OVERVIEW

The Department of Public Services manages animal control, code enforcement, parking enforcement, and public safety. Parking Enforcement collects coins and currency from parking meters and pay-stations on surface parking lots in the downtown area and the parking garage. This program also enforces parking regulations in residential zones, metered lots, and other areas throughout the City. Code Enforcement enforces all City codes pertaining to property maintenance and ensures compliance with City codes through the annual rental inspection program. Animal Control program enforces the animal control laws of the City and Prince George's County, providing public awareness and education on proper care of domestic animals.

The City’s Department of Public Services’ Code Enforcement Division oversees Building and Construction permits, Occupancy permits, Housing Inspections, City Code violations, Noise Control and Litter Control.

To report a code violation, including noise violations, please click here.

Click here to search Code Violations. (SEARCH TEMPORARILY DOWN)

Click here to search Building Permits. (SEARCH TEMPORARILY DOWN)

Housing Inspections

The Department of Public Services is authorized and directed to make annual inspections to determine the condition of rental properties, including apartments, hotels, motels, single-family dwellings, rooming houses, fraternities and sororities located within the City to safeguard the health and safety of the occupants and the general public.

A City code enforcement officer, upon presentation of proper credentials, is authorized to enter, examine and survey, at all reasonable times, all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and other premises. The owner or occupant of such units or the person in charge thereof are asked to give the code enforcement officer free access to such units at all reasonable times for such inspections. If access is denied, the City may request an administrative search warrant to obtain entry.

In the event of a direct complaint from a tenant to the City concerning an alleged housing code violation, the Public Services department will inspect the premises for verification of the complaint.

Public Safety

The Director of Public Services serves as a liaison to university, transit, County, State and regional public safety agencies including police, fire, EMS and emergency management operating within City boundaries. The Public Safety program utilizes available public safety resources to enhance the safety and well-being of City residents and businesses.

In an emergency, always call 9-1-1. For more information as to where to report noise or other neighborhood issues, visit the Report page of our website.

Police Reports
Monthly Prince George's County Police Crime statistics and maps for incidents within City limits are posted here. Statistics from the University of Maryland Police Department can be found here.

City Contract Police

The City’s Contract Police program provides off-duty Prince George’s County police officers as part-time City employees, supplementing Prince George’s County’s regular police services within the City.

For a weekly highlight of Contract Police Activity, subscribe to the City’s weekly email newsletter, the Weekly Bulletin. To see past Weekly Bulletins, please click here.

The Speed Enforcement program administers the use of automated speed monitoring systems in designated school zones and institution of higher education zones (within 1/2 mile of University of Maryland property). The Contract Police program provides off-duty Prince George's County police officers as part-time City employees, supplementing the County's regular police services within the City. These Police Officers review and approve all speed camera citations for validity.

To pay a speed camera citation, please click here. To contest a speed camera violation, please click here.

If you fail to pay the citation in full by the due date, your vehicle registration may be flagged and subject to Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) refusal of renewal or suspension. If your registration is flagged, you may owe additional flagging fees to the City of College Park and to the MVA. The MVA will assess a flagging fee for each flag imposed; this fee must be paid to the MVA, and is in addition to the fine and fees due to the City of College Park. Unpaid MVA fees may be referred to the Maryland Central Collection Unit for collection. The name of the party on the citation may be reported to credit reporting agencies).

If you have lost your citation, call the City’s processing vendor at 866.979.4824 to request a duplicate or to obtain the citation number and payment information.

Where are speed cameras used in the City of College Park?

Cameras are located as authorized by the City Council in areas as follows.

The City of College Park will issue citations for speed enforcement camera violations in the Institution of Higher Education (IHE) Zone (1/2 mile from the perimeter of the University of Maryland) 24-hours per day, 7-days per week.

Baltimore Avenue (Route 1), from Beechwood Road to University Boulevard.
Campus Drive (formerly Paint Branch Parkway) from Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) to the City limits at or about Old Calvert Road.
Greenbelt Road from Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) to Rhode Island Avenue.
Metzerott Road within City limits from University Boulevard to Adelphi Road.
University Boulevard (Route 193) from Rhode Island Avenue to Adelphi Road within City limits.

The City of College Park also uses automated speed enforcement systems in residential zones that are enforced 24 hours per day, 7 days per week:

Rhode Island Avenue from Greenbelt Road north to the City limits.

Is this citation a "traffic ticket"?
No. This citation is not considered a "moving violation". It is a civil citation holding the registered owner or lessee responsible for the violation (similar to a parking ticket). NO POINTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR THIS VIOLATION AND IT WILL NOT RAISE YOUR INSURANCE RATES.

How is the speed limit determined?
The State Highway Administration (SHA) determines and posts speed limits on all state roads, such as Baltimore Avenue (Route 1), Greenbelt Road and University Boulevard (Route 193). Speed limits vary along the same road due to local conditions such as the number of uncontrolled intersections, the density of driveways and access roads, pedestrian crossings, etc. Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) determines and posts speed limits on all County roads such as Metzerott Road, and Campus Drive (formerly Paint Branch Parkway).

For further information, contact the City’s Department of Public Services.