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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]
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. 19-3. Application for permit.
   (a)    An application for a permit must be filed on forms approved by the Department and include:
      (1)   all information required by the Department, including identity of property owner, developer of the property, and land-disturbing activity to be performed;
      (2)   written permission from the owner for agents of the Department to enter the property specified in the application for inspection and enforcement under this Chapter;
      (3)   all required fees;
      (4)   all related soil erosion and sediment control plans; and
      (5)   any required financial security.
   (b)    A separate permit is required for each site.
   (c)    A sediment control permit is transferable.
   (d)    A permit must not be issued for land disturbance associated with building or development that is not permitted by applicable zoning, special exceptions, and variances.
   (e)   A permit must not be issued to a person who must comply with Chapter 22A until a final forest conservation plan is approved and any required financial security is provided. However, a permit may be issued before a final forest conservation plan is approved if the land-disturbing activity is specified on the approved preliminary plan of subdivision, preliminary forest conservation plan, project plan, development plan, sketch plan, floating zone plan, or approved plan amendment. Any land-disturbing activity must comply with all terms and conditions of the permit.
   (f)   The Department must issue a permit to an applicant if the application and plans comply with this Chapter, applicable regulations, and the Standards and Specifications.
   (g)    A sediment control permit must not be issued for any grading or land-disturbing activity that is located in or within 25 feet of a 100-year floodplain if the activity requires and has not received a floodplain district permit under Article III. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 45, § 1; 1989 L.M.C., ch. 39, § 3; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 8, § 1.)
   Editor’s note—Former Section 19-3A, Permit limitations, derived from 1990 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1; 1992 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1, was repealed by 2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
Sec. 19-4. Variances.
   The Department may only grant a variance from the requirements of the Standards and Specifications when strict adherence will result in exceptional hardship and not achieve the purposes of this Article. The applicant must submit a written request for a variance to the Department. The request must specify the variance sought and the reasons to allow it. The Department must not grant a variance unless the unique circumstances of the site justify the variance. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 45, § 1; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
Sec. 19-4A. Review and approval of erosion and sediment control plans.
   (a)   The Department must review each erosion and sediment control plan to determine compliance with this Chapter and the Standards and Specifications before the plan can be approved. In approving a plan, the Department may impose conditions necessary to ensure compliance with this Chapter and state law and to protect public health and safety.
   (b)   The review and approval process must be part of the comprehensive and integrated plan approval process described in state law.
   (c)   A concept plan must at least include the mapping of natural resources and sensitive areas, including highly erodible soils and slopes greater than 15%. If these areas would not remain undisturbed, either the concept or site development plan must describe any enhanced protection strategy for these areas during construction.
   (d)   A site development plan application must include all concept plan information and indicate how any proposed erosion and sediment control practice will be integrated with any proposed stormwater management practice. The stormwater management practice must be shown through a narrative and an overlay plan showing both environmental site design and any erosion and sediment control practice. An applicant should submit an initial sequence of construction and proposed project phasing to achieve the grading unit restriction. If the Director approves, the concept plan and site development plan may be combined.
   (e)   An applicant must submit a final erosion and sediment control plan to the Department for review and approval. The plan must include all information required by the concept plan and site development plan and any relevant information not already submitted.
   (f)   A final erosion and sediment control plan is not approved until the Department signs and dates the plan. (2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
Sec. 19-5. Modifications of plans.
   (a)    Any major modification of an approved plan must be submitted to the Department and processed in the same manner as the original plan, where:
      (1)   field inspection or evaluation of the plan has revealed the inadequacy of the plan to accomplish erosion and sediment control objectives; or
      (2)   the person responsible for carrying out the approved plan finds that, because of changed circumstances or for other reasons, the approved plan cannot be effectively carried out.
   (b)    The Department may, in emergency situations and at its discretion, require the installation of interim erosion and sediment control measures to protect stream channels, other properties, or the general public from damage, that will remain in effect until modifications or revisions to the plan are approved and implemented.
   (c)    The Department may allow a minor field modification if the modification is consistent with this Chapter, regulations, and state law. The Department must establish a list of allowable field modifications, subject to approval by the Administration.
   (d)    If a violation of the limits of disturbance shown on the approved plan involves removal or damage to trees, the permittee must obtain and implement an approved reforestation plan from the Planning Board. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 45, § 1; 1992 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
Sec. 19-5A. Contents of an erosion and sediment control plan.
   (a)   An applicant is responsible for submitting an erosion and sediment control plan that meets the requirements of the Department, this Chapter, and state law. The plan must include sufficient information to evaluate the environmental characteristics of the affected area, the potential impacts of the proposed grading on water resources, and the effectiveness and acceptability of any measure proposed to minimize soil erosion and off-site sedimentation.
