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Montgomery County Overview
Montgomery County Code
Preliminary Information
Preface
Part I. The Charter. [Note]
Part II. Local Laws, Ordinances, Resolutions, Etc.
Chapter 1. General Provisions.
Chapter 1A. Structure of County Government.
Chapter 2. Administration. [Note]
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL.
ARTICLE II. POWERS OF COUNTY GENERALLY.
ARTICLE III. EXECUTIVE BRANCH. [Note]
Division 1. Generally.
DIVISION 1A. OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
Division 2. Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Division 3. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Division 4. Department of Environmental Protection. [Note]
Division 5. DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES. [Note]
Division 5A. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue System. [Note]
Division 6. Reserved.*
Division 7. Health Officer.*
Division 7A. Department of Health and Human Services.*
Division 7B. Department of Permitting Services.
Division 8. Department of Police.*
Division 9. Department of Public Libraries.
Division 10. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.*
Division 11. Department of Recreation.
Division 11A. Reserved.
Division 11B. Reserved.
Division 11C. OFFICE OF ANIMAL SERVICES.
Division 11D. DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND ENTERPRISE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS. [Note]
Division 12. Advisory Boards or Commissions.
Division 13. OFFICE OF RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
Division 14. Office of Public Information.
Division 15. Office of Human Resources. [Note]*
Division 16. Office of Intergovernmental Relations.
Division 17. Office of Management and Budget.
DIVISION 18. RESERVED.
Division 19. Office of Community Use of Public Facilities.* [Note]
Division 20. Office of Procurement.
Division 21. OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY.
DIVISION 22. OFFICE OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT.
DIVISION 23. OFFICE OF FOOD SYSTEMS RESILIENCE.
ARTICLE IV. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.* [Note]
ARTICLE V. COUNTY BOARD OF APPEALS. [Note]
ARTICLE VI. LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES.*
ARTICLE VI. RESERVED. [Note]
ARTICLE VII. STATE'S ATTORNEY AND ASSISTANTS. [Note]
ARTICLE VIII. RESERVED.
ARTICLE IX. PUBLIC FACILITY AREA DEVELOPMENT. [Note]
ARTICLE X. OFFICE OF ZONING AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. [Note]
ARTICLE XI. BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.*
ARTICLE XII. PEOPLE'S COUNSEL.
ARTICLE XIII. INSPECTOR GENERAL.
ARTICLE XIV. OPEN DATA.
Chapter 2A. Administrative Procedures Act. [Note]
Chapter 2B. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION.*
Chapter 3. Air Quality Control. [Note]
Chapter 3A. Alarms. [Note]
Chapter 4. Amusements. [Note]
Chapter 5. Animal Control. [Note]
Chapter 5A. Arts and Humanities. [Note]
Chapter 6. Auction Sales.
Chapter 6A. Beverage Containers. [Note]
Chapter 7. Bicycles. [Note]
Chapter 7A. Off-the-road Vehicles
Chapter 8. Buildings. [Note]
Chapter 8A. Cable Communications. [Note]
Chapter 9. Reserved.*
Chapter 9A. Reserved. [Note]
Chapter 10. Reserved.*
Chapter 10A. Child Care.
Chapter 10B. Common Ownership Communities. [Note]
Chapter 11. Consumer Protection. [Note]
Chapter 11A. Condominiums. [Note]
Chapter 11B. Contracts and Procurement. [Note]
Chapter 11C. Cooperative Housing. [Note]
Chapter 12. Courts. [Note]
Chapter 13. Detention Centers and Rehabilitation Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 13A. Reserved*.
Chapter 14. Development Districts.
Chapter 15. Eating and Drinking Establishments. [Note]
Chapter 15A. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.*
Chapter 16. Elections. [Note]
Chapter 17. Electricity. [Note]
Chapter 18. Elm Disease. [Note]
Chapter 18A. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY [Note]
Chapter 19. EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. [Note]
Chapter 19A. Ethics. [Note]
Chapter 20. Finance. [Note]
Chapter 20A. Special Obligation Debt.
Chapter 21. Fire and Rescue Services.*
Chapter 22. Fire Safety Code. [Note]
Chapter 22A. Forest Conservation - Trees. [Note]
Chapter 23. RESERVED*
Chapter 23A. Group Homes. [Note]
Chapter 23B. Financial Assistance to Nonprofit Service Organizations. [Note]
Chapter 24. Health and Sanitation.
Chapter 24A. Historic Resources Preservation. [Note]
Chapter 24B. Homeowners' Associations. [Note]
Chapter 25. Hospitals, Sanitariums, Nursing and Care Homes. [Note]
Chapter 25A. Housing, Moderately Priced. [Note]
Chapter 25B. Housing Policy. [Note]
Chapter 26. Housing and Building Maintenance Standards.*
Chapter 27. Human Rights and Civil Liberties.
