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Planning on doing work in your front yard?

One of the most frequent questions received by the department is in regards to paving work in the front yard of single family homes. Whether the work involves expanding an existing driveway or adding a walkway, the following guidelines are important to keep in mind.

Do small paving jobs require a permit?
No. Typical paving jobs on single family residential lots do not require a building permit.

If there are no permits required, what do I need to be aware of?
Even though a permit isn't required, the City still has regulations governing the amount of front yard area that can be covered by "impervious surface" material. Impervious surface is any material that prevents, or severely restricts, water from absorbing into the soil. Impervious surfaces include driveways, sidewalks, open porches and compacted gravel areas.

How does the City define "front yard"?
By definition the front yard is the "open space" between the front lot line and the building. Note that the front lot line normally coincides with the street right-of-way. The street right-of-way usually extends several feet beyond the curb to accommodate utilities and sidewalks. It is possible for a lot to have more than one front yard. In the case where a lot abuts two streets ("corner" lot and "through" lot) both property lines abutting the street are considered to be a front yard.

What are the front yard regulations?
The City regulates the amount of impervious surface that you may have in your front yard. The allowed amount is expressed in terms of a percentage of your total front yard area. The percentages allowed are based upon the zoning district of your property as follows:

• R-400 - 10%
• R-200- 20%
• R-150 - 25%
• R-90 - 30%
• R-75 - 35%
• R-60 - 40%
• R-40 - 45%
• Lincoln Park Conservation District = 40%
• Note: The maximum impervious limits for front yards on corner lots are ½ of the allowances shown above. Additionally, stormwater management approval is required from the Department of Public Works if a residential lot (containing a house) creates/replaces 2,000 square feet of impervious area.

How wide can my driveway be?
The City's zoning ordinance requires a minimum driveway width of 10 feet, but doesn't establish a maximum width for single-unit residential dwellings. However the front yard impervious surface regulations discussed above will dictate how much of your front yard can be used for driveway surface. Please note that any work within the public right-of-way, including driveway aprons, will require a permit from the Department of Public Works.

What happens if I exceed the amount of impervious surface allowed in the front yard?
An excess of allowed impervious surface would be treated as a violation of the Zoning Ordinance and could result in the issuance of a citation.

How can I be certain that I'm not exceeding my front yard allowance?
It is always recommended that you check with the City prior to starting any work and ensure that what you are doing is consistent with all regulations. The fact that a building permit is not required does not necessarily mean that there are not regulations governing the work being proposed.

Staff from the Community Planning and Development Services Department is available to address any questions that you may have. The public information counters are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Inspection Services and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Planning and Zoning. Additionally you can reach the department by phone at 240-314-8200, or by email at cpds@rockvillemd.gov.

The City's website is a great resource for permit and zoning information as well.