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

Town of Poolesville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, or accessory-structure work inside Poolesville town limits: the Town's Zoning Code Compliance Permit is required first.

  • The zoning code compliance permit is a use certification and is issued subject to continued compliance with the Town zoning ordinance.
  • Also required for change of use, occupancy and use of vacant land or existing structures, fences, and temporary uses.
  • This record does not establish the building-code permit itself; see the county claim for the Montgomery County DPS plan submission.

  “construction, reconstruction, erection, extension, enlargement, conversion or structural alteration of any building, including accessory structures;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Poolesville town limits; the Town administers its own zoning ordinance (Appendix B, Zoning, of the Poolesville Code) rather than the county's Chapter 59.

  • Zoning is administered by the Town of Poolesville, including its own special exception process.
  • Individual use, dimensional and occupancy rules are in the Town zoning code, which was not read in full for this record (see unknown claims).

  “the town of poolesville controls its own zoning and manages its own special exception process.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Sewage disposal inside Poolesville town: the Town (commissioners and Town manager) controls septic and privy approvals; the county health department shares authority for temporary and disconnection work.

  • New septic, holding tanks, cesspools and privies are prohibited inside town limits (see prohibition claim).
  • Temporary privies and disconnection/sealing work need county health department involvement.
  • Section 16.29(a)(4) exempts replacement of a failed septic system from the new-system prohibition; who issues that replacement permit was not confirmed.

  “however, portable temporary privies or other means of temporary sewage disposal for use on construction projects, special events, and similar uses may be installed and used subject to permission of the commissioners of poolesville and the county department of health or its successor.”

• Septic permitLimited

  New septic systems, holding tanks, cesspools and privies on any property inside Poolesville town limits

  • Replacement of a failed septic system is not deemed a new septic system under the same section.
  • Portable temporary privies for construction projects and special events may be used with Town commissioner and county health permission.
  • Section 16.29(b) allows a written waiver application to the commissioners; waiver terms were not read.

  “no new septic system, holding tank, cesspool or privy shall be constructed on a property located within the municipal boundaries of the town of poolesville.”

• Off-grid sanitationProhibited

  New off-grid sewage disposal (septic, holding tank, cesspool or privy) on any property inside Poolesville town limits

  • Replacement of a failed septic system is not a new system.
  • Temporary privies for construction and special events are allowed with Town and county health permission.

  “no new septic system, holding tank, cesspool or privy shall be constructed on a property located within the municipal boundaries of the town of poolesville.”

• Well permitLimited

  New private residential wells on any land inside Poolesville town limits

  • Only wells designated by the commissioners as public or municipal wells are allowed.
  • Replacement of a failed residential well is not deemed a new well.

  “no new wells shall be constructed on any land located within the municipal boundaries of the town of poolesville except those designated by the commissioners as public or municipal wells.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings inside Poolesville town that abut a street, alley or right-of-way with an existing public sanitary sewer

  • Connection is required within six (6) months after official notice from the Town.
  • Section 16.20(c) continues with an exception clause that was not read in full; exceptions are unverified.
  • Once a public sewer connection is available, existing septic systems, holding tanks, cesspools and privies must be condemned and abandoned (sec. 16.29(a)(3)).

  connection deadline after official notice: 6 months (exceptions in sec. 16.20(c) not read)

  “within six (6) months after date of official notice”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for permit work in Poolesville town
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Poolesville town
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Poolesville town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings in Poolesville town
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Poolesville 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.