  • The permit form lists examples including a new or replacement shed, a new or expanded driveway, a new or replacement fence, a new addition or exterior alteration, and a new or replacement garage or carport, and says the list is not exhaustive.
  • Construction must not begin before a permit is issued and displayed.
  • Form marked revised 5/2012; this is a form revision date, not an effective date.

  “a town building permit is required for almost all construction projects affecting the exterior of a property or structure.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New, expanded or replacement driveways inside University Park town limits

  • Listed in the town permit form as a project for which a town building permit is required.
  • Access and curb-cut standards are not in this source.

  “a new or expanded driveway or a replacement driveway,”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town building permit fees inside University Park town limits

  • The filing fee is $50 plus 10% of the county permit fee, where applicable.
  • A $200.00 penalty applies for failing to obtain a required town permit (municipal infraction).
  • Work started before a permit triggers a $100.00 review fee in addition to other permit fees.
  • The form is marked revised 5/2012; county permit fees are set by the county and were not opened.

  permit filing fee: 50 USD (plus 10% of county permit fee (if applicable)) · failure-to-permit penalty: 200 USD (municipal infraction) · work-before-permit review fee: 100 USD (in addition to other building permit fees)

  “whenever any work for which a town permit is required has been started prior to obtaining a permit, a special review shall be made and a review fee of $100.00 shall be payable in addition to any other building permit fees.”

• Permit processPartial

  Town building permit application at Town Hall, 6724 Baltimore Avenue, University Park, MD 20782

  • Required documents: survey/plat marked with the proposed work, copy of county permit if applicable, county payment receipt if applicable, and building/design plans if applicable.
  • Plans larger than 11 x 17 inches are not accepted; plans may be emailed to townhall@upmd.org.
  • Process steps for county permits and inspections are not covered by this source.

  “a building permit application must be submitted along with the following documents”

Rules another office applies inside Town of University Park

Town of University Park does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning categories that apply to land inside University Park town (county zoning, not a town ordinance)

  • The town tutorial lists RSF-65 (single family detached residential) and OS (open space) as the zoning categories in the town.
  • Category regulations on lot size, setbacks, height and uses are in the Prince George's County zoning ordinance, not in the town code; the numeric limits were not opened.

  “at present there are only 2 zoning categories in the town”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside University Park town limits

  • Land uses are governed by the Prince George's County zoning ordinance and subdivision code, per the town tutorial.
  • The Prince George's Planning Board and County Council exercise subdivision powers through M-NCPPC staff review, per the town tutorial.

  “as a result, land uses in university park are largely governed by the prince george’s county zoning ordinance and subdivision code.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of University Park or Prince George's County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permits in University Park town
• Building code adopted — Which building code the town adopts inside University Park town limits
• Inspections — Inspections for construction inside University Park town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside University Park town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the RSF-65 single-family district inside University Park town limits

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of University Park means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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