# Division 3. Design and Construction Standards and Requirements

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Division 3. Design and Construction Standards and Requirements

### Sec. 23-128. Requirement of conformity to Subtitle, specifications, and standards

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-128 (2026)

(a) The "General Specifications and Standards for Highway and Street Construction" and the "Specifications and Standards for Highway Traffic Signals" of the Department of Public Works and Transportation of Prince George's County, copies of which have been filed with the Clerk's Office, are hereby adopted with the same authority and force as if set forth in their entirety herein. Amendments and revisions shall be made by Council resolution.

(b) The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall make available for inspection current copies of this Subtitle and the Design and Construction Standards. The Design and Construction Standards referred to herein may be purchased from the Department of Public Works and Transportation at the established prevailing price.

### Sec. 23-129. General construction requirements for existing or proposed County roads

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-129 (2026)

(a) All road construction shall conform to this Subtitle.

(b) All roads to be constructed shall be graded to the full width of the right-of-way or as shown on the approved plans.

(c) Grading shall include clearing and grubbing, the removal and replacement of all unsuitable material, and the proper preparation of subgrade.

(d) Sufficient underdrains shall be installed as directed by the Department.

(e) No work on road pavement shall be started until all underground utilities within areas of public dedication have been installed and properly backfilled in accordance with accepted standards as determined by the inspector. In the case of water and sewer utilities, the permittee is required to notify WSSC immediately after base paving operations so WSSC can schedule an inspection of its facilities within ten (10) working days and issue a preliminary paving clearance certificate. Notification shall include the project name, location, Department permit number, and contact person's name at the site. Upon completion of final paving, the permittee is also required to notify the WSSC so that WSSC can schedule an inspection of its facilities within ten (10) working days and issue a final paving clearance certificate.

(f) All materials used in construction shall conform in every detail to the Design and Construction Standards. The Director is authorized to accept materials which are substantially equivalent to the materials required by the Design and Construction Standards.

(g) A street name sign shall be installed at each intersection where required by the Director. The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall be responsible for the manufacturing and installation of street signs and for the development of standards for their design and installation. Permittees responsible for the construction of new roadways shall be responsible for all costs associated with manufacturing and installing new signs.

(h) The permittee shall erect barricades of a design approved by the Director at locations as shown on approved plans or in accordance with accepted standards as determined by the inspector.

(i) Until such time as the Director accepts the work, the permittee, including a public utility, shall safely maintain pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the roadway within the permit limits of the work, and provide materials, labor, and equipment in accordance with accepted standards as directed by the inspector, including construction of warning signs, flagmen, lights, and barricades to properly maintain traffic in accordance with the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways as published by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Except as provided in this Section, sidewalks shall remain open or an alternate route shall be provided to pedestrian traffic. A sidewalk may be closed and no alternative route provided if a regulated utility, bi-county agency or the Department determines that it is not feasible to keep the sidewalk open or provide an alternative route. The inspector may, in cooperation with police and/or traffic authorities, discontinue traffic temporarily where public safety absolutely requires same. The permittee shall also have a duty to:

  (1) Properly illuminate, mark, and barricade excavations or other hazards at all times;

  (2) Provide adequate access, to include the removal of snow and ice from partially constructed roadways, to all driveways and sidewalks within the permit limits;

  (3) Control dust conditions within the area covered by the permit by placing calcium chloride or water, or both, as directed;

  (4) Shape up the roadway by blading, as directed;

  (5) Correct muddy or soft subgrade conditions by placing temporary gravel or stone thereon;

  (6) Promptly remove any dirt and debris on streets in, and adjacent to, the work area during the construction period as directed by the inspector; and

  (7) Utilize only the roadways designated by the Department for access and egress of construction vehicles.

  (8) Failure of construction vehicles to adhere to signed prohibitions of use may result in revocation of permits issued to the permittee by the Department.

(j) Utility cuts.

  (1) No person, including any utility and/or small wireless facility permittee, shall cut any road for the purpose of installing, connecting, repairing, or otherwise modifying underground gas, electric power, water, sewer, storm water, telephone or cable lines, or other utility without first obtaining a permit from the Director. Any person, including utilities with a valid utility permit or small wireless facility permit, shall be required to provide the Department with forty-eight (48) hours' notice prior to cutting the pavement. Said notice shall include the location, type, timing, and extent of the cut.

