Bolthole Index

Prince George's County, Maryland

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Forest Heights, Maryland

Building in the Town of Forest Heights, Maryland takes a town building permit and, separately, plan approval and permits from Prince George's County12. The town code adopts the county's zoning and building codes rather than writing its own3. Septic and well permits for new construction come from the county health review section under DPIE, not the town4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the town, plus county permits where county code requires them12
Permit fee
Town fee is half the county fee for the same work; town dumpster permit is a flat $105
Zoning
County zoning code adopted by reference; whether the town has its own zoning office is unconfirmed3
Septic permit
Prince George's County health review section under DPIE4
Well permit
Prince George's County health review section under DPIE6
Owner-builder
County Homeowner Waiver exists; town rule unconfirmed7
Short-term rental
County license and town license both required8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Forest Heights, Town Hall

Town administrative office; the starting point for the town building permit and town licenses

301-839-1030

5508 Arapahoe Drive, Forest Heights, MD 20745

Building permits

Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)

Issues building, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and driveway permits and performs required inspections for construction in Prince George's County

301-636-2000

9400 Peppercorn Place, Largo, MD 20774

Septic permits

Prince George's County Health Department, Environmental Engineering Program

Reviews and permits percolation tests and new/replacement septic (sewage disposal) systems and inspects them before they're covered, for any Prince George's County property not on public water or sewer

301/883-7681

9201 Basil Court, Suite 318, Largo, Maryland 20774-5310

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Forest Heights, Maryland?

Yes. Inside Forest Heights town limits, no one may construct a building, structural addition, fence over four feet, swimming pool or other improvement without a valid permit issued by the town1. Demolition or removal of fences or collapsed structures and decorative or preventive maintenance do not need the town permit1.

The town permit sits on top of the county's. Permits required by Prince George's County codes for construction in the town are still obtained from the county2, and plans must be approved by the county first and meet the county's current codes9. Unlike in unincorporated Prince George's County, you deal with two governments for one project.

The town's own inspector is a person appointed by the mayor, who may inspect any permitted activity and may revoke a permit for refusing inspection or deviating from plans10. We could not confirm a fixed inspection schedule or a certificate-of-occupancy rule in the town code; ask the county's DPIE Inspections Division and the town office.

Who issues building permits in Forest Heights, and how do you reach them?

The town issues its own building permit1; reach the11 at 301-839-1030, 5508 Arapahoe Drive. Applications go on the town form and list the owner, lot and block, building kind, dimensions, projected use, estimated value, zoning designation and zoning approval, with an owner's affidavit9. Road and drainage plans must be submitted before the permit is issued, and a permit stays valid for 1 year before the application must be resubmitted9.

The county side runs through the12, Prince George's County's Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement, at 301-636-2000. The county requires a permit before construction, alteration, repair, moving or demolition, and some small projects such as painting and certain sheds are exempt13. Plumbing and gas permits come from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission where applicable13.

Town fees are set at half the county fee for the same work, and a construction dumpster on private property needs its own $10 town permit5. For scale, the county's schedule lists a building permit fee of $4,095 for new single-family construction under 3,500 square feet, before administrative and other fees14.

Does Forest Heights have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

The Town of Forest Heights code recognizes the Prince George's County building and housing codes as effective in town, including zoning and subdivision codes, except as the town code states otherwise3. We could not confirm whether the town runs a separate zoning office or map; ask the11 before you buy.

For subdivision, the town council gets referrals for any subdivision or resubdivision of property inside town boundaries at the same time they go to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission15. The county's planning commission approves zoning, use, subdivision and site plans before building permits issue16.

We could not confirm district lot sizes, setbacks or minimum home size inside the town, so take those from the county zoning ordinance with the planning department. RV and tiny-home rules on a private lot are also unconfirmed. One rule we can state: living in an RV, camper or trailer on a public street or right-of-way anywhere in Prince George's County is unlawful outside a designated campground, park or licensed mobile home park17.

How do septic permits work in Forest Heights?

Septic permits for new construction inside Forest Heights come from the county, not the town: the health review section under DPIE issues well and septic permits4. The county's Environmental Engineering Program inspects a completed system before it is covered and issues a Certificate of Compliance18.

The town code requires any new building plan to show that the sewer connection or disposal system has been approved by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission19. The county says well and septic are permissible outside its water and sewer envelopes, while properties inside typically need public water and sewer extensions20. We could not confirm which envelope a given Forest Heights lot sits in; check PGAtlas or ask DPIE.

