Occupancy Permits for New Business
“Occupancy Permits” for New Business Occupancies
Assistance Available for Business Owners
Frederick County welcomes new businesses! We also recognize that it can sometimes be intimidating or frustrating to figure out the requirements for permits and licenses, etc. We recommend that you first contact the Office of Economic Development (OED) within our Community Development Division. The staff of OED specializes in assisting businesses with such matters as site selection, and they support small, entrepreneur businesses and large, established businesses alike. Visit their site for more information:
http://www.discoverfrederickmd.com.
The “Occupancy Permit” Process
Approval is required to operate a business from a particular location prior to occupancy. This is commonly referred to as the “Occupancy Permit”. Actually, it is a Certificate of Occupancy that is required, which is the “end result” of the permits and inspections process. A Building Permit/Zoning Certificate application (for an “Occupancy Permit”) is the first step in obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy. The Community Development Division has recently updated and improved the permitting process to make it easier, less time consuming, and less expensive, as part of the Board of County Commissioners’
Business Friendly initiative. Many applications for “Occupancy Permits” can be processed as an
Expedited Walk-Through Permit, and the application is reviewed and the permit is issued “while you wait”, the same day. An inspection is required, and the inspection can be scheduled for the following day if requested by 2:00 p.m. (If any construction is involved, there will be more than one inspection.) Once all inspections have been approved, the
Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
If you would like to save time at time of application in the Permits Office, or if you would like to verify that a proposed location will be acceptable for your business, it is suggested that you complete the
“Key Questions for New Business Applicants” form and either email it to the
Permits and Inspections’ Customer Service Supervisor, or fax it to 301-600-2309 in advance of your application for the “Occupancy Permit”. This form is not a requirement, but it is helpful in many instances. Upon receipt, the information that you supplied will be given a cursory review by staff. You will then receive the correct application form to complete and any suggestions or instructions specific to your particular situation. Please note that if the proposed business location is within the City of Frederick or the Town of Mt. Airy, you must contact those municipalities directly, as the County Department of Permits and Inspections will not be involved.
Thank you for choosing Frederick County!
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