  (2) Except in an emergency, no utility, small wireless facility permittee, or person shall be allowed to cut into any road pavement for a period of five years from the date of acceptance of the road construction in the case of new road construction, or completion of pavement resurfacing in the case of maintenance or improvement to an existing road. The placement of all new utilities and small wireless facilities shall be accomplished, to the maximum practicable extent as determined by the Director, by tunneling, jacking, boring, or other means which will avoid disturbing the pavement. This subparagraph shall not be effective until two (2) years after a utility location protocol is approved as part of the Design and Construction Standards.

  (3) Any utility and/or small wireless facility permittee which cuts, and then subsequently repairs a pavement with either a temporary or permanent patch, shall mark the patch or adjacent pavement surface to identify the utility responsible for the pavement cut. Temporary patches may be designated using paint or other approved markers. Permanent pavement patches shall be designated using an approved marker manufactured and installed in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards. After written notification of noncompliance, utilities and small wireless facility permittees not in compliance with this standard may be fined Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per violation of Subsection 23-129(j)(3) of this Code.

  (4) The permittee or its contractor shall have in his or her possession on site, and make available to an inspector, on request, a copy of the subject permit and detailed plans showing the location of all existing utilities within the area of the cut.

  (5) Prior to actual excavation, the permittee, or his agent, shall contact the Utility Service Protection Center and nonmember utilities requesting that the utility locate all underground lines in the area of the cut.

  (6) Prior to actual excavation within four hundred (400) feet of a signalized intersection, the permittee shall contact the Traffic Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works and Transportation to allow for the marking or protection of wiring and detectors associated with the intersection.

  (7) Operations. When excavation approaches the estimated location of an underground installation, the permittee or his agent shall conduct such excavation by careful hand probing and/or hand digging. In the event that utility lines are uncovered, the permittee shall provide proper supports for the existing installation as determined by the inspector in conjunction with the utility company affected.

  (8) Emergencies. In case of an emergency cut, the utility desiring to make the cut shall proceed immediately. After the emergency is corrected, the utility shall give verbal notice to the Department within twenty-four (24) hours or by the beginning of the next working day, indicating the location, time, type, and nature of the emergency, and shall give written notice within five (5) working days.

  (9) Restoration and Repairs.

    (A) Where a pavement cut has been made, the permittee shall be responsible for the following in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards:

      (i) Restore road base and surface to comply with County standards and specifications;

      (ii) Repair pavement failure;

      (iii) Repair settlements; and

      (iv) Construct permanent patches in the cut area.

    (B) The permittee shall also be responsible for all future repairs to the cut area which are the result of consolidation, subsidence, or inadequate compaction of the subgrade, or any other type of failure of the patch.

    (C) It shall be the sole responsibility of the permittee to protect property adjacent to, and within the area of, the cut, including sidewalks, driveways, shrubbery, trees, buildings, lawns, or other objects during construction and maintenance. In the event that a utility(ies) or small wireless facility permittee cuts the pavement in so many places or in such a way that the road surface or subgrade deteriorates over time resulting in numerous pavement failures or a poor riding surface such that the road must be resurfaced or reconstructed as a direct result of the utility cuts and pavement repairs, the Director may instruct the utility company(ies) or small wireless facility permittee to resurface or reconstruct the roadway as the Director may determine. Failure to repair the roadway in a timely fashion shall result in the suspension of any existing permits.

    (D) For any pavement cut, the following pavement rehabilitation considerations apply as determined by the Director or his designee:

      (i) When the pavement cut is within a roadway intersection (i.e. up to the outside fillet points that define the roadway intersection), the mill and overlay requirements, as a minimum, apply to the full surface area of said intersection; and

      (ii) When the pavement cut is within a cul-de-sac bulb, (i.e. up to the outside fillet points where the cul-de-sac bulb meets the regular section roadway), the mill and overlay requirements, as a minimum, apply to the full surface area of said cul-de-sac bulb.

  (10) In the event that the permittee fails to verify the location of underground utilities and damages any underground utility thereby, as determined by the inspector in conjunction with the affected utility(ies), and the permittee has not undertaken to perform repairs, the Director may suspend any applicable road permit until such time as the utility company whose property has been damaged determines that the damage has been repaired or corrected to its satisfaction, at the expense of the permittee. The same requirements apply to traffic signs and signals. In the event any individual utility company fails to furnish the requisite information to the permittee within a reasonable time, as determined by the Director under all of the circumstances, then the aforegoing provision as to suspension shall not apply.

