Department of Engineering

For information regarding this process contact Janice Dorcus, Office Manager, at (301) 600-1405 or jdorcus@cityoffrederick.com or Sarah Stamper, Secretary, at (301) 600-1498 or sstamper@cityoffrederick.com.

***To view the applications and other documents referenced on this page, see APPLICATIONS AND FORMS.

Engineering Improvement Plans

Improvement plans are required for any project for which there is a disturbance of 5,000 square feet or if there is any work proposed within the City’s right-of-way.

All improvement plans must be signed and sealed by a Maryland Registered Professional Engineer.

Fees for improvement plan review are as follows:

New Submittals = $ 125.00 PLUS $ 180.00 per sheet (including cover sheet)

Revisions to previously approved plans = $ 50.00 per plan sheet

Re-approvals of expired plans (no revisions) = $ 15.00 per plan sheet

SWM Waiver Fee (for quantity waiver only) = $ 30,000 per impervious acre (this fee paid with Grading/Public Improvements Permit)

Application for Improvement Plan Review

All plans shall be prepared in accordance with the Improvement Plan Review Checklist

New submittals shall include four copies of the improvement plans, an Improvement Plan Review Application, an Improvement Plan Review Checklist, one set of storm water management computations and fee.

Once plan approvals have been obtained by The City of Frederick and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, you may begin the Grading/Public Improvements Permit process. (link to that page)

General Sequence of Development

1. The Planning Commission must approve a site plan and/or preliminary/final subdivision plat.

2. Improvement plans must be approved by the Engineering Department and all applicable State permits obtained. One set of diazo mylars, two sets of prints and digital files of the approved plans must be submitted for the City’s files.

3. Submit an engineer’s estimate for 115 percent of grading and sediment control and work in the public right-of-way using the attached Standard Unit Costs.

4. Prior to plat recordation, improvement plans must be approved by the Engineering Department and a Public Works Agreement and surety must be accepted by the Engineering Department for all public improvements covered by the plat (sewer, water, storm drainage, paving, curb and gutter, sidewalks, streetlights and landscaping). All offsite work necessary to provide City public services to the area platted must also be guaranteed with adequate surety prior to recordation. Submit to the Engineering Department: Original Public Works Agreement, surety, Reference Page and the approved cost estimate plus one copy of these items. The Agreement is signed by the Mayor after approval by the Engineering and Legal Departments which normally takes approximately five working days.

5. Approval of a Standard Inspection and Maintenance Agreement of Private Stormwater Management Facilities and a Deed of Easement for private stormwater management facilities (ponds, outfall structures, etc.) to be maintained by the developer. There is no fee to review these documents

6. Approval of a Forest Conservation Agreement for areas delineated on the improvement plans as areas to be afforested or reforested. Sureties for Forest Conservation must be bonded separately from the public improvements and sediment control – contact the Planning Department at (301) 600-1499.

7. Once all above conditions are satisfied, submit a Grading / Public Improvements Permit with a Construction Inspection Fee (schedule attached to Grading / Public Improvements Permit Application) must be paid.

8. Separate grading and sediment and erosion control approval may be obtained once plans approved by Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Director of Engineering, a Public Works Agreement, surety and a Grading/Public Improvements Permit and fees are submitted.

Grading, Site Work, Public Improvements

A Grading/Public Improvements permit and approved improvement plans are required in either of the following cases: There is more than 5,000 square feet of land being disturbed, or there is work within the public right-of-way, such as sidewalk, curbing gutter, water and sewer, etc.

Grading/public improvements permits issued by the engineering department are for grading, site work, and public improvements - construction only. A separate building permit must be obtained from the building department at 301-600-3829 prior to starting building construction/demolition.

Inspections

Inspections for grading and site work are handled by the City's construction inspectors. An inspector is assigned to the project when the grading public improvements permit is issued. You may also contact the engineering department at 301-600-1405 or 301-600-1498 to request an inspector or determine the name of a particular inspector on a project.

Sediment and erosion control inspection and enforcement is handled by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Frederick Soil Conservation District at 301-695-2803.