If a septic system is needed, the county contact is the21 at 301/883-7681. Prince George's County's soils are a poor fit for conventional drain fields: only 1.9% of its soils rate as not limited22. Expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. A private well also needs a county well permit6.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Forest Heights?

We could not confirm any rule that lets you live in an RV, camper or tiny home on a private lot in Forest Heights; the town code pages we reviewed do not address it. Zoning governs that question and the county's ordinance is adopted in town3, so ask the county planning department and the11 before you buy or park anything.

The rule that is clear applies to public space: habitation in a recreational vehicle, camper, mobile home or trailer on any public street or right-of-way in Prince George's County is unlawful, with a $50 citation fine17.

On manufactured homes, the county's zoning ordinance limits a mobile home to use as a single-family detached dwelling that meets the requirements for that zone, and the use tables show it prohibited in many zones23.

Building a home in Forest Heights: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district, lot rules and sewer status with the11 and county planning; we could not confirm them from the town code.
  2. If the lot is new or being split, send the subdivision referral to the town council and the planning commission together15.
  3. Get plan approval from Prince George's County under current county codes9.
  4. Apply to the town for its building permit on the town form, with road and drainage plans9.
  5. Obtain any county permits the county code requires2, and county health approval if you need a well or septic system4.
  6. Build, allowing the town's appointed inspector and county inspectors on site1024.

If you want to act as your own contractor on a new home, the county requires an individual owner to apply for a Homeowner Waiver and agree not to sell or rent the property for at least 5 years7. We could not confirm a separate town owner-builder rule.

What to check before you buy land in Forest Heights

Ask the town and county which zoning district the lot is in, and what the sewer connection status is, because the town code leaves lot-size and setback numbers to the county zoning ordinance3. We could not confirm floodplain or driveway rules inside the town; ask DPIE.

County-level numbers give context: Prince George's County has an effective property tax rate of 1.2%25 and a median property tax bill of $4,662 a year26. Typical home value in the county is about $433,81327. For land outside town limits, see the Prince George's County page, because county rules and offices differ from the town's.

Watch-outs

  • Short-term rentals in Forest Heights need both a Prince George's County license and a town license, hosts may rent no more than 90 days a year when not present, and operating without a license is a municipal infraction with a $1,000 fine8.
  • The town permit is in addition to county permits, so a project can be approved by one and still stall at the other2.
  • We could not confirm town zoning administration, lot sizes, setbacks, RV or tiny-home rules, floodplain or driveway rules; the Town Hall at 301-839-1030 and the county's planning department are the offices to ask11.

Sources

  1. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  4. Prince George's County Health Department, Wells & Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  6. Prince George's County Health Department, Wells & Sewage Disposal Systems (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  7. Building Contractor License, quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Forest Heights, Town Hall (forestheightsmd.gov)
  12. Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) (princegeorgescountymd.gov)
  13. Inspection FAQs, quoted and re-checked
  14. DPIE Fee Schedule, quoted and re-checked
  15. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  16. princegeorgescountymd.gov, quoted and re-checked
  17. Sec. 26-127.06. Habitation in vehicles parked in public right-of-way, quoted and re-checked
  18. Health Approval of Building Permit — Individual Water-Sewer, quoted and re-checked
  19. Town of Forest Heights Code, Article 3 Building and Construction Regulations, Part I General (eCode360) (Town of Forest Heights), quoted and re-checked
  20. Utility Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  21. Prince George's County Health Department, Environmental Engineering Program (web.archive.org)
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, & Landscape Manual, quoted and re-checked
  24. When Is a Permit Required?, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Forest Heights

Town of Forest Heights’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction of any building, structural addition, fence over four feet, swimming pool or other improvement inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Permit is issued by the town, in addition to any county permits.
    • Permit not required for demolition or removal of fences or collapsed structures or for decorative or preventive maintenance (section 3.2 a(2)).
    • A separate permit is required for a construction dumpster on private property within the town.
    “no person shall construct or erect any building, structural addition, fence over four feet in height, swimming pool or other improvement, or move, burn or demolish any sound structure or improvement, without a valid permit issued by the town.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    New construction and alterations inside Forest Heights town limits

    • The adoption is of Prince George's County building and housing codes, not a separate town code; the town says 'except as stated herein' and keeps its own permit and housing rules in Article 3.
    • Plans must meet the International Building Code, 2015 edition, as amended from time to time by the county (town Code section 3.2 a(3)).
    “except as stated herein, the town council does hereby recognize and declare to be effective within the town, the prince george's county building and housing codes, including building, grading, construction, electrical, plumbing, zoning, subdivision and any other land use or land development related codes, and amendments thereto subsequently adopted, and the maryland rehabilitation code, as amended from time to time.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Work under a Forest Heights town building permit

