Gaithersburg vs Rockville

The permit and registration process for home businesses in Gaithersburg depends on which of the three tiers under Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance Chapter 59 applies to the specific business activity. No-Impact Home Occupations require no permit, registration, or notification to any government agency at the county or city level -- the resident simply operates within the tier restrictions. Low-Impact Home Occupations require registration with the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS) through an online or in-person application that describes the business activity, anticipated client visits, employee information, and commercial vehicle details. The registration fee is nominal and the process is administrative with no public hearing or neighbor notification. Major Home Occupations require a Conditional Use application filed with the county Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings (OZAH), which involves a public hearing before the county Hearing Examiner where neighboring property owners may testify. The Conditional Use process typically takes 3 to 6 months and results in a binding approval with specific operational conditions. Regardless of tier, all home businesses in Gaithersburg must register with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) and may need to file a trade name certificate.

Rockville regulates home-based business enterprises under Chapter 25 of the zoning ordinance, requiring compliance with residential character standards. Montgomery County additionally requires registration for home occupations through the Department of Permitting Services, classifying them as either low-impact or major occupations with different requirements.