Calvert County, MD Structures, Sidewalks, Retaining Walls and Pipes

Cost estimates for road signage shall be included on the materials and construction items cost estimate form and submitted with the signing and marking plan. This estimate shall include all costs associated with the acquisition, location, and installation by the permittee. Costs shall be tabulated using the most current unit price sheet provided by the Engineering Division at the time of submittal. The approved estimate and appropriate bonding shall be a part of the public works agreement submittal for the project.

The permittee shall install the signs prior to base road final approval. Once the surface road final approval has been granted, the County shall maintain all road signs installed on public roads.

All private road name signs shall have a blue background with white letters to illustrate a non-County-maintained road, and a permanent sign stating the road is not maintained by the County shall be erected.

Ornamental signs. The use of ornamental or decorative road signs is discouraged by this chapter. However, should a community or permittee elect to install this type of signing, this can be done at their expense, and the signing shall be limited to road name signage. Size, shape, color, retro reflectivity, and installation shall conform to the requirements of the MUTCD. All ornamental signage shall be shown on the sign and marking plan. The permittee shall submit a license agreement for ornamental signs in the County right-of-way with the public works agreement. The signage shall be subject to inspection prior to the base and final surface road approvals.

§ 104-62 Mailboxes and newspaper delivery boxes.

Mailboxes placed in the Calvert County right-of-way shall conform to United States Postal Service regulations and the following standards set forth by the Calvert County government. All mailboxes in the Calvert County right-of-way shall meet these standards.

Location.

Mailboxes shall be located on the right-hand side of the roadway in the direction of the delivery route. The mailbox shall be set at an elevation of 41 inches to 45 inches above ground level per United States Postal Service specifications. The roadside face of the box shall be offset a minimum of six to eight inches from the edge of the shoulder (paved roads), edge of traveled way (gravel roads), or face of curb.

Where a mailbox is located at an intersecting road, it shall be located a minimum of 100 feet beyond the center of the intersecting road.

Where a mailbox is located at a driveway entrance, it shall be placed on the far side of the driveway in the direction of the delivery route.

Where a mailbox is located in a guardrail section, it shall be placed behind the guardrail, when possible, with the face of the box even with the back of the rail.

Structure.

Mailboxes shall be constructed of light sheet metal, plastic or similar weight materials in accordance with local United States Postal Service regulations. Newspaper boxes shall be constructed of light sheet metal or plastic and shall be placed on the same side of the road as the mailbox. Newspaper boxes may also be mounted below the mailbox on the side of the mailbox support.

No more than two mailboxes may be mounted on a support structure.

A single four-by-four-inch square, four-inch diameter wooden post or a metal post with strength no greater than a two-inch diameter standard strength steel pipe shall be acceptable as a mailbox support. The mailbox support shall not be embedded more than 24 inches into the ground and should safely break away if struck by a vehicle. A metal post shall not be fitted with an anchor plate, but it may have an antitwist device that extends no more than 10 inches below the ground surface.

Mailbox supports shall not be set in concrete.

(5)

The post-to-box attachment details should be of sufficient strength to prevent the box from separating from the post top if a vehicle strikes the installation.

(6)

Mailboxes and supports other than those listed above will not be allowed on County roads rated over 25 miles per hour. Calvert County accepts no liability for any physical harm or property damage caused by any mailbox placed along Calvert County roads.

Removal of nonconforming or unsafe mailboxes. Mailbox newspaper boxes that do not conform to the previously noted requirements will be considered unsafe. Calvert County will immediately notify the homeowner/business by mail, who will be granted not less than 24 hours or more than 30 days to remove the unsafe mailbox/newspaper box. If the owner does not comply, the Calvert County Highway Maintenance Division, at the owner's expense, shall remove the mailbox/paperbox.

Mailboxes damaged by Calvert County Highway Maintenance Division.

Service request for repair or replacement of damaged mailboxes due to snowplowing, mowing or other operations must be received within two weeks of maintenance activity on the road in which damage occurred. Damages are to be reported to the Calvert County Highway Maintenance Division at 410-535-0905.

Upon calling the Highway Maintenance Division the owner is to report his or her name, address, phone number and type of damage. A Highway Maintenance Division employee will inspect the damage to determine if it was done by an activity performed by the Highway Maintenance Division. Damage not done by the Highway Maintenance Division or activity will not be repaired. Calvert County will not be responsible for mailboxes that are poorly mounted or which have rotted posts. Also the County will not be held responsible for mailboxes which are damaged due to weight of heavy snow whereby the snowplow or County vehicle does not make contact with the mail box.

Depending on weather conditions and work load, it should be noted that the repair/replacement process may take time. It is suggested that residents make arrangements with their local Post Office for mail delivery until the process is completed.

