Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Chevy Chase Village, Maryland

Town of Chevy Chase Village’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, material alterations, replacements or additions inside Chevy Chase Village town, in addition to any county permit.

  • Applies only where a village building permit is required; the village may issue a courtesy permit when no village permit is needed.
  • Having a county permit does not guarantee a village permit; the village code may be more restrictive.
  • Permit requirements for fences, driveways, air conditioners, dumpsters and drainage are set out separately in the village code and the 2022 guide.

  “must first obtain any required county permit and then any required village building permit as provided in sec. 8-5.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Chevy Chase Village town limits. The village's own zoning regulations and municipal code govern lots in addition to any county rules.

  • Village staff review village zoning regulations, some unique to the village, at the pre-design review meeting.
  • Village regulations may be more restrictive than county regulations; a county permit does not guarantee a village permit.
  • Recorded covenants and easements may also apply and are kept in Montgomery County land records, not by the village.

  “village zoning regulations, some of which are unique to the village;”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Front setback for structures on lots in Chevy Chase Village town (the village's residential lots; Sec. 8-16 applies to residential construction).

  • Exceptions: one flagpole up to 15 feet high at least 15 feet from the front lot line; handrails on steps where the village manager finds them required for safety; one lamp post up to 10 feet high complying with Sec. 8-21.
  • Recorded covenants and easements can impose stricter setback lines; the village says the most restrictive rule applies.

  front setback: >= 25 feet (flagpole, handrails and lamp post exceptions under Sec. 8-16(c))

  “no structure of any description shall be erected within twenty-five (25) feet of the front lot line of any lot, except that:”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Total lot coverage on any residentially zoned lot in Chevy Chase Village town.

  • Lot coverage counts buildings, accessory buildings and raised structures (covered and uncovered porches, balconies, decks, steps, stoops, bay and bow windows). It excludes eaves, gutters and similar overhangs, and features that are not raised such as walkways, patios, terraces, driveways, swimming pools and tennis courts (Sec. 8-1 definitions).
  • Special permit or variance procedures in Sec. 8-9 and Sec. 8-11 were not opened and may modify this limit.

  maximum lot coverage, residentially zoned lot: <= 35 percent

  “the lot coverage on any residentially zoned lot shall not exceed thirty-five (35) percent.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Detached garages and other accessory buildings on lots in Chevy Chase Village town; accessory buildings may only be erected in the rear yard.

    “the combined lot coverage of all accessory buildings shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the rear yard.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Main buildings on residential lots in Chevy Chase Village town.

  • Gable, hip, mansard and gambrel roofs: main building may not exceed 30 feet measured to the mean height between the eaves and ridge (Sec. 8-16(n)(2)).
  • Flat roofs: main building may not exceed 30 feet measured at the roof surface (Sec. 8-16(n)(3)).
  • Side wall plate height within 12 feet of a side lot line is limited to 21 feet (Sec. 8-16(l)(4)); see code for further limits.

  main building height, measured to highest point of roof surface: <= 35 feet (see flat-roof and mean-height limits in conditions) · main building height, flat roof: <= 30 feet

  “the height of a main building shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet when measured to the highest point of the roof surface regardless of roof type.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Village building and land-disturbing permits for projects inside Chevy Chase Village town.

  • Begins with a pre-design review meeting (PDRM) application; the village manager can then issue a municipality letter to county DPS.
  • Courtesy permits are available when the village needs no permit but alerts neighbors and code enforcement.
  • Contact: village office, 5906 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD 20815, 301-654-7300, [email protected].

  “the following is a sequential overview of the village's permitting and inspection process.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Chevy Chase Village

Town of Chevy Chase Village 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)

  New construction, material alterations, replacements and additions to buildings and structures inside Chevy Chase Village town only; the Montgomery County building code applies there as a county ordinance.

  • The village code applies in addition to, and not in lieu of, its own Chapter 8 provisions and the building restrictions in deeds of conveyance.
  • Adoption is by Montgomery County ordinance; the village code does not re-adopt the building code itself.

  “the building code of montgomery county, maryland, shall be applicable in the village as a county ordinance and shall be in addition to and not in lieu of the specific provisions of this chapter”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Chevy Chase Village town.
• Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Chevy Chase Village town.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new or altered homes in Chevy Chase Village town.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Chevy Chase Village town.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Chevy Chase Village 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.