(k) Signage. Permittees, to include but not be limited to public utilities and small wireless facility permittees, working in or immediately adjacent to a public right-of-way shall be required to post a sign on the property line, or in such other location as the Director may prescribe, which shall be clearly visible from the road without creating a traffic safety problem and shall remain in place until such time as all work has been completed. Where the work is performed by a public utility and/or small wireless facility provider, the sign shall remain in place until such time as the permanent pavement repair has been completed. The sign shall be constructed of all-weather material, be a minimum of twelve (12) inches by twenty-four (24) inches in size, with black letters on a white background stating a minimum of the following:

  (1) The name of the firm performing work under the permit;

  (2) The Department's permit number;

  (3) The name of a responsible individual within the firm who may be contacted twenty-four (24) hours a day to resolve problems which develop as a consequence of performing work under the permit; and

  (4) The phone number(s) where the individual identified in (3), above, may be contacted twenty-four (24) hours a day.

### Sec. 23-130. Limits of work

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-130 (2026)

(a) The limits of work within rights-of-way in a subdivision area will generally be set at the farthest property lines of the abutting lots which are being developed, or for which building permits are applied. Intersecting roads must be improved to the farthest lot line(s) of the corner building site(s).

  (1) If the limit of work extends to an outlot or intersecting alley, the work must be extended to the far line of the outlot or alley. Work will not extend into or across a utility right-of-way or easement unless the property on the far side of the utility right-of-way or easement is concurrently under construction, or the public right-of-way on the far side of the utility right-of-way or easement has been constructed or is under construction.

  (2) If the limit of work ends at an intersection of an existing or dedicated road, then said intersection shall be completed and, where there are no such existing or dedicated roads, the permittee shall provide temporary or permanent turnarounds in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards.

### Sec. 23-131. Connecting roads

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-131 (2026)

The County Executive, or his designee, or any public agency which maintains a road in Prince George's County, shall not accept, for perpetual maintenance, any proposed road which is not connected to a maintained road, unless a suitable connecting road is either under separate permit for construction or is improved to standards approved by the Director.

### Sec. 23-132. Partial road construction

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-132 (2026)

(a) Where capacity and/or safety considerations require a full road in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards, partial road construction shall not be permitted, except:

  (1) Where the applicant is developing property on only one side of the road. In such a case, the Director may waive certain items of construction required by this Subtitle. The waiver would apply for certain items of construction where the work would be adjacent to the property located on the opposite side of the street, including, but not limited to, curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm drainage, trees, and a portion of the paving where such construction is not necessary to accommodate traffic or to provide proper maintenance of the road as determined by the Director.

  (2) Where the applicant does not plan or propose to develop the adjacent private property by constructing buildings or other facilities thereon, the Director may defer the construction of certain items of construction required by this Subtitle limited to driveway entrances, sidewalks, trees, and street lights. Where such deferral has been granted, a subsequent applicant for a building permit shall be required to complete the work deferred from the original road permit.

  (3) Where the Department determines that no current purpose would be served in requiring road improvements to be made along a residential road, the Director may defer the construction of the improvements upon petition by the affected property owner. Where the Director grants a deferral of construction, the requirements for construction shall be stated in a covenant to be executed by the owner of record of the private property adjacent to the limits of the deferred road construction. The covenant shall be filed in the land records and run with the land, binding the owner and all successors in interest to perform the deferred road construction when notified by the Department that the improvements are necessary.

  (4) Where the Director determines that no current purpose would be served in requiring street improvements to be made along roads which are other than residential roads, the Director shall require the applicant to make a payment in lieu of construction prior to the release of a building permit for the site. The amount of the payment shall be not less than the value of an estimate for the deferred street improvements, as estimated by the Department, plus an amount equal to twenty-five (25) percent to cover the cost of contingencies. The value of the estimate shall be updated to make the value of the payment current when payment is made to the County.

(b) In circumstances where the width of the right-of-way compromises roadway capacity or safety and the applicant is unable to obtain the right-of-way necessary to widen a road or install or construct necessary facilities, the County may obtain the necessary right-of-way and charge all costs incurred to the applicant/permittee.

### Sec. 23-133. Road widths

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-133 (2026)

The permittee shall construct widths of roads consistent with the Design and Construction Standards and the ultimate development of the roadway.

### Sec. 23-134. Storm drainage

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-134 (2026)

(a) A storm drainage system covered by a specific permit shall be completed within the limits of work established for the permit, including facilities and storm drainage easements lying in or partially in lots or parcels abutting the proposed street right-of-way to be improved.

(b) Plans for the proposed drainage system shall be submitted to the Department for review and approval.

(c) Final inspection and acceptance of the storm drainage construction shall be performed by the Department before release of any bonds posted for the construction of the storm drainage system as provided for on the approved plans.

