Below
are brief explanations of each zoning code used in Montgomery
County. The full text of the Montgomery
County Zoning Ordinance can be seen online by clicking here.
CURRENT ZONE CODE DIRECTORY
ZONE |
GENERAL AREA AND/OR DENSITY REQUIREMENTS* |
| Agricultural Zones |
| RURAL |
Rural Zone |
minimum
net lot area: 5 acres |
| RC |
Rural Cluster |
minimum net lot area: 5 acres |
| RC |
Low Density Cluster Option |
minimum
net lot area: 40,000 sq.ft. |
| RDT |
Rural Density Transfer Zone |
minimum
net lot area: 40,000 sq.ft. |
| RNC |
Rural Neighborhood Cluster |
minimum
net lot area: 25,000 sq.ft. |
| RNC |
Rural Neighborhood Cluster: Optional Method |
minimum tract area: 10 acres, maximum 1.22 dwelling units/gr. acre |
| RNC/TDR |
Rural Neighborhood Cluster/Transferable Development Rights: Standard Method |
minimum net lot area: 25,000 sq.ft. |
| RNC/TDR |
Rural Neighborhood Cluster/Transferable Development Rights: Optional Method |
minimum net lot area: 4,000 sq.ft. detached, 3,500 sq.ft. semi-detached; maximum 1.22 dwelling units/gross acre |
| RS |
Rural Service Zone |
minimum
net lot area: 2 acres |
| LDRCDZ |
Low Density Rural Cluster Development Zone |
minimum
net lot area: 5 acres |
| LDRCDZ |
Cluster Option |
minimum net
lot area: 40,000 sq.ft. |
|
| Residential Zones |
| RE-2 |
One-Family detached |
minimum net lot area: 2 acres |
| RE-2/TDR |
Optional Method |
maximum 4 dwelling units/acre |
| RE-2C |
One-Family |
minimum net lot area: 2 acres |
| RE-2C/TDR |
Optional Method |
maximum 2 dwelling units/acre |
| RE-1 |
One-Family |
minimum net
lot area: 40,000 sq.ft.
|
| RE-1/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 2 dwelling units/acre |
| R-200 |
One-Family |
minimum net lot area: 20,000 sq.ft. |
| R-200/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 11 dwelling units/acre |
| R-150 |
One-Family |
minimum net lot area: 20,000 sq.ft. |
| R-150/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 6 dwelling units/acre |
| R-90 |
One-Family |
minimum net lot area: 9,000 sq.ft. |
| R-90/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 28 dwelling units/acre |
| R-60 |
One-Family |
minimum net lot area: 6,000 sq.ft. |
| R-60/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 28 dwelling units/acre |
| R-40 |
One-Family |
minimum net lot area: 6,000 sq.ft. detached; 4,000 sq. ft. semidetached; 8,000 sq.ft. 2-family |
| RMH |
Planned mobile home parks |
minimum tract area: 15 acres, maximum of 7 dwelling units/acre (of usable area) |
| RMH-200 |
One-Family/mobile homes |
minimum tract area: 5 acres, minimum net lot area : 20,000 sq.ft. |
| RT-6 |
Townhouse |
minimum tract area: 20,000 sq.ft.; 6 dwellings units/acre |
| RT-8 |
Townhouse |
minimum tract area: 20,000 sq.ft.; 8 dwellings units/acre |
| RT-10 |
Townhouse |
minimum tract area: 20,000 sq.ft.; 10 dwellings units/acre |
| RT-12.5 |
Townhouse |
minimum tract area: 20,000 sq.ft.; 12.5 dwellings units/acre |
| RT-15 |
Townhouse |
minimum tract area: 40,000 sq.ft.; 15 dwellings units/acre |
| R-4PLEX |
Fourplex |
minimum tract area: 20,000 sq.ft.; 12.5 dwellings units/acre |
| R-30 |
Multiple-Family |
minimum
net lot area: 12,000 sq. ft.; 3,000 sq.ft./dwelling |
| R-30/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 40 dwelling units/acre |
| R-20 |
Multiple-Family |
minimum
net lot area: 16,000 sq. ft.; 2,000 sq.ft./dwelling |
| R-20/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 50 dwelling units/acre |
| R-10 |
Multiple-Family |
minimum
net lot area: 20,000 sq. ft.; 1,000 sq.ft./dwelling |
| R-10/TDR |
Transferable Development Rights - Optional Method |
maximum 100 dwelling units/acre |
| R-H |
Multiple-Family, High-Rise Planned Residential |
minimum
net lot area: 40,000 sq. ft. (1,000-1400 sq.ft./dwelling) |
|
| Commercial Zones |
| C-T |
Commercial, Transitional |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.5 (new construction) |
| O-M |
Office Building,Moderate Intensity |
maximum
floor area ratio: 1.5 |
| C-O |
