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Development and Zoning

Apply for Planning, Forestry, or Historic District Review

As of July 1, 2025, the City of Rockville only accepts development review applications online through MGO Connect. Emailed applications, such as site plans, project plans, plats, special exceptions, variances, historic preservation, and others, will no longer be accepted. Review, markups, comments, and approval stamps will be made electronically.

MGO Connect features a customer dashboard that allows for online payment as well as convenient tracking of projects through the process. New users can create an account by visiting www.rockvillemd.gov/mgoconnect and clicking “New Account” in the top menu bar.

Development applications and requirements can be found below. If you are unsure of the application you need, view the Development Review Procedures Manual to learn more about the types of applications.

Developers may request a pre-development meeting to receive feedback on requirements and processes for development plans prior to submitting a formal development application.

View the Zoning and Development Application Fee Schedule for all application fees and view the Development Application Target Review Timeframes for typical review timeframes. Visit the Development Review Process page for more information.

Application Requirements

  • Completed application, plans, and supporting documents must be in PDF format. 
  • PDFs should be unlocked and fully editable. All digital signatures must be approved or flattened prior to submission so as not to interfere with the plan review code compliance markups on the plans. 
  • All plan pages must be combined into one document. Do not send separate documents for plans, specifications, and calculations. 
  • File names should reflect the file’s content (i.e., “applications” or “forms”). 
  • Maximum file size is 25 MB.
  • If additional contacts need to be added to the project after application acceptance, upload a completed Other Associated Contact Form to MGO Connect to allow them access to the project.

General Planning Applications

An administrative adjustment may be granted by the chief of zoning to allow a deviation from the strict application of certain development standards set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. See Section 25.06.05 of the Zoning Ordinance to learn more.

Administrative Adjustment (VAR) Application

An Administrative Appeal (APP) Application may be submitted by any person aggrieved by a final decision of the chief of zoning on a Site Plan Application, Nonconforming Alteration Application, or on an interpretation of an approval of the Planning Commission or other approving authority. See Section 25.04.06(b) of the Zoning Ordinance to learn more.

Administrative Appeal (APP) Application

Alternative compliance to the East Rockville Design Guidelines may be approved by the chief of zoning if a proposed design meets established criteria.

Alternative Compliance Application

An Annexation (ANX) Application is required for any property that seeks to be annexed into the city’s corporate boundaries. See Section 25.02.04 of the Zoning Ordinance for more on ANX Application procedures and requirements.

Annexation (ANX) Application

An attached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a secondary living unit enclosed within or attached to a single-unit, detached house. Examples include a basement conversion or home addition. Rockville allows attached ADUs, given that certain conditions are met. For more information, see TXT2023-00263 for the adopted ordinance.

Attached ADU Conditional Use Application

A detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a secondary living unit located on a lot with a single-unit, detached home separate from the main structure. Examples include garage apartments or shed conversions. Rockville allows detached ADUs given that certain conditions are met, which must be confirmed through this process prior to issuance of any building permit. For more information, see TXT2019-00255 for the adopted ordinance.

Detached ADU Conditional Use Application

A Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRA) Application vests development rights for a defined period of time, allowing developers to proceed with long-term development projects. In exchange, the city may seek enhanced public benefits from the project. The DRA legislation can be found in Chapter 7.5 of the Rockville City Code.

Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRA) Application

Any change to the official Zoning Map must be considered through a Map Amendment (MAP) Application. A map amendment may be considered as a local, sectional, or comprehensive map amendment, depending on its size and scope. See Section 25.06.01 of the Zoning Ordinance to learn more.

Map Amendment (MAP) Application

A nonconforming alteration may be granted by the chief of zoning to allow for structural alterations, expansions, or enlargements to a building, structure, or site containing a nonconforming use or development standards nonconformity as set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. See Section 25.08.08 of the Zoning Ordinance to learn more.

Nonconforming Alteration (VAR) Application

A Pre-Application Meeting (PAM) Application must be completed before any Project Plan (PJT), Site Plan (STP), or Special Exception (SPX) applications may be filed. The PAM Application outlines a development proposal and initiates a meeting with the Development Review Committee (DRC) and a planning project manager. At that meeting, the city will provide additional guidance on the required applications and permits.

Pre-Application Meeting (PAM) Application

Whenever property is proposed to be assembled, subdivided, or redefined, a Subdivision Plan (PLT) Application must be submitted to ensure the property is being disposed of legally and adequately. To learn more about subdivision plans, final record plats, and ownership plats, see Article 21 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Resources:

Preliminary Subdivision Plan/Final Record Plat/Ownership Plat (PLT) Application

All major development projects in the city that attain a certain number of points under the city’s development review point system are required to proceed under a Project Plan (PJT) Application. See Section 25.07.01(b) and Section 25.07.08 of the Zoning Ordinance for information on project plan applications and review, and Section 25.07.02 for information on the city’s development review point system.