### Sec. 23-135. Curb and gutter; hiker-biker trails; sidewalk

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-135 (2026)

(a) Curb and gutter shall be required in the following circumstances:

  (1) Where the majority of individual lots abutting any road have a frontage of one hundred (100) feet or less;

  (2) Where any road abuts property in the process of development for multidwelling residential, commercial, or industrial use which is not being subdivided into individual building lots;

  (3) Where any road abuts property in the process of development for townhouses, cluster, or similar uses in which individual building lots are interior to the subdivision and the road abuts common or open space areas of the subdivision;

  (4) Where curb and gutter construction is required by traffic or pedestrian conditions as determined by the Director.

(b) Hiker-biker trails. Hiker-biker trails with appropriate ramps may be required in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards within the road right-of-way along routes designated as such on the Adopted and Approved Countywide Trails Plan or Area Master Plans maintained by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The Department will accept the trail for maintenance only where the trail is located within, or parallel to and touching, the road right-of-way, and upon completion and acceptance of the construction. In addition, the Director may require construction of such trails along primary residential, collector, arterial, and industrial-commercial roads. Except as provided in this Section, hiker-biker trails shall stay open or an alternate route shall be provided. A hiker-biker trail may be closed and no alternative route provided if a regulated utility, bi-county agency or the Department determines that it is not feasible to keep the sidewalk open or provide an alternative route.

(c) Sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be required along urban roads in the following circumstances:

  (1) Arterials - both sides.

  (2) Collectors - both sides.

  (3) Commercial/Industrial - as determined by the Director.

  (4) Primary Residential - on one side. Where existing sidewalks are located on both sides of the street, construction of the sidewalks on both sides of the street shall be continued to the next intersection where the sidewalk construction will transition to one-sided construction. Except as provided in this Section, the alternate sidewalk shall remain open to pedestrian traffic. A sidewalk may be closed and no alternative route provided if a regulated utility, bi-county agency or the Department determines that it is not feasible to keep the sidewalk open or provide an alternative route.

  (5) Secondary Residential - on one side. Where existing sidewalks are located on both sides of the street, construction of the sidewalks on both sides of the street shall be continued to the next intersection where the sidewalk construction will transition to one-sided construction. Except as provided in this Section, the alternate sidewalk shall remain open to pedestrian traffic. A sidewalk may be closed and no alternative route provided if a regulated utility, bi-county agency or the Department determines that it is not feasible to keep the sidewalk open or provide an alternative route.

(d) Sidewalks on State roads. Sidewalks may be required along all State roads that have concrete curb and gutter, or where it is required by the SHA. A permit issued by the Department will be required for this work where a SHA permit is not required.

### Sec. 23-136. Grades

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-136 (2026)

(a) Grades shall be approved by the Director in accordance with the relevant specifications of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), as amended, and with the following:

  (1) No grade shall be less than one percent (1%) or more than ten percent (10%) except under extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the Director.

  (2) Where roads are constructed with concrete curb and gutter, a minimum of one and one-half percent (1.5%) grade will be required through the intersection of intersecting roads.

  (3) Where roads are constructed without curb and gutter, the minimum street grade shall be two percent (2%). Where a street grade of less than two percent (2%) is used, ditches shall have positive drainage.

  (4) All new roads shall be constructed to remain passable during a 100-year flood event along any adjacent or nearby watercourse having a watershed of fifty (50) acres or more. The determination of the 100-year flood level with respect to the roadway for purposes of this Subsection shall include the effects of the roadway itself and any appurtenant structures and adjacent or nearby developments, but not the effects of partial or complete blockage of the approved drainage systems or structures. Exceptions to this requirement may be allowed at the discretion of the Director when:

    (A) The watercourse is to be conveyed in an approved storm drain system running along the right-of-way and depending on the roadway as the overflow path for storms in excess of the 10-year storm, provided the watershed area does not exceed four hundred (400) acres, and provided that the Department approves the resultant 100-year floodway with respect to affected properties; or

    (B) The roadway must be constructed to a lower elevation in order to serve existing development or to connect with an existing publicly maintained road, provided the extent of the lowering is the minimum practicable while meeting the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this Subsection; or

    (C) The roadway would be overtopped solely by reason of computed flood elevations and flow routing resulting from assumed partial or complete blockage of the approved drainage systems or structures;

    (D) The roadway is a private road, right-of-way, or easement serving no more than four (4) lots or dwelling units.

