Council Approved

Table of Contents
Article 59-1. general zoning ordinance
provisions

article 59-3. Uses and Use Standards

Division 3.1. Use Table

Division 1.1. In General

Section 3.1.1. Key to Use Table .................................................................31

Section 1.1.1. Citation................................................................................11

Section 3.1.2. Use Classifications.............................................................31

Section 1.1.3. Severability.........................................................................11

Section 3.1.3. Uses Listed as Accessory .................................................. 32

Section 3.1.4. Temporary Uses................................................................. 32

Division 1.2. purpose

Section 3.1.5. Transferable Development Rights....................................33

Section 1.2.1. Purpose of Chapter 59....................................................... 12

Section 3.1.6. Use Table............................................................................ 35

Division 1.3. Applicability

Division 3.2. Agricultural Uses

Section 1.3.1. Applicability........................................................................13

Section 3.2.1. Agricultural Auction Facility..........................................312

Section 1.3.2. Nonapplicability to Certain Municipalities.......................13

Section 3.2.2. Agricultural Processing.................................................312

Section 1.3.3. Annexations........................................................................13

Section 3.2.3. Community Garden . .........................................................312

Section 3.2.4. Equestrian Facility .......................................................... 313

Division 1.4. Defined Terms

Section 1.4.1. Rules of Interpretation.................................................... 14

Section 3.2.5. Farm Supply or Machinery Sales, Storage, and

Service...............................................................................314

Section 1.4.2. Specific Terms and Phrases Defined................................. 14

Section 3.2.6. Farming.............................................................................315

Section 3.2.7. Nursery ............................................................................315
Section 3.2.8. Slaughterhouse...............................................................316

Article 59-2. zones

Section 3.2.9. Urban Farming..................................................................316

Division 2.1. Zones Established

Section 3.2.10. Winery.............................................................................316

Section 2.1.1. Requirements for All Zones............................................. 21

Section 3.2.11. Accessory Agricultural Uses......................................... 317

Section 2.1.2. Zoning Categories............................................................. 2 1

Section 3.2.12. Temporary Agricultural Uses........................................318

Section 2.1.3. Establishment of Zones.................................................... 2 1

Division 3.3. Residential Uses
Division 2.2. Zoning Map

Section 3.3.1. Household Living..............................................................319

Section 2.2.1. Zoning Maps....................................................................... 2 5

Section 3.3.2. Group Living..................................................................... 320

Section 2.2.2. Location and Boundaries of Zones................................. 25

Section 3.3.3. Accessory Residential Uses............................................ 324

Section 2.2.3. Zone Boundary Interpretation........................................ 26

Section 2.2.4. Zoning and Development within Rights-of-Way............. 26
Section 2.2.5. Zones Retained from Previous Ordinance ...................... 27
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Division 3.4. Civic and Institutional Uses

Division 3.6. Industrial Uses

Section 3.4.1. Ambulance, Rescue Squad (Private).................................333

Section 3.6.1. Animal Research Facility................................................. 369

Section 3.4.2. Charitable, Philanthropic Institution............................333

Section 3.6.2. Contractor Storage Yard............................................... 369

Section 3.4.3. Cultural Institution........................................................334

Section 3.6.3. Dry Cleaning Facility ...................................................... 369

Section 3.4.4. Day Care Facility...............................................................335

Section 3.6.4. Manufacturing and Production.................................... 369

Section 3.4.5. Educational Institution (Private)...................................336

Section 3.6.5. Mining, Excavation...........................................................370

Section 3.4.6. Hospital............................................................................338

Section 3.6.6. Transportation................................................................ 371

Section 3.4.7. Playground, Outdoor Area (Private)..............................339

Section 3.6.7. Utilities............................................................................. 373

Section 3.4.8. Private Club, Service Organization.................................339

Section 3.6.8. Warehouse........................................................................ 375

Section 3.4.9. Public Use (Except Utilities).............................................339

Section 3.6.9. Waste-Related..................................................................376

Section 3.4.10. Religious Assembly.........................................................339

Section 3.4.11. Swimming Pool (Community)........................................... 340

Division 3.7. Miscellaneous Uses

Section 3.7.1. Noncommercial Kennel....................................................378

Division 3.5. Commercial Uses

Section 3.7.2. Solar Collection System.................................................378

Section 3.5.1. Animal Services.................................................................341

Section 3.5.2. Communication Facility....................................................343

Section 3.7.3. Wildlife, Game Preserve, and Other Conservation

Areas.................................................................................378

