Quick answer: New Carrollton adds a substantial municipal approval layer to Prince George’s County ADU rules. The City requires a New Carrollton building permit for permanent improvements, and when a Prince George’s County permit is also required, the County permit must be obtained before the City permit is issued. Rental properties also require an annual City rental license and inspection.
As of September 18, 2026, Prince George’s County’s ADU legislation remains in the legislative process, so proposed County standards should not be treated as final until enacted.
County ADU law comes first
Prince George’s County’s main ADU zoning bill is CB-074-2026. A second measure, CB-092-2026, addresses non-zoning ADU issues, and CR-095-2026 addresses the timing gap around the State deadline.
Use our Prince George’s County ADU guide for the Countywide status.
New Carrollton requires its own building permit
The City’s building-permit guidance is unusually explicit. New Carrollton Code § 41-2 requires a City permit for construction, enlargement, removal or demolition that also requires a Prince George’s County permit, and the City will not issue its permit until the corresponding County permit has been submitted.
The City’s current building-permit process guidance lists the required City application, fee, County-approved permit, plot/site plan and County-stamped plans.
A 2025 City ordinance also changed the local approval process. Ordinance 25-15, effective April 8, 2025, moved final approval for certain residential permit applications from the City Council to the Mayor or designee, with notice to the Council for higher-value residential work.
For an ADU, the planning sequence should be:
- Confirm the property and ADU under the final Prince George’s County rules.
- Prepare the County application and site/construction plans.
- Obtain the Prince George’s County permit.
- Submit the County-approved permit and stamped plans with the New Carrollton permit application.
- Complete any City inspection or compliance steps.
- If renting, complete annual City rental licensing and inspection.
Our Maryland ADU permit guide explains the broader workflow.
The City inspects construction under its local permit process
New Carrollton’s published permit materials state that projects requiring both County and City permits must follow the City process after County approval and that construction is subject to City inspection and approval under Chapter 41.
This matters because an ADU owner should not assume that a County-approved drawing automatically completes the municipal step. The City can still review compliance with its local building-construction requirements.
Rental ADUs require an annual New Carrollton license and inspection
The City’s Rental License page says all rental property in New Carrollton must be registered and maintain a valid City rental license under Chapter 89.
For a single-family dwelling, the City currently lists an annual rental-license fee of $300 and requires an annual interior/exterior inspection before the license is issued. The City also requires applicable Maryland lead documentation for older properties.
That means an ADU used as a rental has a separate compliance layer after zoning and building approval. See our Maryland ADU rental guide for the statewide context.
Site-plan accuracy is especially important
New Carrollton’s permit process specifically asks for a plot/site plan showing items such as the home, driveway, garage, outbuildings and fences. For a detached ADU, that makes the survey/site-plan stage important before final design.
Check setbacks, lot coverage and height separately rather than assuming a County permit will resolve every municipal concern.
New Carrollton ADU homeowner checklist
- Confirm City boundaries. Use our Jurisdiction Finder.
- Confirm final County ADU legislation.
- Prepare a clear plot/site plan.
- Obtain the County permit first where required.
- Apply for the New Carrollton building permit.
- Complete City inspection/compliance.
- If renting, obtain the annual City rental license and inspection.
Bottom line
New Carrollton is not a county-only ADU approval path. The City’s Chapter 41 permit process, County-first sequencing, municipal inspection and annual rental licensing make a dedicated city page useful for homeowners.
Sources checked September 18, 2026: Maryland Land Use § 4-504; Prince George’s County CB-074-2026, CB-092-2026 and CR-095-2026; City of New Carrollton Chapter 41 permit guidance; Ordinance 25-15; City rental-license and inspection guidance. This page is for planning information and is not legal, zoning or architectural advice.
What to do next
Start by finding the office that reviews your property. A mailing city or a county guide does not establish your parcel’s authority.
- Find Who Reviews My Property.
- Obtain your parcel identifier, survey, floor plans and utility records.
- Ask the reviewing office which current rules, supporting documents and approvals apply.
- Continue to your planning workspace.
Enable JavaScript to prepare a downloadable next-step brief. Planning guidance is not permit approval.