PLAN REVIEW DIVISION

Welcome to the Plan Review Division of the Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits (DILP). We meet DILP’s, as well as Howard County’s mission of ensuring safe, code complying buildings through the review and approval of building construction plans.

All applications for building permits are submitted with construction documents that detail the work being proposed. We review the plans and, if necessary, make comments to ensure that the applicable code requirements are met. We review for compliance with building, life safety, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and handicapped accessibility codes. We also assist with the coordination of issues with some of the various other County agencies that may be involved with a permit approval.

We are also the department’s resource for technical interpretation of the County’s building codes. We are the division that coordinates with project architects and engineers to determine if a proposed solution to a problem meets the intent of the codes. However, we frequently meet with our Inspections and Enforcement personnel, as well as general and sub-contractors, and the general public to inform, educate, and update on code matters.

Please see the “Interpretations” section of this website to help clarify your code questions. Chances are someone else may have already asked the same thing.