Focus Group to Consider Shed Exemptions

St. Mary’s County government is looking for public input on county shed regulations. The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County want to know what residents think of amending the St. Mary’s County Building Code to create exemptions for sheds between 300 and 600 square feet. A focus group is currently being formed and volunteers are being sought to join.

The current code dictates that a building permit is needed for any shed that is more than 300 square feet. For anything larger than 300 square feet, the sheds must meet the requirements of the International Residential Code, or IRC, and then pass inspection from a qualified building inspector.

Members of the focus group will consider whether sheds of wood, metal, plastic, or concrete block should be exempt; whether an exemption should only apply to footers and foundations; and whether the exemption should be for the entire shed, including walls, roof, flooring, anchoring, etc.

The focus group will meet Wednesdays at 6:30 pm and inside the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. The staff of Land Use and Growth Management has estimated that no more than three meetings will be needed. Each of the meetings should last no more than 90 minutes. The first meeting is set for Wednesday, June 21.

For more information on this focus group volunteer opportunity, contact Bill Hunt, acting director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management. County citizens are asked to confirm at their earliest convenience that they will be on the focus group by contacting Mr. Hunt via email at [email protected] or by phone at 301-475-4200, ext. *1508.

For more about Lexington Park, visit the St. Mary’s County Community Development Corporation’s Leader member page.

St. Mary’s County Community Development Corporation

46940 South Shangri-La Drive, Suite 7

Lexington Park, MD 20653

301-863-7700