Project Plan (PJT) Application

[button] Project Plan (PJT) Application 

Most new development projects in the city are required to proceed under a Site Plan (STP) Application. See Section 25.07.01(a) and Sections 25.07.04 through 25.07.07 of the Zoning Ordinance for information on site plan applications and review, and Section 25.07.02 for information on the city’s development review point system. Developed sites that are seeking to redevelop with major or minor changes can be reviewed under a Site Plan Amendment Application. See Section 25.05.07 for more information on site plan amendments.

Resources:

Site Plan (STP) Application
Site Plan Amendment Application

Certain types of land uses require special consideration before they may locate within the city. Where a land use is listed as requiring a special exception in the Zoning Ordinance, a Special Exception (SPX) Application must be approved prior to any site plan review. See Section 25.07.01(c), Section 25.07.08, and Article 15 of the Zoning Ordinance for information on the review of special exceptions.

Special Exception (SPX) Application

Any temporary structure for a construction project or short-term activity in the city, such as Christmas tree sales, carnivals, and farmers markets, requires the review and approval of a Temporary Use Permit Application. Refer to the land use tables in Articles 10 through 14 of the Zoning Ordinance to determine what activities require a Temporary Use Permit and Section 25.09.04 for permit requirements.

Temporary Use Permit Application

A text amendment is a process by which actual language in the Zoning Ordinance may be modified to clarify or modify the Zoning Ordinance regulations. See Section 25.06.02 of the Zoning Ordinance to learn more.

Text Amendment (TXT) Application

A Time Extension (EXT) Application is required for any project approval that needs extra time to be completed. The extension provision is discussed within the Zoning Ordinance for each application type.

Time Extension (EXT) Application

A variance may be granted by the Board of Appeals to allow a deviation from the strict application of density, bulk, or area requirements of the development standards set forth in the Zoning Ordinance. See Section 25.06.03 of the Zoning Ordinance to learn more.

Variance (VAR) Application

The Zoning Ordinance and the Landscaping, Screening, and Lighting Manual identify specific standards that may be waived by the approving authority. The process is intended to provide flexibility to address constraints unique to a particular site or project. Additional information on requesting a waiver is explained in the Waiver Request (WAV) Application.

Waiver Request (WAV) Application

A Zoning Verification Letter will confirm the current zoning status of any property within the city, noting the general uses allowed, any zoning and development approvals governing the site, and any zoning or building violations or restrictions that the site may be subject to.

Zoning Verification Letter

Forestry Applications

A Forest Conservation Plan (preliminary, amended, and final) is administratively reviewed and acted upon, pursuant to Chapter 10.5 of the Rockville City Code.

Forest Conservation Plan Application

A Forestry Permit is administratively issued to authorize implementation of an approved Forest Conservation Plan, pursuant to Chapter 10.5 of the Rockville City Code.

Forestry Permit (FTP) Application

A Natural Resource Inventory / Forest Stand Delineation (NRI/FSD) Application must be approved prior to the submission of the following plans: Special Exceptions (SPX), Site Plans (STP), Site Plan Amendments (STP), Project Plans (PJT), or Project Plan Amendments (PJT).

Natural Resource Inventory/Forest Stand Delineation (NRI/FSD) Application

A Significant Tree Removal Application is administratively reviewed and acted upon. Authorized tree removals may require replacements, pursuant to Chapter 10.5 of the Rockville City Code.

Significant Tree Removal Application

Historic District Commission Applications

When any historic structure is proposed to be altered or removed, a Historic District Commission (HDC) Review Application is required to be reviewed by the Historic District Commission prior to the project proceeding. See the Historic District Designation page for more information.

Historic District Commission (HDC) Certificate of Approval or Courtesy Review Application
Historic District Commission (HDC) Evaluation of Significance Application

Public Works Applications

Scoping Intake Form for Transportation Review

A Stormwater Management Permit (SMP) Application is submitted for any development that involves 5,000 square feet or more of disturbed area. See Section 19-40 of the Rockville City Code and the Apply for a Stormwater Management Permit page for the full scope on stormwater management policies and requirements in the City of Rockville.

Stormwater Management Permit (SMP) Application

A request to permanently close and abandon any public way of the city can be submitted with a Street Closing and Abandonment (SCA) Application. For more on requesting a street closing or abandonment, see Chapter 21, Article V, Division 2 of the Rockville City Code.

Street Closing and Abandonment (SCA) Application

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Contact

Community Planning and Development Services Department
240-314-8200
cpds@rockvillemd.gov

Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Address
Rockville City Hall
111 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850