Useful Places to Begin

Resources for Your Home

Start with what you need to do. Find official property, renovation, permit, tax, and utility resources for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

20 official resources · 2 local-office starting points

Find Property Records

Start with ownership, assessments, recorded deeds, zoning, and flood maps.

Maryland · Statewide

Maryland Property Records (opens in a new tab)

Start with SDAT guidance to find property ownership, assessment, and sales information.

dat.maryland.gov

Maryland · Statewide

Deeds & Land Records (opens in a new tab)

Find the official route to recorded deeds and other land documents, with guidance on obtaining copies.

mdcourts.gov

Virginia · Statewide directory

Find Your Local Property Office (opens in a new tab)

Locate your city or county government, then follow its real estate assessment, GIS, or planning resources.

virginia.gov

Washington, DC · District-wide

DC Zoning Maps (opens in a new tab)

Explore the Office of Zoning’s official maps and look up a property’s zoning district.

dcoz.dc.gov

All Regions

FEMA Flood Maps (opens in a new tab)

Search an address for published flood hazard maps and related mapping products.

msc.fema.gov

Washington, DC · District-wide

SCOUT Property & Permit Search (opens in a new tab)

Research District property, permit, inspection, and licensing information. Some features may require sign-in.

scout.dob.dc.gov

Plan a Renovation

Check contractor credentials and explore home repair, water, and maintenance guidance.

Maryland · Statewide

Maryland Home Improvement Consumer Advice (opens in a new tab)

Read MHIC guidance for homeowners on choosing a contractor, home improvement contracts, and consumer protections.

dllr.state.md.us

Maryland · Statewide

Residential Well Information (opens in a new tab)

Read Maryland Department of the Environment information for private residential well owners.

mde.maryland.gov

Maryland · Statewide

Energy & Home Repair Programs (opens in a new tab)

Explore state programs for home safety, repairs, and energy efficiency. Review each program’s current eligibility and availability.

dhcd.maryland.gov

Virginia · Statewide

Contractor License Lookup (opens in a new tab)

Search Virginia professional and occupational license records through DPOR.

dpor.virginia.gov

Virginia · Statewide

Well & Septic Resources (opens in a new tab)

Find Virginia Department of Health information about onsite sewage systems, private wells, and permit applications.

vdh.virginia.gov

All Regions

Moisture & Mold Guidance (opens in a new tab)

Read the EPA’s homeowner guide to moisture control, mold prevention, and cleanup considerations.

epa.gov

Understand Permits

Find the office responsible for your project before preparing an application.

Maryland · Charles County

Charles County Permit Guide (opens in a new tab)

Identify permits, approvals, and documents that may apply to your planned project.

charlescountymd.gov

Maryland · St. Mary’s County

St. Mary’s County Permits (opens in a new tab)

Find permit application information, customer assistance guides, and permit-status resources.

stmaryscountymd.gov

Maryland · Calvert County

Calvert County Permits & Inspections (opens in a new tab)

Start with county building permit and inspection information for your renovation.

calvertcountymd.gov

Washington, DC · District-wide

Permit Planning Resources (opens in a new tab)

Find Department of Buildings tools and information to help plan a permit application.

dob.dc.gov

Find Tax Information

Assessment records and tax bills serve different purposes. Start with your state or local tax office.

Washington, DC · District-wide

Property Taxes & Assessments (opens in a new tab)

Access property tax, assessment, and deed-record resources from the Office of Tax and Revenue.

otr.cfo.dc.gov

Maryland · Virginia · Washington, DC

Find Your Local Office

For Maryland and Virginia, use the county and city directory below to reach the local tax or finance office. In Washington, DC, use the Office of Tax and Revenue link in this section.

In Charles County? See the local tax guide.

Set Up Utilities

Service depends on the property address. Confirm the provider, service area, and account requirements before moving.

Maryland · Virginia · Washington, DC

For Maryland and Virginia, use the directory below to find local water, sewer, and waste-service information. For Washington, DC, start with the District government link under Government Services. Utility providers may serve only part of a county.

In Charles County? See the local utility guide.

Find Government Services

Keep these official state and District starting points close at hand.

Maryland · Statewide

Maryland Government (opens in a new tab)

Find state agencies, public services, and resident information.

maryland.gov

Virginia · Statewide

Virginia Government (opens in a new tab)

Find Commonwealth agencies, public services, and local government connections.

virginia.gov

Washington, DC · District-wide

Washington, DC Government (opens in a new tab)

Find District agencies, resident services, and government information.

dc.gov

Find Your Local Government

County & City Directory

Find the official website for every Maryland and Virginia county, plus Baltimore City and Virginia’s independent cities. Start here for local departments, property information, permits, taxes, and services.

Browse County & City Websites 157 Local Governments

Search by County or City

24 Local Governments in Maryland

Directory sources: Maryland State Archives and Virginia.gov. Includes counties and independent cities, rather than incorporated towns.

Official links open in a new tab. Local requirements vary; confirm details with the office serving your property. Links reviewed October 15, 2026. Found a broken link? Contact LizyTylerCo with the page and link name.