Prince George's County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Prince George's County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Sprinkler retrofit costs as a barrier for family child care homes
A new bill would strip away special-exception and site-plan hurdles for day care centers and cut their parking requirements, aiming to make childcare easier to open countywide.
Rental License Display and Short-Term Rental Penalties
Council Member Dernoga's bill would require landlords and short-term rental hosts to display their licenses, add advertising rules, and raise penalties on noncompliant short-term rental hosts. The committee held it for now, so changes are still coming.
Tobacco sales ban at non-gas convenience stores
Two related bills would curb tobacco sales at convenience stores: CB-083 would bar tobacco sales through the zoning ordinance with a transition period, while CB-089, a broader ban with higher penalties, was held indefinitely.
Surveillance technology oversight (Flock cameras)
The department is switching to a body camera system with instant translation in 50 languages, automatic recording activation and report pre-population — aimed at cutting report times and speeding up investigations and discovery.
Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Coordination
County agencies are being urged to better coordinate services to support seniors suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related dementias amid rising costs.
Dementia services capacity and coordination
A planned briefing from the Alzheimer's Association, Dementia Friendly Prince George's, and the Department of Family Services on dementia care capacity was rescheduled, delaying the Council's look at services for residents with dementia and their families.
One-year moratorium on prisons and corrections facilities in District 4
The county is freezing permits for new prisons and corrections facilities in District 4 for a year while the council figures out how to regulate where these facilities can go. Current zoning bans private prisons but doesn't define them clearly.
Treatment of deaf and hard-of-hearing residents by police
Rico Dancy of Black Lives Matter for the Deaf urged the council to ensure police comply with ADA requirements for certified interpreters instead of forcing family members to interpret, citing a deaf man's death in a Baltimore jail.
Language access at public hearings
A Spanish-speaking neighbor didn't know she could request a translator and nearly couldn't participate in the Suco Wash case. The board paused the hearing to bring back its certified interpreter rather than let a bystander translate.
Autism Equity Initiative in Prince George's County
A briefing on how widespread dementia is in the county, presented with the Alzheimer's Association and the Department of Family Services. It informs future county services and support for affected families.
Seniors and Disability Affairs Ombudsman
The council created a dedicated ombudsman within the Department of Family Services to advocate for seniors and disabled residents navigating county services. Council Member Adams, who has a disability, called it a matter of safety and quality of life.
Autism Equity Initiative
The adopted resolution launches a countywide autism equity effort with inclusive public infrastructure, better data reporting and an advisory workgroup, backed by about $285,000 initially.
Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Fund authority (CB-093)
The board was scheduled to review a draft methodology for distributing cannabis reinvestment funds created under CB-088-2025. How this money is allocated could shape which communities and programs benefit from cannabis tax revenue.
Illegal vending penalties (CB-032)
The county is toughening penalties for illegal sidewalk and right-of-way vending (fines now $1,000/$2,000/$3,000 with a warning first) while also creating a pilot program to legalize and simplify street vending on designated streets. One council member argued penalties come before legal pathways exist.
Housing code enforcement and unsafe conditions
A cluster of bills strengthens enforcement: administrative search warrants for vacant properties, electrical code penalties, increased building/zoning fines, transferring some enforcement to Homeland Security, and new rules on prohibited home businesses and unpaved-lot parking.
Pedestrian safety and Vision Zero
Ninety-seven people died on county roads last year and nearly 60 more this year. SHA's pedestrian safety program is delivering fixes on New Hampshire Ave, Route 410, Route 212, and more — and officials want protected bike lanes, not just paint.
Clean County Legislative Package
Council members complained state road grass cutting in the county looks worse than neighboring Charles County. SHA explained a vendor's workers' comp failure killed seven mowing contracts and crews are working overtime to catch up.
Prohibited home businesses and fine increases
A bill sponsored by Council Member Dernoga would impose civil fines, notices and possible tax liens on prohibited home businesses, alongside a separate fine-increase bill.
Illegal street vending enforcement and pilot program
The county is cracking down on unpermitted street vending that officials say creates safety hazards, unfair competition for licensed businesses, and lost tax revenue — while also launching a pilot to create legal vending opportunities. A resident testified about vendors overrunning gas station parking lots in her community.
FY 2027 Budget — Fire/EMS Department
The committee backed multi-year financing for emergency communication equipment and public safety vehicles, moved capital funds to the District VI Police Station, and added money for public safety infrastructure upgrades.
Independent Office of the Inspector General
A bill to create an independent watchdog with subpoena power died when no one seconded the motion; opponents cited charter conflicts with existing audit and ethics offices, while supporters cited grant-process scandals and Montgomery County's $28 million in IG findings.
9-1-1 Radio Replacement and Public Safety Financing
Up to $120 million in financing will replace the 2009-vintage, unencrypted police 911 radios and fund annual public safety equipment leases.
Public safety equipment and facilities funding
The committee backed multi-year financing for emergency communication equipment and public safety vehicles, moved capital funds to the District VI Police Station, and added money for public safety infrastructure upgrades.
Electrical code enforcement and property transfers
The county's electrical code lacked real enforcement teeth. This bill adds citations, penalties, and blocks sale of properties with open violations — meaning safer rental and owned housing countywide.
Youth vaping and prevention programming gaps
Youth cigarette use has collapsed (2.1% in high schools), but vaping sits at 14.3% statewide. The health department's tobacco program is small, state-grant funded with no local investment, and the county only has two inpatient treatment facilities.