Chapter 27A. Individual Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 28. RESERVED.* [Note]
Chapter 29. Landlord-Tenant Relations. [Note]
Chapter 29A. Legislative Oversight.
Chapter 30. Licensing and Regulations Generally. [Note]
Chapter 30A. Montgomery County Municipal Revenue Program. [Note]
Chapter 30B. RESERVED*
Chapter 30C. Motor Vehicle Towing and Immobilization on Private Property. [Note]
Chapter 31. Motor Vehicles and Traffic.
Chapter 31A. Motor Vehicle Repair and Towing Registration. [Note]
Chapter 31B. Noise Control. [Note]
Chapter 31C. NEW HOME BUILDER AND SELLER REGISTRATION AND WARRANTY. [Note]
Chapter 32. Offenses-Victim Advocate. [Note]
Chapter 33. Personnel and Human Resources. [Note]
Chapter 33A. Planning Procedures. [Note]
Chapter 33B. Pesticides. [Note]
Chapter 34. Plumbing and Gas Fitting. [Note]
Chapter 35. Police. [Note]
Chapter 36. Pond Safety. [Note]
Chapter 36A. Public Service Company Underground Facilities.
Chapter 37. Public Welfare. [Note]
Chapter 38. Quarries. [Note]
Chapter 38A. Radio, Television and Electrical Appliance Installation and Repairs. [Note]
Chapter 39. Rat Control. [Note]
Chapter 40. Real Property. [Note]
Chapter 41. Recreation and Recreation Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 41A. Rental Assistance. [Note]
Chapter 42. Revenue Authority. [Note]
Chapter 42A. Ridesharing and Transportation Management. [Note]
Chapter 43. Reserved.*
Chapter 44. Schools and Camps. [Note]
Chapter 44A. Secondhand Personal Property. [Note]
Chapter 45. Sewers, Sewage Disposal and Drainage. [Note]
Chapter 46. Slaughterhouses.
Chapter 47. Vendors.
Chapter 48. Solid Waste (Trash). [Note]
Chapter 49. Streets and Roads.*
Chapter 49A. Reserved.*
Chapter 50. Subdivision of Land. [Note]
Chapter 51. Swimming Pools. [Note]
Chapter 51A. Tanning Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 52. Taxation.* [Note]
Chapter 53. TAXICABS.*
Chapter 53A. Tenant Displacement. [Note]
Chapter 54. Transient Lodging Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 54A. Transit Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 55. TREE CANOPY. [Note]
Chapter 56. Urban Renewal and Community Development. [Note]
Chapter 56A. Video Games. [Note]
Chapter 57. Weapons.
Chapter 58. Weeds. [Note]
Chapter 59. Zoning.
Part III. Special Taxing Area Laws. [Note]
Appendix
Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance (2014)
COMCOR - Code of Montgomery County Regulations
COMCOR Code of Montgomery County Regulations
FORWARD
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 1A. STRUCTURE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 2. ADMINISTRATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 2B. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 3. AIR QUALITY CONTROL - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 3A. ALARMS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 5. ANIMAL CONTROL - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8. BUILDINGS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8A. CABLE COMMUNICATIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 10B. COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 11. CONSUMER PROTECTION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 11A. CONDOMINIUMS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 11B. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 13. DETENTION CENTERS AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 15. EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 16. ELECTIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 17. ELECTRICITY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 18A. ENERGY POLICY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 19. EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 19A. ETHICS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 20 FINANCE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 21 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 22. FIRE SAFETY CODE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 22A. FOREST CONSERVATION - TREES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 23A. GROUP HOMES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 24. HEALTH AND SANITATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 24A. HISTORIC RESOURCES PRESERVATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 24B. HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 25. HOSPITALS, SANITARIUMS, NURSING AND CARE HOMES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 25A. HOUSING, MODERATELY PRICED - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 25B. HOUSING POLICY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 26. HOUSING AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE STANDARDS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 27. HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 27A. INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 29. LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 30. LICENSING AND REGULATIONS GENERALLY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 30C. MOTOR VEHICLE TOWING AND IMMOBILIZATION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31A. MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR AND TOWING REGISTRATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31B. NOISE CONTROL - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31C. NEW HOME BUILDER AND SELLER REGISTRATION AND WARRANTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 33. PERSONNEL AND HUMAN RESOURCES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 33B. PESTICIDES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 35. POLICE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 36. POND SAFETY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 38A. RADIO, TELEVISION AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 40. REAL PROPERTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 41. RECREATION AND RECREATION FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 41A. RENTAL ASSISTANCE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 42A. RIDESHARING AND TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 44. SCHOOLS AND CAMPS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 44A. SECONDHAND PERSONAL PROPERTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 45. SEWERS, SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND DRAINAGE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 47. VENDORS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 48. SOLID WASTES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 49. STREETS AND ROADS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 50. SUBDIVISION OF LAND - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 51 SWIMMING POOLS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 51A. TANNING FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 52. TAXATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 53. TAXICABS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 53A. TENANT DISPLACEMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 54. TRANSIENT LODGING FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 55. TREE CANOPY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 56. URBAN RENEWAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 56A. VIDEO GAMES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 57. WEAPONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 59. ZONING - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 60. SILVER SPRING, BETHESDA, WHEATON AND MONTGOMERY HILLS PARKING LOT DISTRICTS - REGULATIONS
MISCELLANEOUS MONTGOMERY COUNTY REGULATIONS
TABLE 1 Previous COMCOR Number to Current COMCOR Number
TABLE 2 Executive Regulation Number to Current COMCOR Number
TABLE 3 Executive Order Number to Current COMCOR Number
INDEX BY AGENCY
INDEX BY SUBJECT
County Attorney Opinions and Advice of Counsel
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Sec. 2-42B. Functions; Advisory Committee.
