Garrett County, Maryland

Garrett County Local Guide

Settling In Guide

Living Here

From getting settled to caring for your home, find the right starting point for the task in front of you.

Settling In

A practical start for renters and homeowners. Work through the short checklist, then find more detail about the services at your address.

Your Guide to Settling In

View Your Guide to Settling Into Garrett County (PDF) A helpful, print friendly checklist for your move by LizyTylerCo · www.lizytylerco.com

Use the steps that apply to your move. Confirm your address’s jurisdiction, provider coverage and any landlord or community arrangements. Check official sources for current requirements.

Settling in sources reviewed

Find the Right Office

Start with county Permits and Inspections to identify the approvals your project needs, then confirm municipal responsibilities for the parcel. A town name in a mailing address does not establish municipal boundaries.

Garrett does not have countywide zoning. Zoning applies in the Deep Creek Watershed and six towns, but the absence of zoning does not remove building, environmental or other permit requirements.

Set Up Utilities and Care for Septic Systems

Water and sewer service depend on the actual service area. County Utilities operates several systems, while Oakland has its own water and sewer department. Verify each service separately, including properties outside town boundaries.

For private wells or septic systems, obtain records and project guidance from Environmental Health. Arrange electric, heating fuel and other services directly with the appropriate provider rather than treating the county utility office as a universal supplier.

Internet Access

Use the county Broadband Division’s address based resources, then confirm installation and actual service availability with the provider. Planned construction or a coverage map is not a guarantee that service is ready at a house.

Ask the county about its Customer Connect Subsidy Program if the cost to extend service is unaffordable. Eligibility and available assistance require review. The library also lends connectivity equipment under its borrowing policies.

Recycling and Household Waste

Confirm whether municipal collection, a property manager or a private hauler serves the home. County refuse and recycling sites are drop off facilities, not a universal curbside service.

Review residential refuse permit requirements and accepted materials before visiting. Construction debris and other loads may need the main landfill rather than a neighborhood collection site. Recycling rules differ from household trash disposal rules.

Owning & Improving a Home

Keep these resources close when you need property information, help caring for your home or a starting point for a project.

Find Property Records and Tax Bills

Use Maryland SDAT to identify the property account, assessment and ownership information. Keep deeds, plats, closing records and existing approvals together.

County Billing and Collections handles state and county property taxes. For a parcel in a town, check municipal taxes and service bills separately rather than assuming one account covers everything.

Find Tax Information and Relief

Maryland’s Homestead Property Tax Credit and income based Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit are separate programs. Review current state eligibility, deadlines and application status.

Check county and any municipal bills, and confirm that escrow payments reach the correct accounts. Ask Billing and Collections about charges you do not recognize.

Plan a Renovation

Gather boundaries, previous approvals, utility records and well or septic information before designing work. Ask about watershed rules, floodplain restrictions, steep slopes and access requirements.

Check the zoning map for the parcel rather than assuming all lake area or rural properties follow the same rules. Confirm required county, town and environmental reviews before committing to construction.

Put your goals, priorities, questions and next steps in one place.View Home Project Planning Sheet (PDF) To keep completed entries, save a copy with your changes using the PDF viewer’s controls.

Understand Permits and Inspections

County residential applications can be started in Citizen Connect. Contact Permits and Inspections directly to begin a commercial application or clarify the scope of a residential project.

Confirm building, trade and site approvals as well as any town zoning review. Agree on who schedules inspections, and retain final approvals and use or occupancy documentation.

Repair and Housing Assistance

Garrett County Community Action offers home rehabilitation, weatherization, energy assistance and housing counseling services. Ask which program fits your household and whether applications or funding are currently available.

State housing rehabilitation financing may also be available to eligible owners. Confirm income, property, work and repayment requirements before signing a construction agreement. Assistance is not automatic or necessarily a grant.

Check a Contractor

Check the Maryland license appropriate to the work and any separate trade credentials. Request insurance information, references and a written scope.

Agree on materials, payment stages, permits and inspection responsibilities. A contractor’s license does not replace project approval.

Keep useful questions and conversation notes together as you compare your options.View Questions Before Hiring a Contractor (PDF)

General information to help you find the right starting point. Requirements, eligibility, service areas, and application processes can change. Confirm details with the office or provider serving your exact address. Official links open in a new tab. Found a broken link or a changed office? Contact LizyTylerCo and include “Garrett County Guide,” the link name, and what happened. Return to All Resources.