Mayor and Council Adopt Zoning Ordinance Rewrite and Map Amendment
August 31, 2026
Rockville’s Mayor and Council voted unanimously in June to adopt the city’s zoning ordinance rewrite and comprehensive map amendment.
The new zoning ordinance took effect Saturday, Aug. 1. The vote marks the completion of a multiyear effort to modernize city regulations to meet the changing living, working and recreational trends of the community in the 21st century.
The rewrite follows the adoption of Rockville 2040, the city’s comprehensive plan, and is intended to implement the plan’s land use and zoning recommendations. The accompanying map amendment updates the zoning map to reflect those recommendations, including changes tied to Rockville 2040 and the adopted Town Center Master Plan.
The project began in 2023 and included review by the Mayor and Council and Planning Commission through work sessions, public hearings, comments from community members – including city boards and commissions, and broad community outreach.
The adopted ordinance makes zoning rules clearer, easier to use and better aligned with current planning practices. It improves the development review and permitting process, supports a broader range of housing options, and incorporates equity, resilience and sustainability throughout.
For more information, including a look at the process leading to adoption, project materials and text of the new zoning ordinance, visit engagerockville.com/zoningrewrite.