   (a)   Functions. The Department of Permitting Services is responsible for:
      (1)   reviewing building plans and specifications, building permits, occupancy permits, and licensing facilities for compliance with fire prevention law. In exercising these functions, the Director of Permitting Services may consult with the Fire Chief in all matters involving the interpretation, application, or revision of fire prevention laws and codes.
      (2)   code enforcement, inspection, and licenses (except where those functions are assigned by law to another department or agency), including:
         (A)   administering, interpreting, and enforcing the zoning law and other land use laws and regulations;
         (B)   administering, interpreting, and enforcing construction codes, and laws and regulations governing sediment control, stormwater management, floodplain management, special protection areas, and pond and excavation safety;
         (C)   issuing building, electrical, fire alarm, fire protection system, mechanical, stormwater discharge, and on-site water supply and sewage disposal permits;
         (D)   administering and enforcing agricultural preservation and historic resources laws and regulations; and
         (E)   administering and enforcing the fire safety code, pursuant to § 22-6(d).
   (b)   Advisory Committee.
      (1)   The County Executive must appoint, subject to confirmation by the Council, an Advisory Committee for the Department. The Committee consists of 11 voting members and 6 ex-officio, non-voting members. Each voting member must be appointed for a 3-year term and serves until a successor is confirmed. The Executive must from time to time designate one voting member as chair and one as vice-chair.
      (2)   Of the 11 voting members:
         (A)   5 must be members of the regional service center advisory boards, with one member from each center’s board;
         (B)   2 must be active members of civic organizations in the County;
         (C)   2 must be active members of environmental organizations in the County; and
         (D)   2 must be active in land development or related professions.
      (3)   The ex-officio, non-voting members must be nominated respectively by the Director of Environmental Protection, the Director of Housing and Community Affairs, the Director of Transportation, the Fire Chief, the Planning Board, and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
      (4)   The Committee must advise the Department on the performance of its functions and recommend to the Director, the Executive, and the Council any steps necessary to improve the Department’s performance. The Committee must meet at the call of the chair as often as required to perform its duties, but at least 4 times a year. Section 2-148(c) does not apply to ex-officio members. The Director must assign staff as the Committee needs to perform its duties. (1996 L.M.C., ch. 20, § 1; 1998 L.M.C., ch. 12, § 1; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 2002 L.M.C., ch. 16, §§ 1 and 2; 2008 L.M.C., ch. 5, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 30, § 1.)
   Editor’s note—See County Attorney Opinion dated 1/25/10 regarding the responsibilities of the Department of Permitting Services.
   2016 L.M.C., ch. 30, § 2, states: Transition.
   (a) Regulations. Any regulation in effect when this Act takes effect that implements a function transferred to the Department of Permitting Services or the Director of the Department of Permitting Services under Section 1 of this Act continues in effect, but any reference in any regulation to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services or the Fire Chief from which the function was transferred must be treated as referring to the Department of Permitting Services and the Director of the Department of Permitting Services to which the function is transferred. The transfer of a function under this Act does not affect any right of a party to any legal proceeding begun before this Act took effect.
   (b) Responsibilities and rights. Any responsibility or right granted by law, ordinance, regulation, delegation of authority, contract, or other document to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services or the Fire Chief in connection with a function, duty or authority transferred under Section 1 of this Act is transferred to the Department of Permitting Services and the Director of the Department of Permitting Services.