### Sec. 23-137. Alignment

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-137 (2026)

(a) Roads shall be centered in the dedicated public right-of-way unless variations are approved by the Director.

(b) If the established right-of-way is not of sufficient width to construct the roadway in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards currently in effect, the applicant may be required to obtain and dedicate to public use, or deed to the County, additional right-of-way and/or easements, as needed, to construct the road to the approved standard. Where the applicant has been unable to acquire the necessary right-of-way and/or easements, the County may obtain the right-of-way or easements and charge all costs incurred to the applicant/permittee.

### Sec. 23-138. Standard paving sections

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-138 (2026)

The Director of Public Works and Transportation shall establish minimum standards for paving sections for each class of roadway and incorporate such standards into the Design and Construction Standards. Where determined by the Director of Public Works and Transportation to be necessary by reason of engineering criteria, special designs may be allowed or required.

The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall submit to the County Council for review the list of roads to be repaved on an annual basis. The repaving list shall be prepared in December, and the Department shall present it to the County Council for general feedback.

### Sec. 23-139. Driveway entrance

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-139 (2026)

(a) Residential, commercial, and industrial driveway aprons may not be constructed within, or partially within, any intersection curb returns. Driveway entrances shall be placed across the parkway strip in accordance with County standards and in accordance with the following requirements:

  (1) Residential Driveway Entrances. The required width of the apron shall be not less than ten (10) feet. Widths may be required to correspond to the width of the driveway or parking pad, including any garage, carport, or open parking pad within twenty-five (25) feet of the street right-of-way line, but, generally, shall not be wider than twenty (20) feet.

    (A) A residential driveway apron may not be constructed within, or partially within, any intersection curb filet.

    (B) No residential driveway apron may be:

      (i) Closer than three and one-half (3 1/2) feet to the nearest abutting property line;

      (ii) Closer than three and one-half (3 1/2 feet) to the outside line of a storm drainage inlet; or

      (iii) Closer than eighteen (18) feet of full curb height to the beginning of the flare of another driveway on any one (1) building site.

  (2) Not less than one (1) standard driveway apron shall be provided for each dwelling unit abutting the permit limit in every detached, two-family, or three-family residential dwelling, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance.

(b) Nonresidential Driveway Entrances.

  (1) Driveway entrances to commercial or industrial property shall have a minimum width of thirty (30) feet and a maximum width of forty-five (45) feet and shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) on each road. The Director may, in his discretion, approve additional driveways, width or dualization, or may deny the construction of a driveway entrance(s) on a street, provided access is available on another public road.

  (2) In the case of a corner lot, a driveway entrance shall not be located less than twenty (20) feet from the point of curvature of the curb return as measured at the property line.

### Sec. 23-140. Street lighting

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-140 (2026)

(a) The permittee shall be responsible for the cost of any street lights required by the Department.

(b) Street lights shall be required on all County roadways, and on such other roads where deemed necessary by the Director.

(c) In accordance with the Design and Construction Standards, the permittee shall be responsible for preparing an engineering plan for lighting all County roadways within and adjoining the permit area and, upon review and approval of the plan by the County and the utility company, for having the lights installed.

(d) The permittee shall be responsible for ordering the installation of the street lights from the utility company and for the payment of all associated costs related to the installation to the utility company.

(e) When the utility company has notified the County that the installation of the street lights has been ordered and the costs for the installation have been paid in full, the road construction permit which is in effect will be processed for acceptance, provided the street construction is complete. The bonds posted for the construction of the roads should not be released until the utility has notified the County of receipt of payment for the street lights, all other permit requirements having been met.

(f) The utility company shall be responsible for notifying the County when it has completed the installation of the street lights covered by a particular permit.

(g) All small wireless facility permittees shall comply with Sec. 23-144, the Design and Construction Standards, and the Design Manual for Small Wireless Facilities when locating small wireless facilities on street light poles.

### Sec. 23-141. Planting and removal of roadside trees

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-141 (2026)

(a) Purposes. The following requirements shall be interpreted consistently with the purpose of this Section, which is to plant, control, protect, regulate, and improve roadside trees within the right-of-way, within nonutility easements adjacent to the right-of-way, or on adjacent private property where the Director determines that a public hazard exists requiring remedial action to correct.

(b) Planting required. The permittee shall be required to plant roadside trees within the limits of the permit area and shall be responsible for all costs associated with such planting.

