Montgomery County, MD Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

On public road rights-of-way, street trees must be planted in accordance with design standards of the Department of Transportation. On private road rights-of-way and easements, street trees must be planted in accordance with the technical manual adopted by the Planning Board under Chapter 22A.

(2)   The Department of Permitting Services, the Department of Transportation, and the staff of the Planning Board should coordinate the specific location and species of street tree plantings to promote compatibility of the plantings with road function and safety, signage, maintenance, appropriate visual buffering, utilities, other public or private improvements, and aesthetic considerations related to streetscape design.

(j)   Ground cover.

(1)   A property owner may plant and maintain ground cover in a public right-of-way adjacent to the owner’s property if the owner:

(A)   complies with County regulations;

(B)   maintains the ground cover to prevent any obstruction of the public right-of- way prohibited under Section 49-10; and

(C)   holds the County harmless for any damage to the ground cover, and any damage or injury caused by the ground cover. However, ground cover in a public right-of-way adjacent to the owner’s property must not be planted where it will reduce public safety or impede travel.

(2)   In this subsection, property owner or owner includes each person