The Division of Land Development accepts Investigation Requests via written correspondence, walk in visits, and telephone calls to the Department of Permitting Services Complaint Line. That telephone number is (240) 777-6259.

The typical complaint involves construction and earth moving activities. Normally, these complaints involve concerns of grading without proper permits or sediment run-off onto private property, streams, public roads and right of ways.

Once a request is received, an investigator will make initial contact with the requestor. This usually takes place within one workday. The initial contact allows the investigator an opportunity to discuss the nature of concern, to determine whether o r not a violation has occurred, and to decide if it is within our jurisdiction to pursue. If so, the investigator conducts an on site inspection to confirm that a violation has occurred.

If a permitted project is in violation, an inspection report is written detailing the code violation and given to the project inspector for that area. If the site is in violation and has no permit, the investigator will issue a Stop Work Order, Civil Citation, and Notice of Violation requiring the owner to obtain the proper permit(s) for construction activity.

The investigator informs the requestor as to his/her findings, and will advise the requestor once the case is closed. The amount of time involved from beginning to end is determined by the circumstances surrounding the violation.

Other agencies that Erosion and Sediment Control Investigators work closely with are:

1. Montgomery County, Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Facility Maintenance
2. Montgomery County, Department of Public Works and Transportation
3. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
4. Maryland National Capitol Park & Planning Commission
5. Montgomery County, Department of Housing and Community Affairs
6. Maryland Department of the Environment
7. United States Army Corps of Engineers