  (1) In accordance with the Design and Construction Standards, the applicant shall be responsible for preparing an engineering plan detailing the location of the trees, their coordination with driveway aprons, street lights, utilities, etc., and specifying the species to be planted. The applicant shall consider such things as conflicts with utilities and traffic control devices when preparing the design. The plan shall be referred to the Urban Design Division of the Park and Planning Commission for design comments on street tree plantings in relationship to on-site landscaping. The plan shall be subject to review and approval by the Department.

  (2) Where the Director finds that trees or other plantings planted in the standard locations would be in conflict with existing or required public utilities, traffic control devices, illumination, or sight distance, the Director may designate alternative locations for trees or modify the standards for their placement.

(c) Prohibited acts during road and building construction and maintenance: No person shall do or cause any of the following acts to be done to any roadside tree:

  (1) Place salt, brine, oil, herbicide, or other substances injurious to roadside trees on, or in the area of, a roadside tree;

  (2) Build any fire or station any kettle, construction equipment, or other engine on or along any road in such a manner that the hot vapors or fumes therefrom may injure any roadside tree;

  (3) Erect, alter, or repair any building or structure without placing such guards around all roadside trees within a reasonable distance of the building site that will, as determined by the inspector, effectively prevent injury to such trees;

  (4) Operate or use vehicles or equipment in such a manner as would damage or destroy any roadside tree;

  (5) Attach or fasten any wire, insulator, or other device for holding any wires to any roadside tree;

  (6) Provide an open space of less than two (2) feet on all sides of the base of any roadside tree, except where limited by previously established curb and/or sidewalk;

  (7) Attach by any means any sign, poster, or advertisement to any tree in the public right-of-way or any tree located in an easement adjacent to the right-of-way.

(d) Permission required prior to certain acts. No person shall do or cause to be done any of the following acts to any roadside tree without the permission of the Department:

  (1) Plant, spray, or trim any roadside tree;

  (2) Place any stone, concrete structure, or other substance in the public right-of-way, or an easement adjacent to the right-of-way, which may impede the free access of air and water to any roadside tree;

  (3) Excavate within the area of branch spread of any roadside tree or, during excavation, to expose or cut roots more than one inch in diameter of any roadside tree;

  (4) Remove or damage any guard or device placed to protect any roadside tree.

(e) Permits from the Department of Natural Resources of the State of Maryland are also required in accordance with the provisions pertaining to roadside trees within the Natural Resources Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

(f) Where the permission of the Department of Natural Resources is required by this or by any other law, any permittee required to obtain such permission may first make application therefor to the Department.

(g) Conflict. The provisions of this Section are to be construed, where reasonable, as consistent with any State law, rule, or regulation concerning roadside trees. Any part of this Section found to be in conflict therewith shall be of no force or effect.

(h) Public or private utilities. When the Director of Public Works and Transportation determines that it is necessary to prune, top, or remove any roadside tree, the affected utility shall have the option of either temporarily removing its overhead wire(s) within forty-eight (48) hours after notice from the Director of Public Works and Transportation or pruning, topping, or removing such tree(s) under the direction of the Department of Public Works and Transportation.

(i) The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall be responsible for the removal and replacement of dead specimen trees within the public right-of-way.

(j) Dead or dying trees on private property that constitute a public nuisance. Where a tree exists on private property adjacent to a public right-of-way with dead or decaying branches overhead which protrude into the right-of-way, and the Director of Public Works and Transportation determines that such tree creates a public nuisance, the property owner shall remove the tree or the dead or decaying branches, thereby removing the hazard to the public.

  (1) The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall notify the property owner in writing that the hazard must be removed within a specified time period. The time period may vary depending upon the severity of the hazard.

  (2) In the event that the property owner fails to remove the hazard within the specified period, the Department of Public Works and Transportation shall proceed to abate the nuisance by applying to a court of proper jurisdiction for injunctive relief. The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall recover the costs pursuant to the provisions of this Subtitle.

  (3) Notwithstanding the above where, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works and Transportation, the hazard constitutes an immediate threat to the safety of the public, the Department of Public Works and Transportation shall be authorized to take immediate action to eliminate the hazard and recover the cost for same from the property owner.

(k) Coordination between Beautification Committee and Department of Public Works and Transportation. The Committee may advise and make recommendations to the Director of Public Works and Transportation as to plans of planting, maintaining, and protecting roadside trees. The Committee may recommend species to be planted and the methods and times for plantings. The Department of Public Works and Transportation shall coordinate, where possible, with the recommendations of the Committee.

### Sec. 23-142. Right-of-way

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-142 (2026)

(a) Responsibility for obtaining rights-of-way. No permit shall be issued for road construction unless all rights-of-way and easements necessary for the work are dedicated, or otherwise lawfully conveyed for public use, and have been duly recorded among the land records of the County.

