Gaithersburg vs Rockville

Home businesses in Gaithersburg are strictly prohibited from displaying any exterior signage under all three tiers of the Montgomery County home occupation zoning framework. No business signs, advertising displays, logos, banners, or other visible commercial indicators may be placed on the exterior of the residence, in the yard, on the mailbox, on the fence, or at the street frontage. This blanket prohibition applies to No-Impact, Low-Impact, and Major Home Occupations alike, regardless of the type of business or the volume of client traffic. The intent is to ensure that residential neighborhoods maintain their residential character and that no commercial visual indicators distinguish a home occupation property from its neighbors. Interior signs visible through windows that effectively advertise the business to passersby may also be treated as a violation if they function as exterior advertising. Vehicle signage is regulated separately: a Low-Impact or Major home occupation may park one commercial vehicle at the residence, but the vehicle must comply with county sign regulations regarding size and illumination. The Gaithersburg sign ordinance (City Code Chapter 24) governs signage for commercial businesses in commercial zones and does not extend any signage rights to home occupations.

Rockville requires sign permits for all commercial signs and restricts home-based business signage to maintain residential neighborhood character. Signs must be on the same premises as the business, and blinking, flashing, or moving signs are prohibited citywide. Home-based business enterprises are generally limited to small, non-illuminated identification signs.