   (b)   An applicant must at least submit:
      (1)   a letter of transmittal and/or application;
      (2)   the name, address, and telephone number of:
         (A)   the owner of the property where the grading is proposed;
         (B)   the developer; and
         (C)   the applicant;
      (3)   a vicinity map indicating north arrow, scale, site location, and other information necessary to easily locate the property;
      (4)   a drainage area map at 1" = 200' minimum scale, showing existing, interim, and proposed topography, any proposed improvement, standard symbols for proposed sediment control features, and pertinent drainage information, including provisions to protect downstream areas from erosion for at least the closer of 200 feet downstream or the next conveyance system;
      (5)   the location of any natural resource, wetland, floodplain, highly erodible soil, slopes 15% and steeper, and any other sensitive area;
      (6)   a general description of the predominant soil types on the site, as described in appropriate soil survey information available through the local soil conservation district or the USDA Natural Resources Soil Conservation Service;
      (7)   any proposed stormwater management practice;
      (8)   an erosion and sediment control plan, including:
         (A)   the existing topography and improvements, and any proposed topography and improvements, at a scale between 1" = 10' and 1' = 50' with 2 foot contours or another approved contour interval. For any project with more than minor grading, interim contours may also be required;
         (B)   scale, project and sheet title, and north arrow on each plan sheet;
         (C)   the limit of disturbance (LOD), including:
            (i)   limit of grading (grading units, if applicable);
            (ii)   initial, interim, and final phases; and
            (iii)   staging and stockpile areas, including those on existing impervious areas;
         (D)   the proposed grading and earth disturbance, including:
            (i)   total disturbed area;
            (ii)   volume of cut and fill quantities; and
            (iii)   volume of borrow and spoil quantities;
         (E)   any storm drainage feature, including:
            (i)   any existing or proposed bridge, storm drain, culvert, or outfall;
            (ii)   velocities and peak flow rates at outfalls for 2-year and 10-year frequency storm events; and
            (iii)   site conditions around points of all surface water discharge from the site;
         (F)   any erosion and sediment control practice to minimize on-site erosion and prevent off-site sedimentation, including:
            (i)   salvage and reuse of topsoil;
            (ii)   phased construction and implementation of a grading unit to minimize disturbance, both in extent and duration;
            (iii)   the location and type of any proposed sediment control practice;
            (iv)   design details and data for any erosion and sediment control practice; and
            (v)   any specification for any temporary and permanent stabilization measure, including:
               1.   the “Standard Stabilization Note” on the plan stating:
            “Following initial soil disturbance or re-disturbance, permanent or temporary stabilization must be completed within:
                  a.   3 calendar days as to the surface of any perimeter dike, swale, ditch, perimeter slope, and any slope steeper than 3 horizontal to 1 vertical (3:1); and
                  b.   7 calendar days as to any other disturbed or graded area on the project site not under active grading.”;
               2.   any detail for an area requiring accelerated stabilization; and
               3.   any maintenance requirement under state law;
         (G)   a sequence of construction describing the relationship between the implementation and maintenance of any control, including permanent and temporary stabilization, and the stages or phases of each disturbance and construction. The Department must approve any revision to the sequence of construction before construction begins. The sequence of construction must include:
            (i)   a request for a pre-construction meeting with the appropriate enforcement authority;
            (ii)   clearing and grubbing as necessary to install perimeter controls;
            (iii)   construction and stabilization of perimeter control;
            (iv)   remaining clearing and grubbing within installed perimeter controls;
            (v)   road grading;
            (vi)   grading for the rest of the site;
            (vii)   utility installation and connections to each existing structure;
            (viii)   construction of any building, road, and other construction;
            (ix)   final grading, landscaping, and stabilization;
            (x)   installation of any stormwater management measure;
            (xi)   approval of the appropriate enforcement authority before removing any sediment control; and
            (xii)   removal of any control and stabilization of any area that is disturbed by the removal of a sediment control;
         (H)   a statement requiring the permittee to contact the Department at the following stages of the project or as required in the approved erosion and sediment control plan, grading permit, or building permit;
            (i)   before beginning any earth disturbance;
            (ii)   after completing the installation of any perimeter erosion and sediment control, but before any other earth disturbance or grading;
            (iii)   before beginning another phase of construction or opening of another grading unit; and
            (iv)   before removing any sediment control practice;
         (I)   certification by the permittee that any clearing, grading, construction, or development will be done as required by the approved erosion and sediment control plan. The certification must also require that the responsible personnel involved in the construction project have earned a Certificate of Training at a training program approved by the state Department of the Environment for the control of erosion and sediment before beginning the project; and
         (J)   certification by a professional engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect, architect, certified professional in erosion and sediment control, or forester (for forest harvest operations only) registered in the State, that the plan complies with erosion and sediment control laws, regulations, and standards, if required by the Department or the Administration; and
      (9)   any additional information or data that the Department specifies. (2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
Sec. 19-5B. Standard erosion and sediment control plan.
   (a)   The Department may adopt a standard erosion and sediment control plan for any activity with minor earth disturbance, such as a single-family residence, small commercial or other similar building site, minor maintenance grading, and minor utility construction.
   (b)   A standard erosion and sediment control plan must meet the requirements of this Chapter and state law.
   (c)   The state Department of the Environment must approve a standard plan before the Department adopts it. (2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
Sec. 19-6. Fees.
   The County Executive, by Method 3 regulation, may establish, increase, or decrease permit and inspection fees and set nonrefundable fee schedules for filing, additional submissions, and permit renewals in an amount that does not exceed the reasonable cost of administering and enforcing this Chapter. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 20; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 45, § 1; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)
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