Development Review Process

The City of Rockville’s review process of proposed developments ensures they comply with the city’s regulations, including those for land uses, engineering, utilities, transportation, stormwater management, tree preservation, adequate facilities, and public art.

The process is intended to help ensure the health and welfare of residents and achieve high-quality development that complies with the design regulations of the Rockville City Code and addresses the needs of the surrounding community. These procedures govern all development projects, except single-unit, detached residences. More information on the development review process can be found in the Development Review Procedures Manual.

Developers should visit the Apply for Planning, Forestry, or Historic District Review page to find the relevant applications for their projects. Use our address finder at www.rockvillemd.gov/services to determine if the property is within Rockville city limits. If the property is not within city limits, but is located within the city’s maximum expansion limits, the developer can apply for an annexation petition.

Phases

The development review process includes four phases: pre-application, application, public meeting, and decision. As outlined in the Zoning Ordinance, city staff review applications for compliance, and surrounding neighborhoods, property owners, and businesses review and comment on proposed plans.

Review Levels

The Zoning Ordinance outlines three levels of development review based on the project’s size and potential impact. Each project is assigned points based on acreage, number of dwelling units, square footage of non-residential space, residential area impact, and traffic impact. Depending on the number of points earned, a project will require one of the following levels of review:

• Site Plan Level 1: Review by the chief of zoning.
• Site Plan Level 2: Review by the Planning Commission at one meeting.
• Project Plan: Review by the Planning Commission and Mayor and Council at three meetings: one for an initial briefing of both, one for review and recommendation by the Planning Commission, and one for review and action by the Mayor and Council.

Public Meetings

The development review process requires that neighborhood area meetings be conducted for certain types of development applications. Depending on the type of application, two area meetings may be required. The pre-application area meeting is intended to introduce a proposed project to the neighborhood prior to a formal project application submittal to the city, while the post-application area meeting allows for a neighborhood to review formal application materials submitted to the city.

Due to the nature of pre-application area meetings, city staff are not always informed of them until after they occur and are unable to provide reliable advanced notice of their scheduling. Staff do attend post-application area meetings, however, to respond to questions about the application review process and timing. View instructions on how to attend virtual meetings.

Community members can get involved by attending public meetings held by developers and the city’s Mayor and Council, Planning Commission, Historic District Commission, Board of Appeals, and Development Review Committee to learn more, ask questions, and express opinions about potential projects. Visit the Development Watch page for status updates on major development projects in the city.

Additional Requirements

Each new development in Rockville must meet additional requirements, including for adequate public facilities, transportation, forest and tree preservation, and publicly accessible art.

Adequate Public Facilities Standards

New developments are required to perform studies to determine if the capacity of certain public facilities could accommodate new development and redevelopment.

Comprehensive Transportation Review

The Comprehensive Transportation Review provides technical guidelines to analyze and report the effects of new development on transportation facilities.

Forest and Tree Preservation

The preservation of Rockville’s urban forests should be considered at the earliest stages of development.

Publicly Accessible Art in Private Development Program

Most private development projects within the city must include an expenditure for a publicly accessible art project.