Montgomery County, MD Parking Regulations, Summer, 2012

Montgomery County, MD Parking Regulations

Being Good Neighbors:
Maintaining the Residential Character of County Neighborhoods

Montgomery County laws are designed to help protect our residential neighborhoods.

The following information is extracted from the Montgomery County, MD website.

Home-Based Businesses - County residents can operate businesses out of their homes- subject to certain restrictions.

There are three types of home-based businesses allowed: no-impact (which don't need to register with the county), registered (which need a permit from the Department of Permitting Services), and medical practitioners (must also register.) The person who performs the occupation must live in the house. On-site employees are limited to one in a 24-hour period. The number of visits to a no-impact business is limited to five customers/clients a week. A registered business is allowed no more than five customers/clients a day or 20 a week.

The on-site parking for home occupations is limited to two spaces. Lawn maintenance companies operating as home occupations are allowed only one single-axle trailer or truck at a time.

Parking for Heavy Commercial and Recreational Vehicles - Heavy commercial vehicles and recreational vehicles are prohibited from parking on residential streets, except temporary parking for loading and unloading.

Heavy commercial vehicles are defined as follows: a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds; a manufacturer's rated capacity of more than one ton; more than 21 feet long (including any object loaded onto the vehicle); or are more than eight feet high (including racks, but not antennas). These vehicles are prohibited from parking off-street in residential neighborhoods.

Recreational vehicles include motor homes and trailers, including those used to transport other leisure equipment. One recreational vehicle per household can be parked off-street on available surfaced area in residential neighborhoods.

Parking Off-Street - Vehicles parked in front yards must be on surfaced areas. There is an off street parking limit of one light commercial vehicle. Inoperable or unregistered vehicles are not allowed anywhere on the property.

Paving Front Yards - In R-200, R-150 and R-90 residential zones, County residents can pave no more
than 30 percent of their front yards or 320 square feet - whichever is greater. In R-40 and R-60 residential zones, the limit is 35 percent of their front yard or 320 feet, whichever is greater. On major streets, the
limit is 50 percent - or 320 square feet. No more than one vehicle may be parked for every 160 square feet of paved surface. Any surfaced area paved before October 26, 2010 does not have to be removed if the paved area is not increased. However, the occupants must comply with the new law's parking limitations effective October 24, 2011.

How Are These Laws Enforced? - Enforcement is primarily by complaint. Home occupations, the paving of front yards and off-street parking issues are the responsibility of the Department of Permitting Services. Unregistered and inoperable vehicle issues are handled by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs. On-street parking complaints fall to the Police Department.

Typically, for Permitting Services and Housing & Community Affairs, an inspector investigates the complaint and issues a Notice of Violation if he or she finds just cause. If the violation is not corrected and/or dismissed within 30 days, a citation may be issued accompanied by a $500 fine. On-street parking violators can be ticketed by the Police.

If you have questions please call the Customer Service Center at 311 (when calling from within the County) or 240-777-0311 (when calling from outside the County).

If you live in the Kentlands area, you should know that a parking enforcement vehicle patrols the area and issues tickets for violations.  If your contractor has a truck parked in front of your home, you may wish to advise the driver not to leave the vehicle over night.

During the summer months, the parking is limited in the Kentlands club house, pools and tennis courts areas.  You may be happier to park a block away rather than receiving a parking ticket or having your automobile towed.

Better yet, leave your car in the garage and walk to your destination.  You might even enjoy a photowalk through your community enjoy the blooming flowers.  If you are out walking, you are more likely to meet your neighbors.

Watermelon Gerbera Daisy, Kentlands, Spring Flowers IMG_0660

Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

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