(b) Private right-of-way. In order to regulate the opening of street surfaces in all new developments in the County, the Department shall have the authority to prescribe design standards and to require road construction on private rights-of-way in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations of Prince George's County, without responsibility on the part of the County to maintain the private right-of-way after completion of the work to the satisfaction of the Director.

(c) Dedication of right-of-way. Where an applicant proposes to develop a property abutting an existing or proposed County-maintained road, the applicant shall be required to obtain dedication, or otherwise lawful conveyance to public use, of sufficient right-of-way, as identified within this Subtitle, and provide the necessary easements to enable the road to be constructed consistently with the Design and Construction Standards or ultimate planned needs. The recording of the rights-of-way and easements in the land records of the County without the approval of the Director does not constitute acceptance. The right-of-way plats shall be prepared consistently with standards set forth by the Director.

(d) The requirement to dedicate or otherwise lawfully convey right-of-way shall apply to all properties proposed for development whether or not there already exists an approved plat of subdivision.

(e) Where a property located within a municipality abuts a County-maintained road, the owner of record who proposes to develop the property shall be required to deed, or otherwise lawfully convey to the County, right-of-way as stated above. In addition, the owner shall be responsible for constructing or upgrading the section of roadway abutting his property to current standards, as determined by the Director. Municipalities within the County shall not process and issue a building permit for the property until the right-of-way has been deeded or otherwise lawfully conveyed to the County, bonds have been posted in favor of the County, and a road construction permit fee has been paid to the County for the improvement of the road.

(f) Where road construction requires the dedication of right-of-way or the acquiring of easements from a parcel(s) of land not owned by the applicant or permittee, the Department may acquire the necessary right-of-way or easements, as necessary for the work, at the applicant's or permittee's expense.

### Sec. 23-143. Improvements to County-maintained roads

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-143 (2026)

(a) A person who desires to develop land abutting a County-maintained road, or other public road, shall be responsible for providing all work required to improve a road maintained by the County to conform to the applicable standards for alignment and cross-section when the person proposes to develop the property adjacent thereto. Where a County road is not in conformance with the applicable standards, the person will be responsible for improvements, including, but not limited to, curb and gutter, sidewalks, trails, and street lights on that portion of the road adjacent to his property.

  (1) Where the property proposed for development has a frontage of less than three hundred (300) feet:

    (A) Traffic Hazard. If the existing County-maintained road is not constructed to an approved line and grade, such that the required construction would constitute a traffic hazard, as determined by the Director, the person will be required to submit plans for approval for the construction of a special rural design consistent with the existing roadway features. Such rural design may include road widening, shoulder widening, side ditches, driveway entrances, and such other design features as the Director determines.

    (B) No Traffic Hazard. If the existing County-maintained road is not constructed to an approved line and grade, but required construction would not constitute a traffic hazard as determined by the Director, the person will be required to perform the work, including the construction of curb and gutter, in accordance with the Design and Construction Standards. The person shall provide pavement tying in the curb and gutter and existing pavement.

  (2) Where the property proposed for development has a frontage of greater than three hundred (300) feet:

    (A) If the alignment and grade of the existing County road is satisfactory, construction as described in Subsection (a)(1)(B), above, will be required.

    (B) If the circumstances set forth in Subsection (a)(1)(B), above, are not feasible, the person may be required to regrade the road and do all construction to provide a minimum of thirty (30) feet of pavement for primary residential streets and higher class roadways, or twenty four (24) feet of pavement for secondary residential streets. If the person is required to regrade the road, the County will assist in obtaining the necessary rights-of-way beyond the extent of lands owned or controlled by the person for which the person has been unable to obtain right-of-way. The County will be responsible for acquiring and providing these rights-of-way only after the person has submitted evidence satisfactory to the Director of a bona fide effort to obtain or negotiate such rights-of-way. The person will reimburse the County for all expenses experienced by the County while acquiring said rights-of-way on behalf of the person.

  (3) Where the road adjacent to the property proposed for development is already constructed to an approved line and grade, but where all elements of the standard cross-section or existing intersections have not been constructed, the person will be required to provide that construction necessary to complete the road to the applicable standards for that cross-section and/or intersection.