Mailbox damage caused by Highway Maintenance Division maintenance activities will result in either the repair of the existing mailbox if feasible, or replacement with a white or black United States Post Office approved standard mailbox, of the same size damaged, on a four-inch by four-inch wooden post (if original post is damaged). Two-inch address numbers will be provided on the mailbox. Custom or ornamental mailboxes within the road right-of-way are placed at the owner's risk, those that are damaged by Highway Maintenance Division maintenance activities will be replaced with a standard mailbox as listed above. If in-kind replacement is desired, it will be the responsibility of the owner to replace. Replacement should be done with a standard breakaway installation as described above.

(5)

Paperbox damage should be reported to the servicing company.

Incidental damage policy. If any object is placed in the County right-of-way, it is done so at the person's own risk, as the object may be damaged in the course of road maintenance operations. Calvert County government will not be responsible for sand, salt, snow or incidental damage to turf, driveways, irrigation systems or any landscaping improvements, including fencing and invisible dog fences, located within the public rights-of-way or easements. Any related repair will be the responsibility of the adjacent property owners. The removal of any snow deposits in driveways and mailbox areas that may result from plowing operations will be the responsibility of the adjacent property owner.

§ 104-63 Monumental entrances.

Monumental entrances may be permitted with the required approval from Planning and Zoning, where adequate rights-of-way or easements are provided so as not to pose visual or physical obstructions. Sign permits shall be obtained as required by the current Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.

§ 104-64 Other structures.

Nonbreakaway structures. Driveway enhancements, fences, basketball hoops, sports goals, skateboard ramps, wheel stops, boulders, wood landscaping ties, concrete bricks, private signs, sprinkler systems, and all other miscellaneous structures which create a fixed obstruction in the public right-of-way are prohibited.

Removal of nonconforming or unsafe structures.

Owners of the properties discovered to have a prohibited structure(s) existing in the public right-of-way shall be notified by certified mail that the structure is to be removed by a designated date. Failure to comply shall result in the removal and disposal by County forces. All costs to perform the work shall be billed to the property owner.

Newly constructed roads, under a public works agreement, found to have prohibited structures within the County right-of-way shall not be approved for County acceptance. The surety shall not be released until the structure is removed.

§ 104-65 Sidewalk requirements.

General. Sidewalk requirements, as well as maintenance and construction standards and responsibilities are outlined in the Calvert County Sidewalk Policy attached as an appendix to this chapter.[1]

Editor's Note: The Sidewalk Policy is on file in the County offices.

Use. It shall be unlawful for any person to use any part of any sidewalk between the private property line and curb to:

Store goods, merchandise, or other material.

Display goods or articles for sale or barter.

Place any sign or device for advertising purposes.

Rent or lease any portion of the sidewalk for the purpose of selling merchandise thereon.

§ 104-66 Retaining walls supporting any infrastructure and embankments.

General.

A building permit is required for the construction or replacement of any retaining wall three feet or greater in height.

Retaining walls of any height are strongly discouraged within a right-of-way as well as those adjacent to a right-of-way in cases where the structural integrity of the roadway may be compromised as a result of a failure of the retaining wall, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Director.

Existing retaining walls of any height located within a right-of-way or associated easement may be subject to removal or modification if the Director deems that the wall poses a potential safety hazard, obstructs vision, alters stormwater management or storm drainage function, or hinders maintenance work within a right-of-way or easement area.

Permit.

Building permits shall be obtained from Inspections and Permits for all retaining walls as noted in § 104-66A(1).

The applicant shall submit design drawings prepared and certified by an engineering professional representative specializing in structural engineering.

In cases where the building permit for the retaining wall is not associated with the construction of a residence, a bond shall be required in an amount equal to 125% of the cost of construction, as approved by the Director.

Design.

Design of retaining walls that support public roadways shall meet minimum MSHA and FHA standards.

Retaining wall design submittals shall include design drawings, specifications, engineer report, and geotechnical report containing design calculations, signed and sealed by a licensed structural engineer, registered in the State of Maryland.

(a)

Design drawings shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

The beginning and ending stations of the wall.

[2]

The wall layout.

[3]

Elevations at the top of the wall at all joint locations and at any break points.

[4]

Details of wall elements.

(b)

The engineering design report shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

Analysis of structural elements and design calculations.

[2]

Factors of safety, estimated life, corrosion design procedure for soil reinforcement elements.

[3]

Procedures for field and laboratory evaluation, including instrumentation and special requirements, if any.

[4]

Sample material and construction control specifications, showing material type, quality, certifications, field testing, acceptance and rejection criteria (tolerances) and placement procedures.

[5]

Description of the step-by-step construction sequence.

Additional restrictions.

Retaining walls are strongly discouraged within a dedicated right-of-way or public utility easement, unless the retaining wall is required for supporting a public roadway. In both cases, both the retaining wall and the associated vehicular recovery zone shall be located within a dedicated right-of-way or easement, and shall be approved in writing by the Director.

Retaining walls located adjacent to a public roadway shall be a minimum six feet back from the edge of the travel way or paved shoulder. Additional clearance may be required to ensure that the vehicular recovery zone shall not encroach upon the travel way or paved shoulder.