    • Inspection right belongs to a person appointed by the mayor; inspections happen during reasonable hours until work is complete.
    • The mayor may revoke a permit for refusal of inspection or deviation from plans; stop-work orders may be issued (section 3.2 a(9)-(10)).
    • No mandatory inspection schedule was found in the town code; county inspections under county codes are not covered here.
    “any person so appointed by the mayor shall have the right to inspect any activity for which a building permit has been issued.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New building construction inside Forest Heights town limits: whether the new home must connect to public sewer

    • The town requires a showing that the sewer connection or disposal system has been approved by WSSC; the code does not state a mandatory connection-distance rule.
    • No water or sewer connection-mandate or distance rule found in Article 3.
    “any plan for the construction of a new building shall demonstrate that the sewer connection or disposal system has been approved by the washington suburban sanitary commission.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Town handles subdivision referrals (section 3.2 heading) and the county subdivision code is adopted by reference (section 3.1); county plat approval still applies.
    • County health department reviews subdivision plats served by individual wells or septic systems (county wells and septic page).
    “referrals for subdivision or resubdivision of any property which lies within the boundaries of forest heights shall be submitted to the town council on or before the date of submittal to the maryland-national capital park and planning commission and/or the washington suburban sanitary commission.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Town adopts Prince George's County short-term rental standards (county code section 5-175) by reference.
    • Requires a Prince George's County license and a town license before operation; a host may rent no more than 90 days per calendar year if not present, 180 days if present.
    • Violation or operating without a license is a municipal infraction with a $1,000 fine (section 3.2 c.2(9)).

    short-term rental days if owner absent: <= 90 days per calendar year (180 days if host is present)

    “a short-term rental license or application for same shall be obtained prior to operation”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Town building permit fees for construction inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Application fees are nonrefundable (section 3.2 a(6)).
    • Town dumpster permit is a flat $10 (separate from the building permit fee).
    • Sign permits over six square feet cost a town fee set by the code (section 3.4); the amount was not quoted in the excerpt read.

    town building permit fee: 0.5 share of Prince George's County fee (county fee charged for the same work) · town dumpster permit fee: 10 USD

    “all applications for building permits shall be accompanied by a fee equivalent to 1/2 the fee charged by prince george's county. a town dumpster permit shall be $10.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Town building permit application process inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Application must be on the town form and include owner, lot and block, building kind, stories, dimensions, projected use, estimated value, zoning designation, zoning approval and an owner's affidavit (section 3.2 a(4)).
    • Permit valid for one year; continuing work requires resubmission on or before the anniversary (section 3.2 a(5)).
    • Road and drainage plans must be submitted before issuance (section 3.3).
    • Plans must first be approved by Prince George's County (section 3.2 a(3)).

    permit validity: 1 year (resubmit application on or before anniversary for longer construction)

    “all plans and specifications shall first be approved by prince george's county and meet current applicable county codes for the work to be done in accordance with the international building code, 2015 edition, as amended from time to time by the county.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Forest Heights

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

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Onsite septic systems for new construction on land inside Forest Heights town limits (county health review administers this; the county page does not name Forest Heights specifically)

    • Town code also requires any new building plan to show the sewer connection or disposal system is approved by WSSC (section 3.2 a(3)), so WSSC is involved where a sewer connection is made.
    “note: health review section under dpie issues well and septic permits for new construction.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New construction on a site using an onsite septic system inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Permit is issued by the county health review section under DPIE; applications are processed through the county's permit forms.
    • Replacement or remodel permits and percolation tests are handled separately by the county health department.
    “note: health review section under dpie issues well and septic permits for new construction.”
  • Well permitRequired

    New construction served by a private well inside Forest Heights town limits

    • Permit is issued by the county health review section under DPIE for new construction.
    • Replacement well site evaluations are handled by the county health department.
    “note: health review section under dpie issues well and septic permits for new construction.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Forest Heights town limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside Forest Heights town limits
  • Local zoning — Land inside Forest Heights town limits: whether the town administers its own zoning ordinance
  • Zoning districts — Zoning district map and list for land inside Forest Heights town limits (county zoning)
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family residential construction inside Forest Heights town limits (RSF-65 district, county zoning)
14 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Forest Heights publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Prince George's County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Prince George's County: county rules, score and offices