Section 3.5.3. Eating and Drinking..........................................................347

Section 3.7.4. Accessory Miscellaneous Uses.......................................379

Section 3.5.4. Funeral and Interment Services.....................................347

Section 3.5.5. Landscape Contractor.................................................... 349
Section 3.5.6. Lodging............................................................................ 349
Section 3.5.7. Medical and Dental..........................................................350
Section 3.5.8. Office and Professional..................................................351
Section 3.5.9. Parking............................................................................. 352
Section 3.5.10. Recreation and Entertainment......................................353
Section 3.5.11. Retail Sales and Service.................................................357
Section 3.5.12. Vehicle/Equipment Sales and Rental............................ 360
Section 3.5.13. Vehicle Service................................................................361
Section 3.5.14. Accessory Commercial Uses.......................................... 364
Section 3.5.15. Temporary Commercial Uses..........................................367

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Article 59-4. Development Standards for

Euclidean Zones
Division 4.1. Rules for All Zones
Section 4.1.1. Development Options........................................................ 41
Section 4.1.2. Compliance Required ........................................................ 41
Section 4.1.3. Building Types in the Agricultural, Rural Residential,
and Residential Zones ...................................................... 42
Section 4.1.4. Building Types Allowed by Zone in the Agricultural,
Rural Residential, and Residential Zones ...................... 43
Section 4.1.5. Building Types in the Commercial/Residential,
Employment, and Industrial Zones .................................. 44
Section 4.1.6. Building Types Allowed by Zone in the Commercial/
Residential, Employment, and Industrial Zones ............ 45
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Section 4.1.7. Measurement and Exceptions .......................................... 46

Division 4.5. Commercial/ Residential Zones

Section 4.1.8. Compatibility requirements ........................................... 410

Section 4.5.1. Intent Statements............................................................475

Section 4.5.2. Density and Height Allocation.......................................475

Division 4.2. Agricultural Zone

Section 4.5.3. Standard Method Development......................................477

Section 4.2.1. AR Zone............................................................................ 412

Section 4.5.4. Optional Method Development..................................... 481

Division 4.3. Rural Residential Zones

Division 4.6. Employment Zones

Section 4.3.1. Standard Method Development..................................... 416

Section 4.6.1. Intent Statements........................................................... 482

Section 4.3.2. Optional Method Development...................................... 416

Section 4.6.2. Density and Height Allocation...................................... 482

Section 4.3.3. R Zone................................................................................417

Section 4.6.3. Standard Method Development..................................... 483

Section 4.3.4. RC Zone......................................................................... ...419

Section 4.6.4. Optional Method Development..................................... 494

Section 4.3.5. RNC Zone....................................................................... ...423

Division 4.7. Optional Method Public Benefits
Division 4.4. Residential Zones

Section 4.7.1. General Provisions......................................................... 496

Section 4.4.1. Standard Method Development......................................427

Section 4.7.2. Public Benefit Overview.................................................. 496

Section 4.4.2. Optional Method Development..................................... 428

Section 4.7.3. Public Benefit Descriptions and Criteria....................... 497

Section 4.4.3. Historic Districts............................................................ 429

Section 4.4.4. RE-2 Zone......................................................................... 430

Division 4.8. Industrial Zones

Section 4.4.5. RE-2C Zone....................................................................... 432

Section 4.8.1. Intent Statements..........................................................4102

Section 4.4.6. RE-1 Zone......................................................................... 436

Section 4.8.2. Density and Height Allocation.....................................4102

Section 4.4.7. R-200 Zone ....................................................................... 440

Section 4.8.3. Standard Method Development....................................4102

Section 4.4.8. R-90 Zone........................................................................ 444

Section 4.4.9. R-60 Zone........................................................................ 449

Division 4.9 Overlay Zones

Section 4.4.10. R-40 Zone....................................................................... 454

Section 4.9.1. In General.......................................................................4105

Section 4.4.11. TLD Zone..........................................................................457

Section 4.9.2. Burtonsville Employment Area (BEA) Overlay Zone...4105

Section 4.4.12. TMD Zone....................................................................... 460

Section 4.4.13. THD Zone........................................................................ 463

Section 4.9.3. Chevy Chase Neighborhood Retail (CCNR) Overlay

Zone................................................................................ 4106

Section 4.4.14. R-30 Zone....................................................................... 466

Section 4.9.4. Community-serving Retail (CSR) Overlay Zone............4107

Section 4.4.15. R-20 Zone........................................................................ 469

