Article I. In General.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-1 (2026)
Sec. 34-1. Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
In this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:
Director: The Director of the Department of Permitting Services.
Gas fitter: A registered, licensed master gas fitter who is authorized to install and supervise the installation of gas fitting work, but who is not authorized to do plumbing work.
Gas fitting: The work, beginning at the outlet of the meter, of putting together, installing, connecting and the maintenance and repair of any piping, fitting, fixtures or other appliances which are to contain gas for heat, light or power, including attachments and appurtenances.
Install, repair or maintain: The installation, repair or maintenance of any plumbing or gas fitting equipment or part thereof, including alterations, renewals or extensions of the same.
Journeyman gas fitter: A registered, licensed journeyman gas fitter, working under the supervision of a master gas fitter in the installation of gas fitting work. A journeyman gas fitter may not do plumbing work.
Journeyman plumber: A registered, licensed journeyman plumber, working under the supervision of a master plumber in the installation of plumbing and gas fitting work.
Plumber: A registered, licensed master plumber who is authorized to install and supervise the installation of plumbing and gas fitting work.
Plumbing: The practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension and alteration of all piping, fixtures and other apparatus on private property for bringing in the water supply to and removing the liquid and water borne wastes from the premises; also such similar work when done under legal permit in the public ways by private persons.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-2 (2026)
Sec. 34-2. Regulations-Adopted.LinkCopy Citation
The council hereby adopts as the plumbing and gas fitting regulations of the county all those regulations, as amended, as of the effective date of this section, which have been adopted by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, under the authority of chapter 122, Acts of 1918, General Assembly of Maryland, or under the authority of chapter 256, Acts of 1955, General Assembly of Maryland, as amended, known and designated as "The Plumbing and Gas Fitting Regulations of the Washington Suburban Sanitary District" (such plumbing regulations are dated February 16, 1954), with such amendments as are specified in this article.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-3 (2026)
Sec. 34-3. Same-Application.LinkCopy Citation
The regulations adopted by section 34-2 shall not apply within the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary District to the extent that the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has authority to adopt or has adopted equivalent regulations for such respective districts; nor shall such regulations be in effect within any special taxing area to the extent that such special taxing area has authority to adopt equivalent regulations; provided, that, if the governing body of such area adopts these or equivalent regulations and requests the county to provide for the administration and enforcement of the same within such special taxing area, the county executive is hereby directed to administer the regulations within such area.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-3A (2026)
Sec. 34-3A. Same-Floodplain regulations.LinkCopy Citation
Every new or replacement community and multiuse water supply system or sanitary sewerage system must be designed and floodproofed:
(a)
To eliminate or minimize infiltration of flood waters into the system and discharges from the system into flood waters; and
(b)
To avoid impairment during flooding and to minimize flood damage.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-4 (2026)
Sec. 34-4. Same-Certain terms defined.LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Commission. Wherever, in the regulations adopted by Section 34-2 the word "Commission" refers to a water supply and sewerage service public utility, the word includes any other authorized water and sewer public utility in the County. Where the word "Commission" refers to a governing body of a municipal corporation, it means the "County Council" or "County." Where the word "Commission" refers to an enforcement or inspection agency or an administrator of regulations, it means the County Executive or the Director of Permitting Services and their authorized agents.
(b)
Plumbing inspector, etc. Wherever the terms "chief of the plumbing division," "plumbing office," "plumbing inspector," "plumbing division" or the like are employed, they shall be read as the "Director" or his "agents," as the case may be.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-5 (2026)
Sec. 34-5. Same-Amendments to plumbing regulations.LinkCopy Citation
The plumbing regulations adopted by Section 34-2 are amended as follows:
(a)
Chapter II. In Chapter II, Title "general provisions," sections 201, 202, 204.1, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213.1.1(b), 214.3, 214.3.2, 214.3.1, 215, 216, 217, 219, 220 and 221 are deleted.
(b)
Chapter III. In Chapter III, Title "registration of plumbers," Sections 301, 302, 303.3, 303.4, 303.4.1, 303.5, 303.6, 304.3, 304.3.1, 304.4, 304.5, 305, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313 and 314 are deleted.
(c)
Chapter IV. In Chapter IV, Title "applications and permits," section 402.2 and all of section 408.4; all subsections under 409.1; subsections 409.2 and 409.3; and under 409.4, subsections 409.4.7 and 409.4.8 only are deleted. Section 403 is amended by adding a new paragraph immediately following the first paragraph to read as follows:
"When duplicate plans for new construction or alteration of buildings are submitted to the Department of Permitting Services under the building code, and the plans include all necessary plumbing and mechanical detail, separate plumbing plans need not be submitted under this Section. The Department of Permitting Services approves or corrects the plumbing details on the building plans, and issues the permit."
(d)
Chapter V. In Chapter V, Title "work on private property--property line to building," the following amendments are adopted:
(1)
Delete sections 502, 502.1 and 511.
