Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Brookeville, Maryland

Town of Brookeville’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Brookeville town limits; the town administers its own zoning ordinance

  • The ordinance says it applies to all real property in the town. Its zones are HVR (Historic Village Residential) and HVC (Historic Village Commercial).

  “this ordinance applies to all real property in the town of brookeville, maryland.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Brookeville town limits

  • Section 10-105 adopts a zoning map titled 'zoning map of town of brookeville, maryland' dated 7/13/99. That map was not opened, so parcel-level zone assignments are not recorded here.

  “the town is hereby divided into the following zones: hvr - historic village residential hvc - historic village commercial”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  HVR (Historic Village Residential) district only, single-family detached dwellings inside Brookeville town

  • Density of not more than one dwelling unit per acre.
  • Section 10-302 allows a residential development on at least one acre with lots no less than 10,000 square feet, subject to planning commission approval.

  minimum lot area: >= 10000 square feet

  “1. minimum lot area:10,000 square feet 2. maximum building height”

• SetbacksSpecified

  HVR (Historic Village Residential) district only, main buildings inside Brookeville town

  • Accessory buildings may only be located in the side or rear yard and must be set back a minimum of two (2) feet from any property line.
  • The planning commission may approve exceptions at site plan review on a showing of good cause and a finding of compatibility with adjoining properties and historic patterns.
  • The building permit application says setbacks from property lines follow the town zoning ordinance.

  side yard setback: 8 feet · front yard setback: 15 feet · rear yard setback: 40 feet

  “3. setbacks: a. main buildings: i. side yard - eight (8) feet. ii. front yard - fifteen (15) feet. iii. rear yard - forty (40) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — HVC (Historic Village Commercial) district only, inside Brookeville town

    “(2)setbacks: all setbacks must demonstrate a compatible relationship to adjacent existing and proposed development.”

• Building heightSpecified

  HVR (Historic Village Residential) district only, inside Brookeville town

  • Height is measured per the ordinance definition (street grade to roof; mean height for gable, mansard or hip roofs).

  maximum building height, single-family dwelling: <= 35 feet · maximum building height, accessory building: <= 35 feet (or not taller than the primary structure)

  “2. maximum building height: a) single-family dwelling: 35 feet b) accessory building: 35 feet, or not taller than the primary structure.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — HVC (Historic Village Commercial) district only, inside Brookeville town

    “(1)building height: normally, 25 feet. at the time of site plan review, this may be increased to 35 feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units on lots in Brookeville town with an existing single-family detached dwelling

  • Must meet all other standards for accessory structures.
  • Rear and side setbacks are the same as other accessory structures in the zone.
  • Must have the same street address as the principal dwelling.
  • Occupants 18 years of age or older are limited to two.
  • Exempt from density calculation; the ordinance says construction is not restricted by any town ordinance intended to limit residential growth.

  adult occupants limit: <= 2 persons

  “an accessory dwelling unit is permitted on any lot with an existing single-family detached dwelling unit, provided it meets all other standards for accessory structures.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New residential development inside Brookeville town

  • Must comply with the Brookeville subdivision ordinance or get a planning commission waiver for good cause.
  • Residential development (HVR option) is capped at one lot per acre and needs at least one acre, lots of at least 10,000 square feet, and access to a public street.
  • The subdivision ordinance text itself was not opened.

  “all applications for new residential development must be submitted for subdivision and site plan review and approval by the planning commission on forms provided by the town.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications to the Town of Brookeville

  • The $25.00 non-refundable fee applies to all items other than new buildings and additions.
  • The town permit fee is paid with the application; fees may be paid by check or PayPal invoice.
  • Form updated 2025-08; no later fee schedule was found.

  permit fee, new buildings or additions: 0.5 USD per gross square foot (minimum filing fee $75; excludes unfinished basements and unfinished attic space) · minimum filing fee, new buildings or additions: >= 75 USD · fee, other items: 25 USD (non-refundable; not for new buildings or additions)

  “for all new buildings or additions, the permit fee is based on a rate of $.50 per gross square foot of the building (not including unfinished basements and unfinished attic space) with a $75 minimum filing fee.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications to the Town of Brookeville, reviewed by the Brookeville Planning Commission (BPC)

  • Submit plans electronically as PDF to [email protected]; a historic work area permit from the county HPC must accompany the form where needed.
  • Deadline is ten business days before a BPC meeting; late applications move to the next month's meeting.
  • Building permits are valid for 24 months after BPC approval and are non-transferable.
  • The form does not say whether a permit is required for each project type.

  permit validity: 24 months (from BPC approval)

  “the deadline to submit a building permit application for approval by the brookeville planning commission is ten (10) business days before a bpc meeting.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Brookeville

Town of Brookeville does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Brookeville town, as stated in the town's building permit application (Montgomery County codes apply)

  • Stated in the town's building permit application; the county code text itself was not opened.
  • The town does not restate the county code.

  “construction methods must conform to all montgomery county codes and are subject to inspection by the county.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction inside Brookeville town, per the town's building permit application

  • Stated in the town's application form; the county inspection process was not opened.

  “construction methods must conform to all montgomery county codes and are subject to inspection by the county.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Brookeville or Montgomery County directly.

• Building permit — Whether a building permit is required for each project type inside Brookeville town
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Brookeville town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Brookeville town
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Brookeville town
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Brookeville town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.