When Is a County Permit Required?

• This County webpage tells you if you need a permit and/or plans before you start your project. It is your (not your contractor’s) responsibility to meet these requirements. Improvements made without required permits can cause major problems if and when you try to sell your home. Also, should an accident (e.g., a hot water tank explosion) occur as a result of a faulty/unapproved installation, your homeowner's insurance may not cover the damages.
• Visit the county's Permit Center for help in submitting permit applications and plans.
• Tantallon Covenants are limitations in addition to the County requirements.

Enforcement of Covenants

• The Tantallon Control Committee (TCC) is a group of volunteer residents whose responsibility is to administer and enforce the Tantallon Land Covenants in an equitable, diligent and uniform manner.
• The TCC administers the Covenants by reviewing plans for exterior "improvement" to properties covered by the Covenants and issuing written decisions on whether to approve those plans.
• A violation of the Covenants occurs when exterior improvements, such as the construction of an addition to a home, the erection of a fence, or the building of a shed, are made to a property covered by the Covenants without the approval of the TCC. The Committee's bylaws state that "[t]he TCC will not normally perform inspections to seek out violations of the covenants, but will react to complaints filed with it."  Therefore, it relies on residents to notify the Committee when they see possible Covenant violations.
• When exterior improvements are made without TCC approval, the Covenants require that a law suit to enjoin such actions or construction must be commenced within 90 days after the completion of such actions or construction.  If no legal action is taken within that time period, the Covenants provide that "approval will not be required and the related covenants shall be deemed to have been fully complied with."  Because of this 90-day limit, the TCC must recommend that legal action be taken promptly in order to carry out its duty to enforce compliance with the Covenants.
• So, for example, if a homeowner erects a fence or shed without prior approval from the Committee, and the Committee is unaware of the new fence or shed, and 90 days pass, the fence or shed is no longer in violation of the Covenants.  As a result, some properties include additions and renovations, such as fences and sheds, that the TCC would not have approved if it had the knowledge and time to take action.  Unfortunately, this scenario has occurred many times during the past 40 years, resulting in the perception that the TCC has failed to do its job in a consistent manner.  (In addition TCA members should be aware that due to decisions made by developers of properties in our area, the Covenants may not apply to all properties on a given street -- see  http://tantallon.info/Property Covered by Covenants.)
• The 90-day limit on filing suit to enforce the Covenants applies only to matters within the scope of the TCC's authority.   The Covenants do not give the TCC authority to approve certain actions, such as the storage of boats, that violate the Covenants.  The Covenants also require that all homes have enclosed garages which are attached to or are under the residence. As a result, the TCA may initiate legal action at any time to enjoin such continuing actions that violate the Covenants.
• Compliance with the Covenants is the responsibility of each homeowner, whether a TCA member or not.  To protect your property's value and to maintain the beauty of the community, please notify the Committee of possible Covenant violations.  All reports are treated as confidential; however, the Committee is prohibited by its bylaws from acting solely on anonymous complaints.
• To contact the TCC, please write to P.O. Box 44069, Fort Washington, MD 20749; you may also contact the TCC via email at tantalloncontrol@gmail.com.