Transfer of Enforcement Division to Office of Homeland Security
DPIE's enforcement division now operates as OHS's Code Compliance Division under Executive Order 13-2026, with CB-123-2026 codifying the move. Inspectors gain closer ties to police and Sheriff support, and new hires will work evening hours.
Tobacco and liquor retailer density by district
CB-83 would bar convenience stores from selling tobacco products to combat the spread of 24-hour smoke shops; industry groups want a clearer line drawn between legitimate convenience stores and bad actors.
Complaint-driven enforcement and district equity
Members warned that 311-driven enforcement can leave immigrant and working-class neighborhoods underserved — District 2 has among the most code violations but the fewest complaints. Nine enforcement liaisons, one per council district, are funded in FY 2027 to fix this.
Tenant protection legislative package
Three bills — relocation notices, a multilingual rights guide, and expedited enforcement of unsafe rentals — all advanced, aiming to make rental protections actually usable by residents.
Community Safe Spaces Act reporting violations
CB-86 adds an online portal so anyone — not just county employees — can report violations of the Safe Spaces Act, including harmful conduct tied to immigration enforcement. The Office of Law warned of federal legal risk; the committee recommended it anyway, 4-0.
Emergency Communications and Public Safety Equipment Financing
The county wants to borrow up to $70 million to replace about 7,000 9-1-1 radios bought in 2009 that can no longer be repaired or updated, plus up to $30 million for public safety vehicles and $20 million for unexpected capital costs. First step: introduction of CR-096-2026.
ICE Office Expansion in Hyattsville
Residents are pressing the Council to rescind the permit allowing ICE to expand its office at 6505 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville, arguing immigrant families accessing services there — a food pantry, social services, community college satellite, and immigration court — could be scared away or targeted.
Enforcement Function Transfers and Fine Increases
New bills presented at the county executive's request would move certain enforcement duties from DPIE to the Office of Homeland Security and raise fines for building code and zoning violations.
FY 2027 Office of Homeland Security budget
The county is borrowing up to $120 million to replace nearly 7,000 9-1-1 radios from 2009 that can no longer be repaired, buy public safety vehicles and equipment, and cover unexpected capital needs. This keeps emergency communications working for police, fire, and EMS responders.
Residential security fence exemption in Clinton
A Clinton homeowner asked to exceed normal fence-height limits because of trespassing, suspected drug activity, illegal dumping, and safety hazards on her sloped corner lot. The board found the security needs justified the exception.
Police Accountability Board vacancies
The council held a public information session where eight candidates for five Police Accountability Board seats spoke about their qualifications.
Weeds and Conservation Landscaping Definitions
The county is updating how it defines 'weeds' and 'conservation landscaping' in its housing, property maintenance and anti-litter codes — a change that affects what yards code enforcement can cite. Conservation landscaping could get clearer protection.
Emergency Weather Operations Fund
After complaints about last winter's storm response, Public Works rolled out an elevated snow strategy: a new 311 snow team, faster 311 response, better performance tracking and clearer communication with residents and Council offices.
Emergency weather preparedness funding
The county created a $15 million Emergency Weather Operations Fund for snow, flooding and storm response. A resident warned it may not be enough, noting last winter's storms cost $27.3 million and left her grandfather displaced since March.
Permitting of ICE offices in Hyattsville
Residents are urging the council to push County Executive Braveboy to revoke a use and occupancy permit for DHS/ICE legal offices near a school, community college branch and immigration court. They say it violates the Community Safe Spaces Act and intimidates immigrant families. The council says it is already looking into its options with the administration.
Emergency Weather Operations Fund (proposed)
A new $15 million dedicated fund will let DPW&T lock in snow removal contractors before winter instead of scrambling each storm. The department has historically gotten only about $4 million a year for snow — one big storm wipes that out.
Snow Hill Manor noise and animal shelter conditions
Olson's bill would permanently ban people convicted of irresponsible animal ownership from getting pet licenses. The committee wants to add a steep fine for violators before moving the bill forward.
Countywide beautification and blight enforcement package
Bills introduced would slap fines up to $5,000 on unmaintained vacant properties and tax vacant blighted houses at five times the normal rate, with proceeds going to the school board.
Homeland Security absorbs DPIE code enforcement
The county's code Enforcement Division is being moved from Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement into the Office of Homeland Security — a restructuring that changes who handles property enforcement.
Emergency Vehicle Access and Recovery Act
A new emergency law spells out how people can recover vehicles towed from private or public property — including proof of ownership, indemnification, and notice to family members — prompted by residents being detained by federal authorities and leaving vehicles behind.
Increased penalties for non-residential property code violations
Commercial property owners who violate county housing and property standards can now be fined up to $5,000, up from lower prior penalties. Aimed at pushing owners of storefronts and commercial buildings to keep them up to code.
DPIE enforcement functions moved to Homeland Security
The county's code Enforcement Division is being moved from Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement into the Office of Homeland Security — a restructuring that changes who handles property enforcement.
Women's health workplace protections
County employees and employees of county contractors dealing with severe menstrual or uterine fibroid symptoms get new workplace protections, including leave accommodations.
Human trafficking awareness in hotels
Bill CB-040-2026 would require every hotel and motel room in the county to post a human trafficking awareness notice, aimed at helping victims and encouraging safe reporting.
Human trafficking awareness notices in hotels
Every hotel, motel, and lodging establishment in the county would have to post a notice in each guest room telling victims and employees how to recognize trafficking and who to call. The county sits on the I-95 corridor, and sponsor Eric Olson said he got the idea from a New York hotel room notice. It costs the county nothing — hotels bear the compliance burden.