MoCo DPS Needs to Streamline the Homeowner’s Electrical Exam Process

In October 2019, I needed to take and pass the Montgomery County Homeowner’s Electrical Exam to get a permit to install an outlet in my kitchen. I found the County’s web page for the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) confusing and incomplete. I called, eventually got to talk to a live person, and learned that I would have to take not one, but TWO days off from work to show up, in person, during office hours, in Rockville, Maryland, to complete the process. First, I had to appear in person to show my ID, sign an application form, schedule my appointment and pay a $81.11 “exam fee.” There were plenty of appointments available, but I had to come back on a scheduled day the following week to take the exam. After I passed, I paid an additional $114.64 for the minimum permit ($97.34) and “rough wiring fee” ($17.30).

I am writing this web page to (1) do what I can to explain and simplify the process for other residents, and (2) urge DPS to simplify the process so that homeowners can apply for and take their exam in one visit.

Tips for getting a Homeowner's Electrical Permit.

Here are tips for scheduling the Montgomery Count Homeowner’s Electrical Exam:

  1. Study some basic resources about electrical work and the National Electrical Code (NEC). I found this book helpful: Wiring Simplified, 45th Ed., based on the 2017 NEC. The NEC itself is surprising expensive ($156.55 here), and not written for lay people. If you do have access to the NEC, note that the version used for the MoCo DPS exam might not be the current NEC. When I took the exam in 2019, they had the 2017 NEC available as a reference (the exam is “open book” and DPS helpfully provides a reference copy of the NEC and the local electrical code that has some variations from the NEC).

  2. Check the current fees. DPS will accept checks, credit cards or cash. On the second floor where DPS staff are, the cashier’s office has a sign saying “no cash” but you can pay with cash on the first floor.

  3. If you want to complete the process in one visit, plan to arrive on a Tuesday or Thursday at 8:00 am (for the 9:00 am exam slot) or at noon (for the 1:00 pm slot). You might call one of the Permit Technicians listed here to see if there is space available for the slot you hope to use. If you are willing to make two visits, then you can arrive at DPS during any regular office hours to apply and schedule your exam.

  4. Complete the “Homeowner's Affidavit.” I was told that I had to come in because the affidavit form is not available on-line. When I arrived, they have a stack of them available for the taking. Now the affidavit form is available on-line here. Paragraph 1 of the affidavit says, “I have read and understand all of the attached information.” In fact, there is no attached information. The form is outdated. Still, it does require a declaration that you will be performing your own work.

  5. Arrive for your appointment with (a) your ID showing your address at the property for which you want a permit, (b) your deed or other evidence of ownership, if you are not listed on the tax roll for this property, (c) checks, your credit card, or enough cash to pay the fees, and (d) a mask, gloves, hand sanitzer and whatever else you need to be safe.

  6. You can install up to 20 outlets and switches with the minimum permit. For each additional ten boxes you want to install, there will be an additional fee that is currently $7.57. If you want a permit for lighting fixures or smoke detectors, there may be additional fees, and additional subjects for your exam.

  7. If your text paper has any marks on it that could suggest an answer (a) notify the staff immediately so they do not think you made the mark, and (b) do not rely on the answer indicated as the author of that mark probably found the question to be difficult.

  8. You need to get 7 of the 10 multiple choice questions correct to pass. If you got close but did not pass, you can discuss the answers with the staff. If the staff agree with you, they can correct your score.

  9. After you get the permit, you can install your fixures. You have one year to get them inspected. If you miss this deadline, you have to get a new permit. To get the inspection scheduled, call 311. If you have more than one permit that requires inspection, you need to make a separate appointment for each permit, but all the inspections can be done with one visit (in which the DPS inspector will get credit for each of the “appointments”). If you fail the inspection, the inspector will explain why. When you get it fixed, you can call for a new appointment at no additional charge.

Call on DPS to make this process simple.

Now that you are done with the permitting process, how about joining me in asking DPS to simplify this process. Why can’t everyone complete the process in one scheduled visit? Why isn’t the form affidavit available on the County’s web page? Contact the Director’s Office to join me in urging DPS to make it easy for homeowners to complete the process in one visit. Let your County Council members know too that you want DPS to make one-stop permitting convenient.

On December 27, 2019, Mr. Hadi Mansouri and Ms. Gail Lucas promised me that they would change their web page to explain how homeowners could complete their application, exam and permit all in one visit, but it still has not happened. Please join me in calling on DPS to become client focused and accountable to the residents who deserve County procedures that avoid unnecessary inconvenience.

Feel free to let me know if I can be of further help, or if you can share with my any advocacy to accomplish this needed change.

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