Retaining walls are strongly discouraged in any designated easement unless otherwise approved in writing by the Director.

Retaining walls within rights-of-way or associated easements shall incorporate fence and railing systems which meet minimum state and federal design and safety requirements.

(5)

The minimum required sight distance at intersecting rights-of-way or driveways intersecting with public or private roads shall not be obstructed by the construction or maintenance of a retaining wall.

(6)

Any retaining wall located within 12 feet of the curbline or edge of pavement shall be designed to resist corrosion from salt or chemical spraying along the adjacent roadway.

(7)

As-built plans are required for retaining walls associated with roadway construction.

§ 104-67 Pipe installation.

General. This section applies to entrance pipes within County rights-of-way or easements.

Application for entrance pipes.

The Department of Public Works Highway Maintenance Division must be contacted prior to installation of new or-upgraded entrances on County roads to ensure that roadside drainage is not impacted.

All residents requesting driveway entrances in Calvert County rights-of-way or easements must make application to Calvert County Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, either by telephone or in writing.

The request must include the applicant's name, address, and telephone number as well as the site location and length of pipe proposed. An inspection/stakeout must be installed by a registered land surveyor prior to Public Works making a site visit.

The site must be flagged as to the exact location for the pipe installation. The Department of Public Works will determine the diameter and type of pipe to be used, and elevation grades will be placed. Pipe installations are further governed by the following subsections.

Responsibility for providing entrance pipe, other materials, and equipment necessary for installation.

When the need for entrance pipe or pipes is caused by a change in drainage made by the Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, the Highway Maintenance Division will provide the pipe and other materials as well as labor and equipment necessary for the installation.

When the need for such entrance pipe or pipes is caused by a change in drainage or new road or driveway made by an entity other than Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, the Highway Maintenance Division will provide materials, other than pipe, as well as labor and equipment necessary for installation (per Subsection D), in accordance with the established fee schedule.

Size and type of pipe requirements.

Pipe shall be new asphalt-coated corrugated galvanized steel, aluminized-coated corrugated steel, HDPE, or RCP as specified by the Highway Maintenance Division, and shall be of the following minimum lengths:

(a)

Standard.

Private residential entrances: 40 feet maximum continuous length.

[2]

Agricultural entrances: 20 feet minimum; 60 feet maximum.

(b)

Others (commercial, institutional, industrial development, and subdivision entrances). The plans must be approved by the Calvert County Department of Public Works, Engineering Division, and the entire work accomplished at the owner or permittee's expense.

Nonstandard. Property owners proposing other than the above driveway entrances or requesting permission to install longer lengths of pipe must submit a drainage design for approval by the Department of Public Works, Engineering Division. The owner may purchase additional approved pipe from a local dealer. Installation of additional pipe and cover material will be accomplished by the Calvert County Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, at the property owner's expense. In addition, any catch basin or junction box required will be built to Calvert County Department of Public Works standards and will be installed at intervals as decided by the Engineering Division. The Highway Maintenance Division will provide general maintenance and cleaning of the pipe after installation. Any future changes, including replacement or change in pipe size, will be by the property owner at his or her expense. Work must be approved and supervised by the Calvert County Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, during installation. A permit from Calvert County Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, is required. The Highway Maintenance Division is to be notified prior to work being started and at completion. A set hourly inspection fee will be charged at the current rate, which may include applicable review fees.

Entrance limitations.

Calvert County will install one entrance pipe per residence for residential lots.

Property for agricultural use will be allowed one entrance per 500 feet of road frontage per Subsections C and D meeting the requirements of Subsection D(1)(a). Any additional entrances or lengths will be covered under Subsection D(2).

Responsibility for maintenance and replacement upon installation.

Once the installation is done in accordance to the specifications, the general maintenance and cleaning of entrance pipes becomes the responsibility of the County. Failed or damaged pipe replacement will be subject to the terms of the Calvert County Pipe Installation Policy and will be considered as a new entrance subject to appropriate installation fees.

Property owners failing to repair failed pipe would be subject to the removal of any section of their pipe by the County at the property owner's expense if impeding drainage. The property owner will be responsible for the cost of removal, and if not paid, the costs will become a lien against the property and will be collected in the same manner as real property taxes.

Property owners requesting relocation of a previously satisfactory installation will be given an estimate for labor, equipment, and materials plus administrative overhead to be paid prior to the work being performed.

Yard frontage or easement piping.

The primary function of open drainage is to convey water from the road surface. This drainage may also benefit the surrounding property. Calvert County discourages the piping of yard frontage or easements.

Residents proposing this type of work must submit a detailed drainage plan to the Calvert County Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division, for approval. All such projects and the replacement of such projects will be entirely at the expense of the property owner, and work will be done by a private contractor. Work must be done under the supervision of the Calvert County Department of Public Works, Highway Maintenance Division.