When Is a County Permit Required?

This County webpage tells you if you need a permit and/or plans before you start your project. It is your (not your contractor’s) responsibility to meet these requirements. Improvements made without required permits can cause major problems if and when you try to sell your home. Also, should an accident (e.g., a hot water tank explosion) occur as a result of a faulty/unapproved installation, your homeowner's insurance may not cover the damages.

Visit the county's Permit Center for help in submitting permit applications and plans.

Tantallon Covenants are limitations in addition to the County requirements.

Enforcement of Covenants

The Tantallon Control Committee (TCC) is a group of volunteer residents whose responsibility is to administer and enforce the Tantallon Land Covenants in an equitable, diligent and uniform manner.

The TCC administers the Covenants by reviewing plans for exterior "improvement" to properties covered by the Covenants and issuing written decisions on whether to approve those plans.

Requests need to be submitted by the 20th of the month. Committee members will be available to inspect requests if necessary the Saturday after the 20th of each month between 10 and 11 am.

A violation of the Covenants occurs when exterior improvements, such as the construction of an addition to a home, the erection of a fence, or the building of a shed, are made to a property covered by the Covenants without the approval of the TCC. The Committee's bylaws state that "[t]he TCC will not normally perform inspections to seek out violations of the covenants, but will react to complaints filed with it."  Therefore, it relies on residents to notify the Committee when they see possible Covenant violations.

When exterior improvements are made without TCC approval, the Covenants require that a law suit to enjoin such actions or construction must be commenced within 90 days after the completion of such actions or construction.  If no legal action is taken within that time period, the Covenants provide that "approval will not be required and the related covenants shall be deemed to have been fully complied with."  Because of this 90-day limit, the TCC must recommend that legal action be taken promptly in order to carry out its duty to enforce compliance with the Covenants.

So, for example, if a homeowner erects a fence or shed without prior approval from the Committee, and the Committee is unaware of the new fence or shed, and 90 days pass, the fence or shed is no longer in violation of the Covenants.  As a result, some properties include additions and renovations, such as fences and sheds, that the TCC would not have approved if it had the knowledge and time to take action.  Unfortunately, this scenario has occurred many times during the past 40 years, resulting in the perception that the TCC has failed to do its job in a consistent manner.  (In addition TCA members should be aware that due to decisions made by developers of properties in our area, the Covenants may not apply to all properties on a given street -- see  http://tantallon.info/Property Covered by Covenants.)

The 90-day limit on filing suit to enforce the Covenants applies only to matters within the scope of the TCC's authority.   The Covenants do not give the TCC authority to approve certain actions, such as the storage of boats, that violate the Covenants.  The Covenants also require that all homes have enclosed garages which are attached to or are under the residence. As a result, the TCA may initiate legal action at any time to enjoin such continuing actions that violate the Covenants.

Compliance with the Covenants is the responsibility of each homeowner, whether a TCA member or not.  To protect your property's value and to maintain the beauty of the community, please notify the Committee of possible Covenant violations.  All reports are treated as confidential; however, the Committee is prohibited by its bylaws from acting solely on anonymous complaints.

To contact the TCC, please write to P.O. Box 44069, Fort Washington, MD 20749; you may also contact the TCC via email at tantalloncontrol@gmail.com.

Keep Tantallon Beautiful (“Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax)

We are privileged to live in a beautiful neighborhood and we all need to do our part to keep it that way.  That includes helping our elderly and challenged neighbors keep their property in order.  However, in some cases (abandoned and vacant houses, for example), we need our county’s help to keep it beautiful.

If you see a property that appears neglected, the Property Standards Division of the county Department of Environmental Resources (DER) can help.  They strongly recommend that immediate neighbors of neglected properties quickly notify them as soon as the problem develops.

Use CountyClick/311 to file a complaint for:

Blight (Eyesores), Code Enforcement, & Property Standards, Abandoned Properties or Vehicles, Uncut Grass or Weeds, Unsafe Structures.

Please, also email TCA (tantalloncitizensassociation@gmail.com) when you complain to PSD so we can track these issues.  Thanks

Note the Tantallon Covenants are in addition to the county property standards.

Parking

Theft of your vehicle and theft from your vehicle are less likely if you park on your driveway.  On-street parking is limited to 3 days.  Violations should be reported to the county Revenue Authority (301-772-2060) or use CountyClick/311.  Give the full address, type of infraction, type of vehicle and time of day when the infraction occurs.  Be sure to get a reference number so you can follow up on your call.  You might document your call with an email to parkingcomplaints@co.pg.md.us .

See the Parking Violations Brochure for a list of violations.

Animal Management

The Animal Management Division (AMD) responds to calls from citizens and residents regarding the following concerns:

• Injured animals
• Sick animals
• Vicious animals
• Trapped animals
• Cruelty complaints
• Dead animals
• Nuisance animals or animals running at large

You should have the following information ready when you call 311 or use CountyClick:

• Name, address, phone number (this information will be kept confidential)
• Type of animal
• Color of animal
• Address where last seen
• Animal's physical condition
• Name of owner/custodian of animal (if known)

See the AMD Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions