The Public Works Division began as the Sanitary District Commission. The Commission was succeeded by the Frederick County Metropolitan Commission in 1968 (Chapter 609, Acts of 1968). In 1974, the General Assembly authorized the Board of County Commissioners to abolish the Metropolitan Commission and create a department of public works (Chapter 629, Acts of 1974). The Department of Public Works was formed in 1978.
Today, the Division of Public Works is responsible for three departments: Construction Management and Inspection, Highways and Transportation, and Program Development and Management (County Code, secs. 1-18-1 through 1-18-5).