Section 4.9.5. Fenton Village (FV) Overlay Zone................................ 4108

Section 4.4.16. R-10 Zone.........................................................................472

Section 4.9.6. Garrett Park (GP) Overlay Zone.................................. 4109

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Section 4.9.7. Germantown Transit Mixed Use (GTMU) Overlay

Zone.................................................................................4110

Division 5.3. Commercial/Residential Floating Zones

Section 4.9.8. Regional Shopping Center (RSC) Overlay Zone............4110

Section 5.3.2. Purpose...............................................................................57

Section 4.9.9. Ripley/ South Silver Spring (RSS) Overlay Zone...........4112

Section 5.3.3. Land Uses............................................................................57

Section 4.9.10. Rural Village Center (RVC) Overlay Zone..................4112

Section 5.3.4. Building Types Allowed......................................................57

Section 4.9.11. Sandy Spring/ Ashton Rural Village (SSA) Overlay

Zone..............................................................................4114

Section 5.3.5. Development Standards....................................................57

Section 4.9.12. Takoma Park/ East Silver Spring Commercial

Revitalization (TPESS) Overlay Zone..........................4116

Division 5.4. Employment Floating Zones

Section 5.3.1. Zones...................................................................................57

Section 5.4.1. Zones.................................................................................. 59

Section 4.9.13. Transferable Development Rights (TDR) Overlay

Zone............................................................................... 4117

Section 5.4.2. Purpose.............................................................................. 59

Section 4.9.14. Twinbrook (TB) Overlay Zone......................................4120

Section 5.4.3. Land Uses........................................................................... 59

Section 4.9.15. Upper Paint Branch (UPB) Overlay Zone....................4120

Section 5.4.4. Building Types Allowed.................................................... 59

Section 4.9.16. Upper Rock Creek (URC) Overlay Zone........................4121

Section 5.4.5. Development Standards................................................... 59

Article 59-5. Floating Zone Requirements

Division 5.1. In General
Section 5.1.1. Zone Categories................................................................. 51
Section 5.1.2. Intent Statement............................................................... 51
Section 5.1.3. Applicability....................................................................... 51
Section 5.1.4. Approval............................................................................ 53
Section 5.1.5. Special Provisions for Properties In a Zone
Under Article 59-8............................................................. 53
Division 5.2. Residential Floating Zones
Section 5.2.1. Zones.................................................................................. 54
Section 5.2.2. Purpose.............................................................................. 54
Section 5.2.3. Land Uses........................................................................... 54
Section 5.2.4. Building Types.................................................................... 55

Division 5.5. Industrial Floating Zones

Section 5.5.1. Zones.................................................................................511
Section 5.5.2. Purpose.............................................................................511
Section 5.5.3. Land Uses..........................................................................511
Section 5.5.4. Building Types Allowed....................................................511
Section 5.5.5. Development Standards..................................................511

Article 59-6. General Development Requirements

Division 6.1. Site Access
Section 6.1.1. Intent................................................................................. 61
Section 6.1.2. Applicability....................................................................... 61
Section 6.1.3. General Access Requirements.......................................... 61
Section 6.1.4. Driveway Access................................................................ 61

Section 5.2.5. Development Standards................................................... 55

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Division 6.2. Parking, Queuing, and Loading

Division 6.5. Screening Requirements

Section 6.2.1. Intent................................................................................. 62

Section 6.5.1. Intent............................................................................... 628

Section 6.2.2. Applicability...................................................................... 62

Section 6.5.2. Applicability..................................................................... 628

Section 6.2.3. Calculation of Required Parking..................................... 62

Section 6.5.3. Screening Requirements................................................. 6 28

Section 6.2.4. Parking Requirements...................................................... 65

Section 6.2.5. Vehicle Parking Design Standards..................................611

Division 6.6. Outdoor Display and Storage

Section 6.2.6. Bicycle Parking Design Standards..................................613

Section 6.6.1. Intent............................................................................... 632

Section 6.2.7. Queuing Design Standards............................................. 615

Section 6.6.2. Applicability.................................................................... 632

Section 6.2.8. Loading Design Standards............................................. 615

Section 6.6.3. Design Standards............................................................ 6 32

Section 6.2.9. Parking Lot Landscaping and Outdoor Lighting.......... 616

Division 6.7. Signs
Division 6.3. Open Space and recreation

Section 6.7.1. Intent............................................................................... 634