(2)
Section 503.1 is amended to read as follows:
"503.1 The plumber must not construct on private property any underground work until the Commission has built its water and sewer house connections to the property line, except as hereinafter provided. Inquiry must be made at the plumbing office as to the location of the water and sewer connections at the property line or at the Department of Permitting Services as to the location of the sewage disposal system before any water or sewer pipes are extended through building walls by the plumber. No change may be made by the Commission in the proposed location of its water and sewer connections or sewage disposal system if a plumber has placed pipes in a location that does not meet the connections. Any work done contrary to this requirement must be at the sole responsibility of the plumber making the installation and the plumber must dig up and relay, at the plumber's own expense, any work which cannot be properly connected to the public water and sewer system or to any individual sewage disposal system."
(3)
Section 504.1.2.1 is hereby repealed and re-enacted with amendments to read as follows:
"504.1.2.1 Building water services 3 inches or under in diameter shall be either Type ‘K’ copper water tubing; polyethylene, provided it complies with commercial standard C.S. 197-59, published by the Department of Commerce; ‘genuine’ galvanized wrought iron or brass pipe, of standard iron pipe gauge, or as hereinafter specified, for sizes up to and including three-inch. However, in case Type ‘K’ copper tubing is unavailable, Type ‘L’ copper tubing may be used in case of emergency. Sizes for above three-inch diameter shall be of cast iron pressure pipe, suitable for the conditions to which it will be subjected."
(4)
Section 504.2.2, Title "material," is hereby repealed and re-enacted with amendments to read as follows:
"504.2.2 Material.
"Acceptable materials, all as hereinafter specified, for building sewers in various sizes, are as follows:
Diameter | Kind of Pipe
4-inch | Cast iron; asbestos cement; or bituminized fiber drain and sewer pipe provided it complies with commercial standard C.S-116-54 published by the Department of Commerce or Federal Specifications SS-p-356 dated April 6, 1955, published by the General Services Administration.
6-inch | Cast iron, concrete, vitrified clay or asbestos cement.
8-inch | Cast iron, concrete or vitrified clay."
(e)
Chapter VI. In Chapter VI, Title "work on private property inside building," the following amendments are adopted:
(1)
Section 604.7 is amended to read as follows:
"604.7 Bar sinks and soda fountain sinks shall discharge indirectly as outlined above. Laboratory sinks may be directly connected to the drainage system, being properly tapped and vented, or they may discharge indirectly as outlined above. For two-inch traps the vent may be 4 feet distant (developed length); for three-inch traps, 6 feet, and for four-inch traps, 8 feet. Drip pipes from not more than 3 sinks or other waste receptacles may discharge into such a connection."
(2)
Section 604.8 is amended to read as follows:
"604.8 Drinking fountains shall be indirectly connected."
(3)
Section 605.1.1 is amended by adding a new sentence following the word "therein" at the end of the first paragraph to read as follows:
"Floors of such rooms shall be constructed of such material and in such manner as to be impervious to water."
(4)
Delete sections 617.6 and 617.7.
(5)
Section 618, Title "swimming pools" and all subsections thereunder are hereby deleted and there is inserted in lieu thereof the following to read:
"618. Swimming Pools.
"618.1 Duplicate plans for construction which are required to be submitted to the Division of Building Inspection by other County regulations must contain the layout of all piping with sizes indicated, methods of waste disposal, the sources of water supply and all other pertinent data for review by the plumbing office.
"618.2 All work performed must comply with these regulations and the following minimum requirements must be observed:
"618.2.1 All pools and appurtenances must be drainable by means of gravity or installed pump. The discharge must be through an air gap or adjacent to a relief point open to the air which is at a lower elevation than the pool bottom.
"618.2.2 The disposal of waste water must be approved by the Health and Human Services Department. The plumbing office must approve waste connections to the building system or the sanitary sewer system. Connections to the sanitary sewer system must be made only from pools lined with nonsloughing material and through a pipe no larger than 2 inches in diameter. Provision must be made to direct accumulated rain water into channels other than the sanitary sewer system. In hardship cases, the plumbing office may make exceptions to this provision.
"618.2.3 The domestic water supply or an independent water supply must be connected to the pool or its appurtenances only through an air gap, except that chlorinators may be fed from the water supply system through double check valves.
"618.2.4 All pool water supply piping and recirculation piping up to the waste sump, except the face piping supplied with the filters, must be of copper type ‘K’; polyethylene, provided it complies with commercial standard C.S. 197-59, published by the Department of Commerce; galvanized wrought iron or cast iron. Cast iron pipe used for main drains under the pool must be
extra heavy with leaded joints. Any piping used as channel and poured solidly into the concrete walls need not be cast iron. All piping must be drainable for winterizing purposes."
(6)
Section 621, Title "manure pits," is amended by adding a new sentence after the last word "division" thereof to read as follows:
" This shall not apply to agricultural uses."
(7)
All of subsection 623.8 and subparagraphs thereunder are deleted.
(f)
Chapter VII. In Chapter VII, "industrial and other special wastes," the following amendments are adopted:
(1)
Section 701.1 is amended to read as follows:
"701.1 Waste to be treated. Provision shall be made for the treatment of industrial and other special wastes."
(2)
Delete Section 702.14.
