City Building Permits
College Park, MD - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in College Park, Maryland. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County permit is obtained first from Prince George's County; City of College Park then requires a separate city building permit and separately handles local zoning, variances/departures, and Old Town Historic District controls.
- Department
- City of College Park Department of Public Services, Code Enforcement Division
- Address
- 7401 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
- Phone
- 240-487-3570
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Accela • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Use county guidance to determine whether the project needs a county permit.
- Apply for and obtain the Prince George's County permit.
- Create an account in the city's Accela portal.
- Apply for the city permit and upload the county-issued permit and stamped county-approved plans.
- If zoning relief is needed, coordinate with the Department of Planning and Community Development for variances/departures.
- If the property is in Old Town Historic District, comply with historic district design guidelines before work proceeds.
- Complete inspections and final city approval.
Typical processing time: Not clearly posted.
Source: City of College Park Department of Public Services, Code Enforcement Division
General Requirements
In most cases construction work needs a permit; city specifically says residential construction, fences, driveways, and most home build/repair/replace work require a city permit; fences over 4 feet require both county and city permits, while 4 feet or under need city permit only.
Required Documents
- Prince George's County issued building permit
- Stamped approved building plans
- Additional local applications may be needed for variances/departures
- Permit validity
- Not clearly posted on public city permit pages.
- Building code
- Public city pages rely on county permit review for building code compliance; city separately enforces local permit and occupancy rules.
- Owner-builder
- Not clearly posted by city.
- Contractor requirements
- County and state licensing rules still apply through the county permit process.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Not clearly posted.
- Plan check fee
- Not clearly posted.
- Permit fee formula
- Thin public data; city pages confirm a non-refundable filing fee for some permit classes but do not publish a clean building fee table.
- Reinspection fee
- Not clearly posted.
- Payment note
- Paid through the city permit app/portal; exact payment methods are not clearly summarized on the public permit page.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of College Park Department of Public Services, Code Enforcement Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- City offices generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: County permit first, then city permit, then final city completion/occupancy processes as applicable.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Public city pages rely on county permit review for building code compliance; city separately enforces local permit and occupancy rules.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Public Services
- Business Licenses and Permits
- Planning and Community Development
- Prince George's County DPIE
- License lookup guide: Maryland Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Maryland Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Maryland hub: Maryland Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of College Park Department of Public Services, Code Enforcement Division before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
College Park Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in College Park, MD?
- In most cases construction work needs a permit; city specifically says residential construction, fences, driveways, and most home build/repair/replace work require a city permit; fences over 4 feet require both county and city permits, while 4 feet or under need city permit only.
- How much does a building permit cost in College Park, MD?
- The minimum permit fee is Not clearly posted.. Fees are calculated as: Thin public data; city pages confirm a non-refundable filing fee for some permit classes but do not publish a clean building fee table.. Plan check fee: Not clearly posted..
- How do I apply for a building permit in College Park, MD?
- 1. Use county guidance to determine whether the project needs a county permit. 2. Apply for and obtain the Prince George's County permit. 3. Create an account in the city's Accela portal. 4. Apply for the city permit and upload the county-issued permit and stamped county-approved plans. 5. If zoning relief is needed, coordinate with the Department of Planning and Community Development for variances/departures. 6. If the property is in Old Town Historic District, comply with historic district design guidelines before work proceeds. 7. Complete inspections and final city approval.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in College Park, MD?
- Typical processing time is Not clearly posted..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in College Park, MD?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Contact Department of Public Services.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in College Park can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector worksOther cities in Prince George's County
View all Prince George's County jurisdictions →