Section 6.3.1. Intent............................................................................... 618

Section 6.7.2. Applicability..................................................................... 634

Section 6.3.2. Applicability..................................................................... 618

Section 6.7.3. Exempt Signs.................................................................... 634

Section 6.3.3. Allowed and Prohibited Features in Open Space........... 618

Section 6.7.4. Prohibited Signs.............................................................. 635

Section 6.3.4. Rural Open Space............................................................. 619

Section 6.7.5. Measurements................................................................. 636

Section 6.3.5. Common Open Space.......................................................... 621

Section 6.7.6. Permanent Signs, In General.......................................... 638

Section 6.3.6. Public Open Space............................................................ 622

Section 6.7.7. Agricultural and Rural Residential Zones................... 639

Section 6.3.7. Amenity Open Space.......................................................... 622

Section 6.7.8. Residential Zones............................................................ 639

Section 6.3.8. Open Space Landscaping and Outdoor Lighting............ 623

Section 6.7.9. Commercial/Residential, Employment, and

Industrial Zones.............................................................. 640

Section 6.3.9. Recreation Facilities....................................................... 623

Section 6.7.10. Urban Renewal Areas.................................................... 642

Division 6.4. General Landscaping and Outdoor Lighting

Section 6.7.11. Limited Duration Signs.................................................. 642

Section 6.4.1. Intent............................................................................... 624

Section 6.7.12. Temporary Signs ............................................................ 6 43

Section 6.4.2. Applicability.....................................................................624

Section 6.4.3. General Landscaping Requirements.............................. 624

Division 6.8. Alternative Compliance

Section 6.4.4. General Outdoor Lighting Requirements.................... 626

Section 6.8.1. Alternative Method of Compliance................................ 644

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Article 59-7. Administration and Procedures

Division 7.6. Special Provisions

Division 7.1. Review Authority and Approvals Required

Section 7.6.1. Board of Appeals................................735

Section 7.1.1. In General...........................................................................71

Section 7.6.2. Hearing Examiner.............................................................735

Section 7.1.2. Overview of Review and Approval Authority...................71

Section 7.6.3. Planning Board................................736

Section 7.1.3. Overview of Approvals Required.........72

Section 7.6.4. Sign Review Board........................737

Section 7.6.5. Fees.........................................................737

Division 7.2. District Council Approvals

Section 7.2.1. Local Map Amendment.............................73

Division 7.7. Exemptions and Nonconformities

Section 7.2.2. Corrective Map Amendment.................77

Section 7.7.1. Exemptions....................................739

Section 7.2.3. Sectional and District Map Amendment......78

Section 7.7.2. nonconforming use....................................................741

Section 7.2.4. Zoning Text Amendment..........79

Division 7.3. Regulatory Approvals

Division 7.8. Violations, penalties, and enforcement

Section 7.8.1. Generally...........................................................................742

Section 7.3.1. Conditional Use ..................711

Section 7.3.2. Variance.............718
Section 7.3.3. Sketch Plan .719
Section 7.3.4. Site Plan.........722
Division 7.4. Administrative Approvals
Section 7.4.1. Building Permit...........728
Section 7.4.2. Use-and-Occupancy and Temporary Use Permits.....728
Section 7.4.3. Sign Permit...729
Section 7.4.4. Sign Variance............731
Division 7.5 Notice Standards
Section 7.5.1. Notice Required..........732
Section 7.5.2. Notice Specifications...............................................733

article 59-8. Zones retained from previous

ordinance
Division 8.1. In General
Section 8.1.1. Applicability ...................................................................... 81
Section 8.1.2. Modification of Zones...................................................... 81
Division 8.2. Residential Floating zones
Section 8.2.1. Zones Established............................................................. 82
Section 8.2.2. Purpose and Intent........................................................... 82
Section 8.2.3. Use Table for the RT and R-H Zones ................................ 83
Section 8.2.4. RT General Zone Requirements and Development
Standards ......................................................................... 86
Section 8.2.5. R-H General Zone Requirements and Development
Standards.......................................................................... 88

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Division 8.3. Planned Development Zones

Section 8.3.1. Zones Established........................................................... 810
Section 8.3.2. PD Zone............................................................................ 810
Section 8.3.3. T-S Zone.............................................................................8 15
Section 8.3.4. PNZ Zone...........................................................................817
Section 8.3.5. PRC Zone.......................................................................... 8 19
Section 8.3.6. PCC Zone.......................................................................... 822

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