   2016 L.M.C., ch. 30, § 3, states: Expedited Effective Date. The Council declares that this legislation is necessary for the immediate protection of the public interest. This Act takes effect on the date on which it becomes law (September 28, 2016). The amendments made in Section 1 apply retroactively to July 1, 2016.
   2008 L.M.C., ch. 5, § 3, states: Sec. 3. Any regulation in effect when this Act takes effect that implements a function transferred to another Department or Office under Section 1 of this Act continues in effect, but any reference in any regulation to the Department from which the function was transferred must be treated as referring to the Department to which the function is transferred. The transfer of a function under this Act does not affect any right of a party to any legal proceeding begun before this Act took effect.
   2002 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 4, states: Of the voting members initially appointed to the Advisory Committee created by Section 2-42B, as amended by Section 1 of this Act: (a) 3 must be appointed to 1-year terms; (b) 4 must be appointed to 2-year terms; and (c) 4 must be appointed to 3-year terms.
Division 8. Department of Police.*
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   *Editor's note—A deputy sheriff is not a police officer for the purpose of workers' compensation presumption of occupational disease in accordance with Annotated Code of Maryland, art. 101, § 64A. Soper v. Montgomery County, 294 Md. 331, 449 A.2d 1158 (1982), (citing Code § 2-6(a), in accordance with Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 9-503 (1999) [formerly Md. Ann. Code art. 101, § 64A], and §§ 2-43, 35-3(b), 35-8, 35- 21(b)).
   Cross references—Police labor relations, § 33-75 et seq.; police, ch. 35.
Sec. 2-43. Organization and functions.
   (a)   The Department of Police includes the County police and the Office of County Security. The Department has the authority, functions and activities prescribed by law.
   (b)   The Department has five non-merit positions: four Assistant Chief of Police (Sworn) positions and one Assistant Chief of Police (Civilian) position.
   (c)   Any reference in this Code or in regulation or other document to “superintendent of police” or “superintendent” means “Executive Director of Police,” or “Chief of Police,” or “Executive Director”.
(Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 2-64; 1969 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 15; 1977 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 37, § 3; 1996 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 1; 2000 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 1; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 18, §1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 22, §1; 2021 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1; 2023 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1.)
   Editor's note—The above section is quoted in Soper v. Montgomery County, 294 Md. 331, 449 A.2d 1158 (1982). The above section, together with section 33-3, is cited in DiGrazia v. County Executive for Montgomery County, 43 Md. App. 580, 406 A.2d 660 (1979).
   See County Attorney Opinion dated 10/18/00 explaining that, with limited exceptions, the County does not have financial responsibility for the payment of a judgment or settlement of a tort action against the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff even if it arises out of an employment relationship.
   2000 L.M.C., ch. 6, §§ 2 and 3, state:
   Sec. 2. The Chief Administrative Officer must abolish the following occupational classes on the date that the County Council confirms the third Assistant Chief of Police: (a) police lieutenant colonel; and (b) police major. Until the classes are abolished, the Chief of Police must not appoint any other person to a position in these classes.
   Sec. 3. An employee of the Department of Police must not represent the Department or the County as an attorney in any administrative, quasi-judicial, or judicial proceeding.
   Cross reference-Department of Police established, § 1A-201(a).
Division 9. Department of Public Libraries.
Sec. 2-44. Reserved.
   Editor's note-Section 2-44, establishing the Department of Public Libraries and providing for the appointment of a director, derived from Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 2-50, and 1969 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 9, was repealed by 1986 L.M.C., ch. 37, § 4. The department is now established in § 1A-201(a), and the office of director is established in § 1A-202(a).
Sec. 2-45. Powers, duties and functions.
   The department of public libraries shall have the function of administering a county public library system with a central book depository, branches and stations, and bookmobile services for rural areas not adequately served by such branches and stations. Such branches and stations may be established and maintained in public schools and other public buildings in the county with the consent of the governmental authorities having jurisdiction over such buildings and in such other buildings as the council may provide. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 2-51.)
Sec. 2-46. Library board-Established; composition; term of members.
   There is a Montgomery County Library Board composed of 13 members appointed by the Executive from the county at large, including 1 member recommended by Montgomery College, subject to the confirmation of the Council. The supervisor of school libraries is an ex officio member of the board. A member is appointed for a term of 3 years. A member appointed to fill a vacancy before a term expires serves the rest of the unexpired term. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 2-52; 1968 L.M.C., Ex. Sess., ch. 10, § 1; 1969 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 10; 1975 L.M.C., ch. 33, § 1; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 51, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 12, § 1.)
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