Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring May 2026, as Building Safety Month in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
Community Planning and Development Services (CPDS)
Recommendation
Staff recommends Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Kina Campbell, Chief of Inspection Services, Community Planning and Development Services, and Chris Dempwolf, Building Review and Inspection Services Manager, Community Planning and Development Services.
Discussion
The City of Rockville is proud to be among the many safety-oriented jurisdictions throughout the country officially recognizing May as Building Safety Month. This is an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to the many design professionals and contractors who design and build with a focus on user life safety and sustainability, as well as to local government code professionals in the Inspection Services Division in the Department of Community Planning and Development Services, whose primary task is to see that safety and code compliance is properly ensured.
Those permitting code professionals include permit technicians and plans examiners, who screen, review, and approve over 5,000 building permit applications and construction plans annually to ensure that designs are safe and code-compliant for permit issuance. They also include the City’s building and fire inspectors, who, after permits have been issued, check construction at various stages of work to make certain that the building’s structural elements, accessibility, means of egress, fire protection, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems are installed in accordance with adopted codes, and comply and conform with approved plans and submittal documents. Collectively, they conduct over 12,000 code compliance permit inspections each year.
Equally important are the Code Enforcement inspectors and officials who are responsible for making sure that all existing buildings and structures remain safe and well-maintained, through proactive enforcement of adopted property maintenance codes.
Building Safety Month continues to serve as a critical outreach and a visible means of highlighting and reinforcing the importance of safety and the protection of buildings and the people who use them during design, under construction, and during occupancy.
The International Code Council’s (ICC) theme for Building Safety Month 2026 is "Built to Last!” This month is dedicated to raising awareness about building safety, promoting the adoption of modern building codes, and highlighting the work of building safety professionals.
Here's a breakdown of the month's activities:
• Week 1: Safe Homes, Strong Communities (May 1-10) focuses on simple actions homeowners can take to improve safety at home
• Week 2: Voices of the Built Environment (May 11-17) spotlights building safety professionals and the roles they play in keeping communities safe
• Week 3: Prepared to Protect (May 18-24) encourages community preparedness and highlights how disaster-resilient building codes protect people and property
• Week 4: Communities Without Limits (May 25-31) showcases the importance of accessibility in building construction and design
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council issue a proclamation for Building Safety Month annually.
Public Notification and Engagement
Staff teams will be engaging in various community outreach activities throughout the month to raise awareness of the themes.