Updated : 04/22/2024
Overview
The municipal code for District Heights, Maryland creates a bit of ambiguity in terms of which code and which amendments are intended to apply in the city. The likely intent is that the city adopted the state codes, meaning the 2015 IRC and 2015 IBC as amended by state law and city ordinance. COMAR 05.02.07.04,
The District Heights municipal code states that "[p]ursuant to state law, the building regulations of the City are those regulations contained in the Maryland Building Performance Standards as amended by ordinance by the Mayor and Commissioners of District Heights." District Heights, Maryland Muni. Code § 201 (a)(accessed 2/23/2015). If the drafters of the city code would have stopped there, interpretation would be fairly easy. Since Maryland adopted the 2015 IRC and IBC into the Maryland Performance Standards, those codes would theoretically apply.
However, in the next subparagraphs of the municipal code, the drafters adopted the 1996 BOCA for commercial properties and the 1995 CABO for residential properties. District Heights, Maryland Muni. Code § 201 (b) and (c). The express mention of these very old codes that are predecessors to the modern IRC and IBC creates the ambiguity because it conflicts with the statement that the city adopted the Maryland Performance Standards "pursuant to law." These adoptions do expressly mention COMAR 05.02.07.04, which is the state regulation that adopts the 2015 IRC and IBC and which therefore creates more fuel for an argument of ambiguity. Furthermore, Section 203 of the municipal code contains specific amendments to the old BOCA and CABO. This raises issues as to how or if these amendments might apply to the 2015 IRC and IBC.
No additional information was found on the city website regarding building codes, permits, building code department or officials. Note that District Heights, Maryland is a small incorporated city in Prince George's County. According to the 2010, the population is under 6,000 people.
PLRB sent an email to the city for clarification on 2/23/2015.
Helpful resources for District Heights, Maryland include the following.