(g)
Chapter IX. In Chapter IX, Title "inspection," Section 903 is amended to read as follows:
"903. Improper workmanship. Improper workmanship shall be remedied and unsatisfactory material shall be replaced, as ordered by the Director or plumbing division. When this has been done the work shall be again inspected before being covered. In case of failure or refusal to comply with these regulations, the Director may invoke Sections 14, 15, or 16 of the licensing ordinance.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-6 (2026)
Sec. 34-6. Same-Amendments to gas fitting regulations.LinkCopy Citation
The gas fitting regulations adopted by section 34-2 are hereby amended as follows: In chapter II, sections 201.1, the first paragraph of 201.21, 201.4, 201.5, 202.1, 202.2, 202.33, 202.34, 202.35, 202.43, 202.5, 202.7, 202.8, 202.9, 202.10, 202.11, 202.12, 202.13, and 202.14 are hereby deleted.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-7 (2026)
Sec. 34-7. Same-Violations.LinkCopy Citation
Plumbers and gas fitters will be held responsible for the violation of such parts of the regulations adopted by section 34-2 as concern them, whether by themselves or their employees or agents. Under no circumstances whatever shall verbal permission given at any time by anyone be considered as a justification for any deviation from or a violation of such regulations.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-8 (2026)
Sec. 34-8. Who may do plumbing and gas fitting work.LinkCopy Citation
Water supply, sewerage, plumbing and gas fitting work on private property, with the exception of excavating and refilling trenches, outside work in the installation of septic tanks, septic tank cleaning and well drilling, shall be done by a master plumber-gas fitter or by a journeyman plumber under the supervision of a master plumber-gas fitter, both of whom shall be registered as specified in this chapter. Every person or at least one member of every firm or one officer of every corporation, doing or contracting to do plumbing or gas fitting work shall be a registered master plumber or master gas fitter. Every plumber or gas fitter working as a journeyman shall have a journeyman's registration card issued under this chapter.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-9 (2026)
Sec. 34-9. Gas appliance servicemen-Right to connect and disconnect appliances.LinkCopy Citation
Gas appliance servicemen not qualified for registration under this chapter as a master gas fitter or journeyman gas fitter, and whose activities are limited to the repair of gas appliances for electrical or mechanical defects and not gas fittings or gas-operated parts of an appliance, are hereby authorized, for the purposes of repair and service only, to disconnect the appliance from the gas line and reconnect such appliance, subject to the conditions set out in sections 34-10 to 34-12.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-10 (2026)
Sec. 34-10. Same-Registration.LinkCopy Citation
Every gas appliance serviceman who desires to perform any work authorized by Section 34-9 must apply to the Department of Permitting Services for a limited gas appliance serviceman's registration card. The card must be renewed annually and must be issued upon payment of a registration fee of $3. Before a card is issued, the applicant must show by examination a thorough knowledge of all safety measures in temporary disconnecting and reconnecting of gas appliances from the gas pipe line, or furnish proof of training or experience with a reputable company in such limited gas fitting work. The work must be performed in accordance with applicable gas fitting regulations. A person registered under this Section must not perform any gas fitting work except as provided in this Section and the registration card must specifically state the extent of gas fitting work which that person may perform.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-11 (2026)
Sec. 34-11. Same-Bond.LinkCopy Citation
Any firm, company, association, corporation or partnership in the business of gas appliance repair or employing gas appliance servicemen shall post a single bond annually in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) under the terms and conditions of section 34-17, which bond shall cover all servicemen employed by the company. Individual servicemen, not employees, shall post a bond of five hundred dollars ($500.00) under such section.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-12 (2026)
Sec. 34-12. Same-Applicability of sections 34-16 to 34-20.LinkCopy Citation
All applicable provisions of sections 34-16 to 34-20 shall apply to firms and servicemen posting bonds and registered under this article.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-13 (2026)
Sec. 34-13. Administration of chapter; right of entry.LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This Chapter is administered by the Director of Permitting Services.
(b)
The Director and his authorized agents shall have the right of entry, at all reasonable hours, upon any private premises or building within the County in pursuit of their official duties under this Chapter and any restraint or hindrance offered to such entry by any owner or tenant of the owner or tenant, shall be punishable under Section 1-6.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-14 (2026)
Sec. 34-14. Application of chapter.LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The provisions of this chapter shall apply in the county to plumbing work performed outside of the Washington Suburban Sanitary District, as now created by law, or with any extensions or additions thereto, and to gas fitting work performed outside of the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District, as now created by law, or with any extensions or additions thereto. This chapter shall not apply to any plumbing or gas fitting installations installed by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
(b)
Nothing in this chapter, except as herein specified, shall be construed to exempt any plumbing or gas fitting work in the county from complying with the requirements of the "plumbing and gas fitting regulations" of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
(c)
Private water supply and sewage disposal systems for which a permit has been issued by the county or state health departments shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 34-15 (2026)
Sec. 34-15. Violations, penalty and injunctive remedies.LinkCopy Citation
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or the plumbing and gas fitting regulations adopted by section 34-2 shall be subject to punishment for a class A violation as set forth in section 1-19 of chapter 1 of the County Code.