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Community, Permits, Licenses, and Inspections, Public Safety

Report a Property Maintenance Code Violation

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Community enhancement code inspectors conduct curbside inspections in Rockville and respond to concerns of residents. Inspectors educate residents about the city’s various codes and ordinances, and work with residents to resolve code violations.

Rockville’s continuing effort to maintain the appearance of neighborhoods is achieved through the Community Enhancement Program. The program’s goal is to preserve property values and maintain housing stock by improving the community’s appearance. Under this program, neighborhoods are patrolled by code inspectors in a proactive effort to identify and resolve code violations.

View the list of common violations below and report a violation using the Property Maintenance Code Violation Report Form.

Common Violations

Maintenance deficiencies within properties are under the purview of the Community Enhancement Code Enforcement Division. A tenant should first reach out to their landlord to address a maintenance issue and document their response. If the issue is still not fixed in a reasonable timeframe (24 hours for an emergency and seven days for a non-emergency), the tenant should report a code violation using the form below. Visit the File a Landlord-Tenant Complaint page for assistance mediating landlord-tenant disputes, such as rent increases, lease violations or terminations, evictions, unauthorized entry, or nonpayment of rent. For other housing-related issues, contact the Housing and Community Development Department.

Exteriors of properties and structures must be maintained. When a violation is seen, the property owner will be contacted and may be issued a corrective order. Failure to comply with an order could result in a fine. Avoid exterior property violations that could affect health and safety by:

  • Removing trash and debris.
  • Trimming weed and plant growth more than 10 inches tall.
  • Removing junk vehicles that are inoperable, abandoned, or dismantled.
  • Avoiding overcrowded or prohibited dwellings.
  • Pruning trees, bushes, hedges, shrubs, and vines so they are not a hazard or detriment to the neighborhood.
  • Maintaining all exterior wood and metal surfaces in good condition.
  • Parking motor vehicles properly in off-street parking or on the street.
  • Parking only one unlicensed motor vehicle on a residential zone property.

No accumulation of waste or loose trash is allowed. All trash receptacles must be placed at the curb no earlier than 24 hours ahead of collection and must be removed after collection. Trash and waste accumulation includes any of the following:

  • Combustible and noncombustible waste materials.
  • Residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke, or other combustible materials.
  • Paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, and dust from similar materials.

All areas, including the public right-of-way adjacent to the property, should be kept free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. Weeds are defined as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation other than trees, shrubs, and cultivated flowers and gardens.

All trees, bushes, hedges, shrubs, vines, and other plant growth should be kept pruned to avoid:

  • Obstructing the vision of operators of vehicles traveling upon any public street, road, or highway.
  • Constituting a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
  • Being hazardous to the public health and welfare.
  • Constituting a detriment to the neighborhood or existing in violation of any other code or ordinance of the city.

A vehicle is considered a junk vehicle if it is:

  • In an abandoned condition.
  • In such a rusted, wrecked, dismantled, or deteriorated condition that it is not lawfully operable on public roads.
  • In such an abandoned, deteriorated, or decayed condition, whether or not it is operable, that it constitutes a breeding ground for rats, mosquitoes, or other vermin or insects.

Residents are allowed to park one unlicensed vehicle on their property. All vehicles on a property must be maintained in good condition. All tires must be inflated, and window glass and body parts must be intact.

Parking on lawns is not permitted. All vehicles must be parked on an approved surface, such as concrete or asphalt, in approved off-street parking areas or on an improved street. Gravel driveways must be maintained. The parking or driving of vehicles over curbs, sidewalks, yards, courts, planting areas, or other places not intended for vehicular traffic is prohibited.

Dwelling units should not be occupied by more occupants than a space can accommodate. All dwelling units and apartments that are rented in the City of Rockville must have a rental license.

Roofing, siding, windows, doors, and accessory structures such as fences and sheds must be kept in good condition. Gutters and downspouts must be properly attached and not obstructed. Paint should not be flaking, chipping, or peeling away. All wood surfaces must be properly painted.

Property Maintenance Code Violation Report Form

Use the form below to report any property maintenance code violations you observe from the public right-of-way. The information you provide will help the city successfully respond to any property maintenance concerns in the community. Please provide as much information as possible. View the list of common violations above to help determine which type of violation to report.

The information you submit will be investigated, and if the offense is identified, every effort will be made to ensure the corrections are completed. City of Rockville code inspectors may contact you for additional information if you choose to provide your contact information.

Violation Type (select all that apply)(Required)
Max. file size: 100 MB.
Reporter’s Information If you would like a reply from our office, please provide your contact information.
Name
Address

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Contact

Community Planning and Development Services Department
Community Enhancement Code Enforcement Division
240-314-8330
Community_Enhancement_Code_Enforcement@rockvillemd.gov

Hours
Monday – Friday
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saturday
Seasonal

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