Vision Statement
The City of Hagerstown will be a prosperous and growing community by establishing Programs that will be recognized as models for meeting the needs of the community and providing the highest quality of customer service in a fair, consistent and professional manner.

Mission Statement
The Code Administrations Programs Team shall keep the City of Hagerstown the location of choice for residents, businesses and visitors by:

• Improving the quality of neighborhoods in Hagerstown through fair application and enforcement of City codes and ordinances.
• Promoting and increasing public understanding of programs, codes and City ordinances via educational workshops, seminars, printed literature and online information.
• Providing customer service in a courteous, professional and efficient manner.
• Continuously striving to update and expand the technical and professional skills of all staff, thus assuring better efficiencies of operations and that accurate, updated and consistent information is provided to the community.

• New construction, within the first year of the issuance of the Use & Occupancy permit
• “Owners-plus-one”, which are rental facilities where a portion of the premises is owner-occupied and said premises contain no more than one rental unit.
• Rental facilities owned and operated by Hagerstown Housing Authority
• Single unit rental properties occupied by tenants who are related within a certain degree to the owner are exempt from paying the application fee, but still must register. These exempt tenants are: parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings, whether naturally, step or in-law.

• A fully completed, signed application, including a supplemental lead paint form. (An application is available by contacting us at (301) 739-8577 x 103 or by emailing your request to )
• A nonrefundable annual license fee of $50 per rental unit. It is the property owner’s responsibility to notify Code Administration if any information changes throughout the program year.

• Conducted annually
• Owner does not need to schedule nor be present
• Owner will receive results in the mail
• May Request to be present

• Required when there is an eligible tenant turnover:
• The first tenant turnover in any unit not previously inspected under the Rental Licensing Program.
• Once a unit is inspected, the inspection is valid for three years. At the end of three years, the unit must be inspected again at the next tenant turnover.
• Owner is responsible for calling the office to schedule the interior inspection at least 3 business days prior to a new tenant moving in.
• Water, electricity and gas must be turned on
• Unit should be “move-in ready”, any work should be completed rather than in progress.
• Unit needs to be vacant. A few belongings in the unit are acceptable, but they must be moved away from the wall to allow for a thorough inspection.

1. The one (1) year period immediately following the issuance of a use and occupancy permit for new construction.
2. Any time period during which active work is being legally performed pursuant to a valid permit issued by the City.
3. Also, a structure that falls within the definition of a Commercial Structure pursuant to Chapter 232 of the City Code.

1. The structure must be the subject of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that will restore the structure to habitability under permit, and
2. Said rehabilitation plan must address all conditions which may be in violation of the City’s Property Maintenance Code, Building Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Fire Code and Electrical Code, and
3. All required inspections must be made and work approved.

1. Any commercial structure in a C3 Zoning District that contains one or more vacant street level spaces that have not been occupied for a commercial purpose for a continuous six (6) month period is deemed to be a vacant commercial structure and must be licensed.
2. Any commercial structures in a C3 Zoning District that do not contain street level vacancies, but in which at least 50% of the upper level spaces have been vacant for a continuous six (6) month period must also be licensed.

• 6 months to 2 years $250.00
• Over 2 years to 4 years $500.00
• Over 4 years $1000.00

1. The one (1) year period immediately following the issuance of a use and occupancy permit for new construction.
2. Any time period during which active work is being legally performed pursuant to a valid permit issued by the City.

• Interior - Limited to the vacant portion(s) of the structure to assure compliance with all applicable property maintenance, fire, and other City codes for unoccupied structures. Inspectors will be examining the general interior, attic & basement, plumbing, mechanical systems, and fire protection, with a focus on ensuring the structure is safe and sound and will not present a danger to any responding emergency personnel.
• Exterior - Checked to ensure that doors and windows of a vacant structure are securely closed to prevent unauthorized entry and that the owner maintains the structure enough to ensure there is minimal negative economic effect on the neighborhood.

• 6 months to 2 years 1
• Over 2 years to 4 years 2
• Over 4 years 4