What is a Public Right of Way complaint?

All construction in the Public Right of Way requires a permit. If you have a complaint about construction in the public right-of-way, please call DPS at (240) 777-6259 to file a complaint. A complaint of this nature would include work on the County portion of the property frontage for example:

• Driveway work
• Retaining walls
• Utility Company Installations
• Other structures
• Curbs
• Drainage or sump pump discharge
• Dumpster placement
• Other objects (fences, gardens,etc)

DPS will only allow certain types of construction in the Public Right of Way.

What occurs after filing a request?

Complaint requests are assigned to a DPS investigator/inspector. An investigation will be conducted, and if a violation is found, the proper person or party will be notified to correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected in a timely manner, legal proceedings such as a civil citation (ticket) that carries a fine may be issued. If the type of construction is allowed, the affected party will be required to obtain the proper permits.

Will I be informed of the results of an investigation?

The DPS official investigating the request will inform the requestor of important developments and the final outcome of his/her request during the course of investigation.

How long will the investigation take?

Normally, the initial visit to the site should occur within one to three days from the receipt of the complaint. Work load and case complexity will determine the actual time frame of the investigation process.

Actual investigation time may vary according to workload and/or complexity of the complaint.