Commercial, Office Building |
floor area ratio: 1.5 (up to 3 with site plan) |
| C-P |
Commercial, Office Park |
minimum tract area: 5 acres; minimum net lot area: 2 acres |
| C-1 |
Convenience Commercial |
maximum tract area: 15 acres |
| C-2 |
General Commercial |
maximum
floor area ratio: 1.5 (up to 2.5 if only 1.0 is commercial located or ground floor) |
| C-2 |
Transit |
minimum tract area: 40,000 sq.ft.; maximum floor area: 2.0 |
| C-3 |
Highway Commercial |
n/a |
| C-4 |
Limited Commercial |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.25 |
| C-5 |
Low Density, Office Commercial |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.25 |
| C-6 |
Low
Density, Regional Commercial |
minimum tract area: 40 acres; maximum floor area ratio: 0.25 - 0.5 |
| H-M |
Hotel
- Motel |
minimum tract area: 2 acres; maximum floor area ratio: 1.0 |
| C-INN |
Country
Inn Zone |
minimum
net lot area: 2 acres |
|
| Industrial Zones |
| I-1 |
Light
Industrial |
n/a |
| I-2 |
Heavy Industrial |
n/a |
| I-3 |
Technology
& Business Park |
minimum tract area: 2 - 20 acres; minimum net lot area: 2 acres; maximum floor area ratio: 0.5 - 0.6 |
| I-3 |
Optional |
minimum tract area: 2 - 20 acres; maximum 8 - 12.5 dwelling units/acre |
| I-4 |
Low
Intensity, Light Industrial |
minimum tract area: 2 - 10 acres; minimum net lot area: 1 acre; maximum floor area ratio: 1.0 |
| R&D |
Research
and Development |
minimum net lot area: 2 acres; maximum floor area ratio: 0.3 - 0.5 |
| LSC |
Life
Sciences Center |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.3 - 0.5 |
|
| Central Business District Zones |
| CBD-0.5 |
Central
Business District 0.5 |
minimum lot area: 18,000 sq. ft. (optional method); non-residential floor area ratio: 0.5 |
| CBD-R1 |
Central
Business District, Residential, 1.0 |
minimum lot area: 18,000 sq. ft. (optional method); non-residential floor area ratio: 1.0 |
| CBD-R2 |
Central
Business District, Residential, 2.0 |
minimum lot area: 18,000 sq. ft. (optional method); non-residential floor area ratio: 1.0 |
| CBD-1 |
Central
Business District 1.0 |
minimum lot area: 18,000 sq. ft. (optional method); non-residential floor area ratio: 1.0 |
| CBD-2 |
Central
Business District 2.0 |
minimum lot area: 18,000 sq. ft. (optional method); non-residential floor area ratio: 2.0 |
| CBD-3 |
Central
Business District 3.0 |
minimum lot area: 18,000 sq. ft. (optional method); non-residential floor area ratio: 3.0 |
|
| Planned Unit Development Zones |
| PD |
Planned Development
All Planned Development categories must meet one of five criteria for minimum area |
| PD-2 |
Low |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 2 du/a |
| PD-3 |
Low |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 3 du/a |
| PD-4 |
Medium low |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 4 du/a |
| PD-5 |
Medium low |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 5 du/a |
| PD-7 |
Medium low |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 7 du/a |
| PD-9 |
Medium |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 9 du/a |
| PD-11 |
Medium |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 11 du/a |
| PD-13 |
Medium |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 13 du/a |
| PD-15 |
Medium high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 15 du/a |
| PD-18 |
Medium high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 18 du/a |
| PD-22 |
Medium high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 22 du/a |
| PD-25 |
Medium high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 25 du/a |
| PD-28 |
High |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 28 du/a |
| PD-35 |
High |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 35 du/a |
| PD-44 |
High |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 44 du/a |
| PD-60 |
Urban high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 60 du/a |
| PD-68 |
Urban high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 68 du/a |
