Ocean City Building Department Receives Higher ISO Rating

The Town of Ocean City’s building code enforcement has earned the town’s Building Department a higher rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). The Ocean City Building Department received a rating of 3 for both residential and commercial buildings. Only two out of 81 agencies reviewed in the State of Maryland have been graded 3 and no agencies have thus far graded above that level.

The ISO evaluates building code enforcement and effectiveness of municipalities on a rotating basis. Each municipality is evaluated at least once every five years. The ratings are used as one of many factors that determine insurance premiums in the jurisdiction. Communities are graded 1 – 10 with 1 the highest a municipality can receive. The building department received a 4 rating in 2005.

The grade received by a community is based on code administration (adoption of the latest codes, modifications to codes, record keeping, training and overall administrative policies and procedures); plan review and field inspection.

While individual insurance companies may use different credits or effective dates, the ISO program will apply the credits to new construction that has been issued a certificate of occupancy in 2011 and forward.

“This rating reflects the Mayor and Council’s strong commitment to the adoption and enforcement of building codes and the hard work and effort on the part of Chief Building Official Kevin Brown and the entire Building Department staff,” said City Engineer Terry McGean.