Join us for the latest episode of the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Podcast, where we introduce John Catlett, the new DPS commercial building division chief. Hosted by Gail Lucas, DPS customer support and outreach division chief, this episode dives into Division Chief Catlett’s vision for excellent customer service, what’s new with commercial building codes and the future of the industry.

Tune in to learn about:

• The latest on the codes and code cycle.
• The commercial building plan review process.
• Industry trends and upcoming improvements.

This is the 28th episode of the DPS podcast. Previous episodes have covered topics like accessory dwelling units, building safety, eSolar, residential fast track permits, special event permits, use and occupancy certificates, vendor licenses, and more.

Have a question or idea for a future episode? Email us at dps.podcast@montgomerycountymd.gov.

This Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Podcast episode, “Offsite Construction,” highlights a local construction project that is primarily being built offsite. DPS Customer Support and Outreach Division Chief Gail Lucas, who hosts the podcast, is joined by Chris Allen, who is the assistant to the DPS director, and Joseph Phelan, who is the director of operations at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac. Their conversation notes the advantages of offsite construction, the variety of modular construction projects around the County, and the role of DPS when it comes to codes and permitting, as well as the importance of predesign consultations for those considering offsite construction. They discuss the difference between modular construction and mobile homes and provide tips for listeners who may be exploring this construction option for a future project. Got an idea or question for an upcoming podcast episode? Email your ideas and questions to dps.podcast@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Podcast episode, “Building Safety: Fire Department Access,” focuses on the importance of plan review for fire department access at buildings in Montgomery County. DPS Customer Support and Outreach Division Chief Gail Lucas hosts the podcast. She is joined by DPS Plan Reviewer Marie LaBaw, who is also a structures specialist, for a discussion about her career path from the fire department to DPS and why ensuring fire department access in the built environment is important for emergency responders. Dr. LaBaw also shares information about her unique role as a structures specialist for Maryland’s Urban Search and Rescue team and discusses some of her assignment’s on that team around the country.

Got an idea or question for a future podcast episode?

Email your ideas and questions to dps.podcast@montgomerycountymd.gov.