Certain County regulations are designed to improve the environment through a focus on energy conservation and protecting natural resources.

• Commercial Building Energy Benchmarking – requires building owners to benchmark the energy use of nonresidential buildings in the County that are 50,000 square feet and greater.  
• DEP Development Review Process – requires a property owner, developer, or builder to demonstrate that each building requiring sanitary service will have both an adequate fresh water supply and a wastewater disposal system.
• Special Protection Areas – development within special protection areas is subject to strict requirements to reduce threats to resources and features of these areas.
• Stormwater Management – The Department of Environmental protection (DEP) is the lead agency for projects to reduce stormwater runoff impacts.  The Water Quality Protection Charge is assessed to all property owners and is calculated based on the potential for a property to contribute to stormwater runoff.

The County develops and enforces regulations related to businesses engaged in providing food & beverages and health care services.

• Alcohol Enforcement – ensures businesses with alcohol licenses are in compliance with laws and regulations.
• Ban on Polystyrene Products –   limits the use and sale of certain polystyrene products in Montgomery County, and requires the use of either recyclable or compostable food service products when serving or providing food for on- or off-site consumption. 
• Environmental Health – enforcement of regulations associated with the operation of all licensed food service facilities.
  • Menu Labeling – requires chain eating and drinking establishments (with at least 20 locations nationally), to post the calories of each standardized menu item on the meu or menu board and provide additional written nutrition information to a consumer upon request.
  • Smoking – enforcement of regulations associated with smoking.
  • Trans Fat – enforcement of the county’s regulations on the use of artificial trans fat by eating and drinking establishments.
  • Vector Control (Rats) – enforces the regulations associated with the elimination and control of rats.
• Farmers Market Sampling – guidelines for vendors selling food products at Farmers Markets
• Health care – enforcement of local, state and federal regulations relating to resident(s) rights, quality of care and quality of life in nursing homes and large and small assisted living facilities.
  • Domiciliary Care – ensures the protection of the public health and quality of care through a program of inspection and investigation of licensed health care facilities, such as nursing homes and large and small assisted living facilities under State of Maryland regulations.
  • Group Home – enforcement of regulations related to the licensing of group homes.
  • Hospital – enforcement of regulations related to the licensing of hospitals.

  • Nursing Home – requires a license from the both the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Health Care Quality and Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.

• Tobacco Enforcement – compliance with Montgomery County's Distribution of Tobacco Products to Minors and Tobacco Products Placement laws.

• Earned Sick and Safe Leave – most employers in Montgomery County are required to provide paid time off that can be used for purposes defined by law.

• Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law (Ban the Box) – restricts when during the application process certain employers can inquire about someone’s criminal history.

• Certified Food Service Manager – Montgomery County Code 15-8(b)(2) states a licensee must not operate a food service facility unless the facility is under the immediate control of a Certified Food Service Manager.

  • Food Allergen Awareness and Training –  Eating and drinking establishments, which are required to be under the immediate control of a certified food service manager, must have on the premises at all times when food is being prepared or served, an employee who has completed a food allergen awareness training course and passed a test as required by this Regulation to protect the health of County residents.

• Maryland Minimum Wage and Overtime Law (Montgomery County) – requires certain employers in Montgomery County to pay a set minimum wage. 

• Taxicabs – Montgomery County regulates and licenses taxicab service.

• Motor Vehicle Towing & Immobilization on Private Property – limits some practices that have led to the predatory towing of vehicles parked on private properties.

Through regulation and code enforcement, the County ensures public health and safety and supports community goals for land use

• Department of Permitting Services (DPS) – ensures compliance with Montgomery County's development and construction standards. Visit the DPS web site for detailed information in addition to the helpful links provided here:
  • Montgomery County Building Codes and Standards
    • Montgomery County Code Chapter 8 - Buildings - Regulations
  • Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance
  • Fire Code Compliance Brochure
• Development Review – ensures proposed developments meet County code, master plans, development standards, policies and procedures.
• Streetlights: New Installations – procures and guidelines for installation of streetlights.
• Temporary Traffic Controls – provide direction for motorists and pedestrians when temporary work activities (road construction, maintenance, utility work and roadway incidents) interfere with normal traffic flow. 
• Zoning – Montgomery County and jurisdictions throughout the country use zoning as part of an overall approach to strategically regulating land use. Use the County's interactive digital zoning map to look up zoning information.
  • Development Standards

Businesses that are interested in providing goods and services as contractors for Montgomery County should familiarize themselves with the procurement requirements.

Procurement Laws & Regulations – information on the Montgomery County Procurement Code & Regulations is available on the help page of the Office of Procurement web site. 

Compliance Programs – vendors should be aware of the various programs designed to ensure compliance with specific procurement programs.

• Wage Requirements Law – ensures workers on County funded projects receive livable wages.
• Prevailing Wage – the prevailing wage be paid to workers on County financed construction contracts.

Laws reflect the values of the community and define expectations for businesses engaged in certain activities.

• Air Quality Law – helps protect indoor and outdoor air quality in Montgomery County.
• Carryout Bag Law – requires retail establishments to charge customers 5 cents if they choose to use a paper or plastic bag at checkout.
• Landlord-Tenant – assistance to both tenants and landlords in resolving disputes and enforcing County law that governs landlord-tenant relations.  
• Lawn Care Laws – the use of fertilizer and pesticides on lawns in Montgomery County are regulated by the Maryland Fertilizer Law and the Montgomery County Lawn Care Law.
• Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) Program – inclusionary zoning laws require that a percentage of housing units in residential developments be made available for moderate-income households.
• Noise Law – minimizes noise that affects residents and businesses in Montgomery County.
• Recycling – Businesses in Montgomery County are required to recycle.
• Residential neighborhoods – laws designed to preserve the quality of life in Montgomery County neighborhoods.
• Traffic Mitigation Plans (TMP) – County law requires employers with 25 or more full- or part-time employees in a transportation management district to submit a Transportation Mitigation Plan, participate in the annual commuter survey and submit an annual report of activities.
• Tree Laws – help protect and enhance trees and forests in Montgomery County.
  • Tree Canopy Law – applies to development that requires a sediment control permit, Tree Canopy Law applies.
  • Street Trees – activities such as pruning, disturbing, remove or planting trees in the public rights-of way are subject to Montgomery County Roadside Tree Law and the Maryland Roadside Tree Law.