| PD-75 |
Urban high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 75 du/a |
| PD-88 |
Urban high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 88 du/a |
| PD-100 |
Urban high |
minimum: 2 dwelling units/acre;
maximum: 100 du/a |
| TS |
Town Sector |
minimum
tract area: 1500 acres;
maximum 15 persons/acre |
| PN |
Planned Neighborhood |
1-15 persons/acre; "as would house not fewer than 450 children of elementary school age" |
| PRC |
Planned Retirement Commununity |
minimum tract area: 25 acres; maximum 10 dwelling units/acre
(age-restricted); maximum 6 dwelling units/acre (non age-restricted) |
| MXN |
Mixed Use Neighborhood Zone |
minimum tract area: 20 acres; |
| MXPD |
Mixed Use Planned Development |
minimum tract area: 20 acres; maximum 44 dwelling units/acre in residential areas; 75 du/a in commercial areas |
| PCC |
Planned Cultral Center |
minimum tract area: 5 acres |
|
| Transit Station Development Zones |
| TS-R |
Transit Station, Residential |
maximum area: 18,000 sq. ft.; maximum floor area ratio: 2.5 |
| TS-M |
Transit Station, Mixed |
maximum area: 40,000 sq. ft.; maximum floor area ratio: 3.0 |
|
| Residential Mixed Use Zones |
| RMX-1 |
Community Center |
must comply with optional or standard methods of R-200 zone |
| RMX-1/TDR |
Residential-Mixed Use Community Center/Transferrable
Development Rights |
maximum 11 dwelling units/acre |
| RMX-2 |
Speciality Center |
must comply with optional or standard methods of R-200 zone |
| RMX-2/TDR |
Residential-Mixed Use Speciality Center/Transferrable
Development Rights |
maximum 11 dwelling units/acre |
| RMX-2C |
Speciality Center,
Commercial Base |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.3 |
| RMX-2C/TDR |
Speciality Center,
Commercial Base/Transferrable
Development Rights |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.3 |
| RMX-3 |
RegionalCenter |
must comply with optional or standard methods of R-200 zone |
| RMX-3/TDR |
Residential-Mixed Use Regional Center/Transferrable
Development Rights |
maximum 11 dwelling units/acre |
| RMX-3C |
Regional Center,
Commercial Base |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.3 |
|
| Mixed Use Town Center Zones |
MXTC
MXTC/TDR |
|
Standard: maximum 8 dwelling units/acre; .35 FAR
Optional: maximum 20 dwelling units/acre; 1.0 FAR |
|
| Mineral Resource Zones |
| MRR |
Mineral Resource Recovery Zone; with minerals |
n/a |
| MRR |
Mineral Resource Recovery Zone; without minerals |
n/a |
|
| Transit Oriented, Mixed Use Zones |
| TOMX |
Standard |
maximum floor area ratio: 0.5 |
| TOMX |
Optional |
minimum net lot area: 18,000 sq. ft.; maximum floor area ratio: 2.0 |
| TOMX/TDR |
Transferrable
Development Rights/Standard |
not using TDR: maximum 20 dwelling units/acre and 0.5 floor area ratio. Using TDR: additional 20% for both |
| TOMX/TDR |
Transferrable
Development Rights/Optional |
minimum net lot area: 18,000 sq. ft.;
Not using TCR: maximum 40 du/a and 1.6 FAR
Using TDR: additional 20% for both
|
|
| Overlay Zones |
| |
Retail preservation for the Wheaton CBD (1990) |
|
| |
Residential and open space preservation for Town of Garret Park (1993) |
|
| |
Retail preservation for Arlington Road District Bethesda CBD Sector Plan (1994) |
|
| |
Cherry Hill Road Employment Area of the Fairland Master Plan (1997) |
|
| |
Burtonsville Employment Area of Fairland Master Plan (1997) |
|
| |
Environmental Overlay Zone for Upper Paint Branch Special Protection Area (1997) |
|
| |
Chevy Chase comparison retail (1998) |
|
| |
Chevy Chase neighborhood retail preservation (1998) |
|
| |
Sandy Spring/Ashton Rural Village (1998) |
|
| |
Fenton Village |
|
| |
Ripley/South Silver Spring |
|
| |
Takoma Park/East Silver Spring commercial revitalization |
|
| |
Neighborhood retail |
|
| |
Rural Village Center |
|
| |
Environmental overlay zone for the Upper Rock creekSpecial Protection Area |
|
|
| * Please refer to the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance for detailed information. |