### Sec. 23-144. Location of utilities

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-144 (2026)

Installations of new utility systems, major alterations to existing systems, and major replacements to existing systems shall be located either within the public right-of-way or in an easement adjacent to the right-of-way. Utility installations in new subdivisions and along new public right-of-way may be installed in utility easements, provided the utility easements are acquired either by dedication on the subdivision plat(s) or by the County when the new public right-of-way is acquired. On existing public right-of-way or new public right-of-way where utility easement(s) have not been dedicated or acquired by the County, utilities will be installed in the public right-of-way out of the paved roadway wherever possible.

### Sec. 23-145. Traffic signals

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-145 (2026)

When the Director determines that a subdivision proposed for development may generate sufficient traffic to warrant the installation of a traffic signal during the build out of the subdivision, the Director may require the owner to sign a covenant and post bond whereby the owner shall acknowledge responsibility to install a traffic signal(s) at the entrance road or driveway entrance to the subdivision. Said covenant shall be signed by the owner and recorded among the land records of the County. The covenant shall require the owner to bear all costs associated with design and installation of the traffic signal(s), the conveyance to the County of any associated rights-of-way necessary for the installation of the signals and geometric improvements to the intersection, and all design and construction costs associated with any modifications to the intersection where and when the signal is installed. The traffic signal and intersection improvements shall be made by the owner immediately upon notification by the Director that said installation is necessary. Failure by the owner to immediately perform the necessary improvements shall result in the work being performed by the Department, the cost of which shall be billed to the owner. Where said owner fails to pay any cost incurred by the County within thirty (30) days of the date of billing by the County, said nonpayment shall result in a tax lien being placed against the affected property. Upon certification of a tax lien to the Director of Finance by the Director, the amount of such lien shall be collected in the same manner as the County tax on real property.

### Sec. 23-146. Urban Street Design Policy and Standards

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-146 (2026)

(a) The County hereby adopts an urban street design policy and standards pursuant to the 2023 Urban Streets Design Standards, incorporated in the Department of Public Works and Transportation's "Specifications and Standards for Roadways and Bridges" (2007), as revised in 2023, consistent with the Council's 2014 approval of its most current general plan for the County, Plan Prince George's 2035.

(b) All planned County financed and approved road, sidewalk, trail and transit-related construction and reconstruction projects within Regional Transit Districts and Local Centers in the County shall be constructed pursuant to the adopted County Urban Street Design Standards and the applicable master, sector, or functional master plan.

(c) The Department will review and revise, as deemed necessary by the Director, plans, manuals, policies, processes, and the capital improvement program to foster the implementation of a complete and green street on public roadways projects, including privately built projects approved by the Department or on non-County projects funded in part or entirely by County funds.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subtitle, the requirements of the County's adopted Urban Street Design Standards may only be adjusted as is minimally necessary to address existing geotechnical, approved development or environmental constraints, and/or existing development, that inhibits construction of the Urban Street to its required buildout. In such cases, the Director may only authorize the following alternatives to the applicable required Urban Street Design Standard:

  (1) Reduction in number of travel lanes; and/or,

  (2) Reduction in width of travel lanes; and/or,

  (3) Reduction in width or elimination of median; and/or,

  (4) Reduction in width or elimination of center turn lane; and/or,

  (5) Replacement of an off-street bicycle facility with a barrier- or parking-separated on-street facility; and/or,

  (6) Reduction in width or elimination of on-street parking.

Under no circumstances shall any bicycle, pedestrian, or transit facility or accommodation required by the Urban Street Design Standards be reduced or eliminated except as permitted by that Standard or as identified in Section 23-146(d). If the Director determines that circumstances require modifications deviating from the standards and as identified in Section 23-146(d), they shall document their findings, to include analysis and justification for the modification or deviation. That shall be published in the annual report. The findings and documentation shall explain how the facilities will achieve a 25-mph design speed (or lower), and how the facility will achieve future compliance with the applicable standard. The findings shall be made available to the Council, Planning Board, and Public upon request.

### Sec. 23-147. Installation of Small Wireless Facilities

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 23-147 (2026)

(a) Small wireless facilities installed on a utility pole, street light pole, or other replacement or new pole require:

  (1) issuance of all permits required by this Code;

  (2) compliance with all provisions of this Code, the Master License Agreement required by Subtitle 5A, any applicable regulations, and the County's Design and Construction Standards.

(b) Permittees shall install small wireless facilities pursuant to the location requirements listed in Subtitle 5A, Section 5A-159.

(c) The small wireless facility provider shall bear the cost to repair, replace or relocate their facility and pole if damaged or when it must be relocated and to remove an existing pole that was replaced.

### Sec. 23-148 through 23-149. Reserved

Prince George's County, Md., Code §§ 23-148–23-149 (2026)