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

Village of North Chevy Chase’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Additions, alterations, new construction, repairs and improvements to structures inside North Chevy Chase village limits, under the village building permit in Code Chapter 3

  • Interior work does not need a village permit unless it is interior work for an accessory dwelling unit (Section 3-201(a)).
  • Ordinary repairs or maintenance are exempt as defined in Section 3-101(j) (Section 3-201(a)).
  • Emergency repairs may start before a permit, but a permit must be applied for as soon as possible (Section 3-201(b)).
  • Construction must also conform to applicable Montgomery County and Maryland zoning, building, electrical, WSSC and plumbing laws (Section 3-103).
  • No building permit application is processed until the non-refundable village fee is paid (Section 3-208).

  maximum fine for failure to apply for a permit: <= 500 USD

  “no person shall add to, erect, alter, construct, reconstruct, repair or improve any structure, make any excavation or temporarily close or block any street, sidewalk (including curbs and gutters) and/or public rights-of-way within the village prior to the issuance of a building permit pursuant to this chapter.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Detached accessory dwelling units only, inside North Chevy Chase village (not main dwellings)

  • Rear setback for a detached ADU is 20 feet (Section 3-206(a)).
  • Applies only to detached ADUs; main-building setbacks are not covered by this claim.

  detached ADU side setback: 15 feet (8 feet on one side)

  “the side setback requirement for a detached accessory dwelling unit is 15 feet, 8 feet on one side.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings containing an accessory dwelling unit, other than the main building, inside North Chevy Chase village

  • Height is measured from the average elevation of the ground along the front of the structure to the highest point of the roof surface or parapet (Section 3-206(b) definition).

  maximum height of ADU-containing non-main building: <= 20 feet

  “the height for any building containing an accessory dwelling unit, other than a main building, shall not exceed twenty (20) feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside North Chevy Chase village

  • An accessory dwelling unit building permit must be issued before construction, alteration, enlargement or conversion (Section 3-201(d)).
  • Interior construction for an ADU still needs the permit (Section 3-201(a)).
  • Detached ADU side setback is 15 feet, with 8 feet on one side (Section 3-206(a)); rear setback is 20 feet (Section 3-206(a)).
  • Height of a building containing an ADU, other than a main building, may not exceed 20 feet (Section 3-206(b)).

  “accessory dwelling units - no person shall construct, re-construct, erect, place, move, alter, repair, add to, enlarge, demolish, replace or remove any accessory dwelling unit, or to modify, convert, or renovate any existing structure, or any part thereof, into an accessory dwelling unit, prior to the issuance of an accessory dwelling unit building permit pursuant to this chapter.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside North Chevy Chase village
• Building code adopted — Which building code edition governs construction inside North Chevy Chase village
• Inspections — Village inspections of permitted work inside North Chevy Chase village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new or altered buildings inside North Chevy Chase village
• Local zoning — Whether North Chevy Chase village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside village limits

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.