A. Defined
Equestrian Facility means any structure or land that is used primarily for the care, breeding, boarding, rental, riding, or training of horses or the teaching of equestrian skills. Equestrian Facility includes events such as competitions, exhibitions, or other displays of equestrian skills.
B. Use Standards
1. Where an Equestrian Facility is allowed as a limited use, it must satisfy the following standards:
a. The minimum gross acreage per horse is as follows:
i. for 1-2 horses, 2 acres;
ii. for 3-10 horses, one acre per horse; and
iii. for more than 10 horses, 10 acres plus an additional one-half acre for each horse over 10.
b. In the RNC zone, a maximum of 5 horses is allowed.
c. In the RE-2, RE-2C, RE-1, and R-200 zones, a maximum of 5 horses are allowed if the following standards are satisfied:
i. The horses are kept for non-commercial purposes. Commercial purposes include boarding horses not owned by the resident for a fee, instruction in equestrian skills for a fee, and events such as competitions, exhibitions, or other displays of equestrian skills.
ii. The maximum number of horses is determined by the minimum lot sizes in Section 3.2.4.B.1.a.
iii. State requirements for nutrient management concerning animal waste must be met.
d. Any Equestrian Facility that keeps or boards more than 10 horses must meet all nutrient management, water quality, and soil conservation standards of the County and State. A nutrient management plan prepared by a qualified professional and a soil conservation and water quality plan prepared by the Montgomery Soil Conservation District Board must be submitted through a letter of certification by the landowner to DPS, or other relevant agency. Enforcement of the nutrient management, water quality, and soil conservation plans is the responsibility of the State of Maryland. The landowner must obtain all plans within one year after starting operations.
e. Each building, show ring, paddock, outdoor arena, and manure storage area must be located at least 100 feet from any existing dwelling on an abutting property.
f. Amplified sound must satisfy Chapter 31B.
g. Any outdoor arena lighting must direct light downward using full cutoff fixtures; producing any glare or direct light onto nearby properties is prohibited. Illumination is prohibited after 10:00 p.m. on Friday or Saturday, and after 9:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.
h. Equestrian events are restricted as follows:
Site Requirements | Hours of Operation | Number of Participants and Spectators | ||||
Su-Th | Fr-Sa | Event | Informal Event | Minor Event | Major Event | |
0-25 | 26-50 | 51-150 | 151-300 | |||
Up to 17.9 acres | 6am-9pm | 6am-10pm | Unlimited on any day | None | None | None |
18 - 24.9 acres | 6am-9pm | 6am-10pm | Unlimited on any day | Unlimited on Sat, Sun and holidays; maximum of 6 weekdays per month | None | None |
25 - 74.9 acres | 6am-9pm | 6am-10pm | Unlimited on any day | Unlimited on Sat, Sun and holidays; maximum of 6 weekdays per month | Maximum of 7 per year | None |
75+ acres and direct access to a roadway with an Area Connector or higher classification | 6am-9pm | 6am-10pm | Unlimited on any day | Unlimited on Sat, Sun and holidays; maximum of 6 weekdays per month | Maximum of 7 per year | Maximum of 3 per year lasting up to 3 consecutive days each |
i. A permit must be obtained from DPS for each event involving between 151 and 300 participants and spectators, per day. The applicant must specify the nature of the event, the anticipated attendance of spectators and participants, the number of days the event will take place, the hours during which the event will take place, the area to be used for parking, any traffic control measures intended to be put in place, and any other information determined by DPS to be relevant to the issuance of the permit. A fee for issuance of the permit may be set by DPS.
j. An Equestrian Facility conditional use application may be filed with the Hearing Examiner to deviate from any limited use standard regarding: number of participants and spectators; number of events each year; event acreage; or hours of operation.
2. Where an Equestrian Facility is allowed as a conditional use, it may be permitted by the Hearing Examiner under all applicable limited use standards, Section 7.3.1, Conditional Use, and the following standards:
a. If the subject lot abuts property in the AR zone, screening under Division 6.5 is not required.
b. In the AR, R, RC, and RNC zones:
i. The Equestrian Facility must not adversely affect abutting land uses or the surrounding road network.
ii. In evaluating the compatibility of an Equestrian Facility on the surrounding land uses, the Hearing Examiner must consider that the impact of an agricultural use on surrounding land uses in an Agricultural or Rural Residential zone does not necessarily need to be controlled as stringently as the impact in a Residential zone.
c. In the RE-2, RE-2C, RE-1, and R-200 zones:
i. Any Equestrian Facility on less than 5 acres must establish through a pasture maintenance plan, feeding plan, and any other documentation the Hearing Examiner requires, that the site contains sufficient open pasture to ensure proper care of the horses and proper maintenance of the site.
ii. The Hearing Examiner may limit or regulate more stringently than limited use standards the following:
(a) the number of horses that may be kept or boarded;
(b) the number of horses that may be rented out for recreational riding or instruction;
(c) the number and type of equestrian events that may be held in a one-year period; and
(d) the hours of operation of any equestrian event or activity.
iii. The facility operator must satisfy the state requirements for nutrient management concerning animal waste.
(Legislative History: Ord. No. 19-39, § 3; Ord. No. 20-09, § 3.)