| Q: |
What is a Harford County Fee Authorization Letter? |
| A: |
The Department of Public Works charges fees for services rendered at the rate of $38 per hour
for the technical review of engineered plans and $35 per hour for the site inspection of
projects during the construction phase through acceptance.
The Fee Authorization Letter must be
signed by the developer prior to the processing of plans through this office. Upon receipt
of this document, a billing address is established in addition to the assignment of
various project numbers. The developer will receive a monthly invoice that shows a
detailed summary of the work performed by the County. |
| Q: |
What are the requirements for Sediment Control plan submittals? |
| A: |
| First Review |
2 sets of the sediment and erosion control plans and computations as necessary |
| Second review |
1 set of plans with red line markups |
| Final Review |
5 sets of plans, original mylars and a grading permit application signed by the property owner/developer |
|
| Q: |
What are the requirements for Stormwater Management plan submittals? |
| A: |
| First review |
2 sets of the stormwater management plans, computations and boring report
OR
3 sets of plans, computations and boring report if needed to evaluate structure computations for a reinforced concrete riser |
| Second Review |
2 sets of plans and red line markups, maintenance agreement draft, markup computations |
| Final Review |
4 sets of plans, red line markups, original mylars and a SWM permit application signed by the property owner/developer, O&M plan for MD 378 ponds> |
| Waiver |
1 set of plans with computations and a request letter |
| As-built |
2 sets of plans, original mylars, Geotec & compaction reports and computations if volume is short or elevations change 0.1' or more |
|
| Q: |
What are the requirements for Roads and Stormdrains plan submittals? |
| A: |
| First Review |
4 sets of the roads and stormdrains plans and one each of the sediment control, water & sewer and stormwater management plans |
| Second Review |
1 set of plans with red line markups |
| Final Review |
Original mylars for signature and red line markups |
|
| Q: |
What are Harford County’s forms of acceptable sureties? |
| A: |
A separate surety is required for all grading permits, stormwater management permits and public works agreements. The developer has three options when submitting sureties to the County.
Cash Performance Bond - must be submitted on a standard Harford
County Cash Performance Bond form along with a check which is deposited into a Treasury
Department Account and held until the project is complete. When authorization is received
from construction inspections, the surety is returned to the developer.
Performance Bond - Must be submitted on a standard
Harford County Performance Bond form and is accepted from any insurance company that is
listed on the Federal Register. The surety is returned to the bonding company when a
release authorization is received from construction inspections.
Irrevocable Letter of Credit - Must be submitted
using standard language required by Harford County Government. The surety is released or
reduced through the banking institution when authorization is received from construction
inspections. |
| Q: |
How is a bond amount determined? |
| A: |
The bond amount for a grading permit is based on the disturbed area on an approved engineered sediment control plan. (Disturbed area in square feet multiplied by 3 cents, plus $300) except for stockpiles which are calculated at $2 per cubic yard.
The bond amount for a stormwater management permit is based on the construction cost of the facility.
The bond amount for a public works agreement is based on the construction cost estimate determined by the engineering department. |
| Q: |
When is a grading permit required? |
| A: |
A grading permit is
required when ground disturbance exceeds 5,000 square feet or 100 cubic yards of earth
movement. At sites with less than 5,000 square feet of disturbance, a grading permit is
not required; however, the developer must provide sediment controls at the site and submit
a Letter of Intent in order to receive a building permit.
For single family residential construction, you may be eligible for
a Standard Plan if the following limitations are met: Lot size is less than 2 acres and
total disturbance does not exceed 15,000 sq ft or lot size is 2 acres or greater
and total disturbance does not exceed 21,500 sq ft. For a more detailed summary of the
requirements, forms are available at the Department of Public Works, Bonding & Permit
Administration. Those sites that do not qualify for the above will require an engineered
plan and grading permit. Approval of a building permit will be held pending satisfaction
of these requirements. |
| Q: |
Who approves grading permits? |
| A: |
The grading permit process is a computerized system where each agency has access to the permit information immediately. Grading permits are subject to approval by the following agencies:
- Planning & Zoning
- Stormwater Management
- Development Services
- Bonding & Permit Administration
-
When the grading permit is issued it is forwarded to Environmental Enforcement where it is delivered at the on site preconstruction meeting. |
| Q: |
Who approves Stormwater Management permits? |
| A: |
The Stormwater Management Permit is a computerized system where each agency has access to the permit information immediately. Stormwater Management Permits are subject to approval by the following agencies:
- Planning & Zoning
- Stormwater Management
- Bonding & Permit Administration
- Director of Public Works
When the stormwater management permit is issued it is forwarded to Environmental Enforcement where it is delivered at the on site preconstruction meeting. |
| Q: |
What are the steps involved in the issuance of Public Works Agreements? |
| A: |
- Road plans approved by engineering
- Construction cost prepared by engineering
- Request for PWA sent by Developer to Director of Public Works
- PWA prepared by bonding administration
- Bonding requirements notice sent to developer
- Bonding posted by developer<
- PWA routed for signatures
- PWA executed by County Executive-developer can now
apply for building permits
|
| Q: |
What are the steps involved in the Road Acceptance process? |
| A: |
Final inspection is requested by developer
- Punch list is generated by construction inspections
- Punch list is completed by developer
- Notification is sent by construction inspections to accept roads
Acceptance process is started
- Right-of-ways prepares deed
- Bonding administration prepares maintenance agreement, affidavit and acceptance letter
- Maintenance bond is posted or amendment to existing letter of credit is received
- Road acceptance package is routed for signatures
Maintenance Agreement is executed by County Executive
- Roads are accepted by Harford County
- Notification sent to Highways, Board of Education, etc.
- Letters of Credit are reduced or performance bonds are released
- Maintenance punch list inspection performed one year after road acceptance
- Punch list is generated by construction inspections
- Punch list is completed by developer
- Notification is sent by construction inspections to release maintenance bond
- Maintenance bond is released
|
