Businesses are required to obtain permits for various business activities in Montgomery County

Certain types of businesses must obtain permits prior to opening and renew permits as required

• Certified Agricultural Producers – individuals intersted in selling regionally-grown products in the public right-of-way.
• Private Schools – required for any person planning to operate a private educational institute in Montgomery County for (5) five or more students at one time, or if there is more than one instructor.
• Raffles – required for a qualified non-profit organization to operate a raffle within Montgomery County.
• Solicitor's Permit – You must have a Montgomery County Solicitor’s Permit before actively engaging in any alcoholic sales activity. 
• Swimming Pool Operating Permit – any person planning to operate a public swimming pool must obtain a swimming pool operating permit in Montgomery County.

Permits are requried for most construction and building activities and events. Visit the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services for more information.

• Commercial Building – required for all new construction, additions, alterations, and changes of use in Montgomery County and municipalities, with the exceptions of the City of Rockville and the City of Gaithersburg.
• Demolition – required when any building is being razed or removed in its entirety from a lot.
• Driveway Permit – A driveway permit is required to construct a new residential or commercial driveway apron; to install a temporary construction entrance; or to restore and repair an existing driveway apron. 
• Electrical – required for work that involves installing, relocating, repairing or maintaining any electrical wiring or device designed for conducting, consuming or converting electrical current.
• Fire Alarm System Permit – required for all work involving installations, alterations, modifications or repair of a fire alarm system.
• Fire Code Compliance Permits – required for all businesses, schools, multi-family buildings, health care facilities, places of worship, and all other commercial buildings or occupancies.
• Fire Protection System Permit – required for all work involving any fire protection system addition, modification or repair.
• Floodplain District Permit – to control floodplain development in order to protect persons and property from danger and destruction and to preserve environmental quality.
• Forest Harvest Permit – needed for logging and timber removal operations that occur on a property.
• Grading Permit – required before any roadway construction can start in the public right-of-way.
• Hazardous Materials Permit – required to protect first responders and inform the public of hazardous materials. 
• Historic Area Work Permit – required when making substantive changes to the exterior of a Historic Site.
• Mechanical Permit – required to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace a mechanical heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system, the installation of which is regulated by the International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel-Gas Code (IFGC) or the International Residential Code (IRC), as appropriate.
• Paving Permit – required before any roadway paving may be started in the public right-of-way.
• Right of Way Permit for Roadside Tree Protection – required when construction and maintenance activies could negatively impact trees in County rights-of-way. 
• Right of Way Permit for Utility Construction – required for all utility construction, reconstruction, relocation or maintenance activities within the County right-of-way or easement.
• Storm Drain Permit – required before any enclosed storm drain construction may be started in the public right-of-way.
• Septic System Permit – necessary to ensure that any septic system installed in the County meets all current County and State standards relative to minimum setbacks associated with the protection of all residents' and the environment’s health.
• Sign Permit – required before any exterior sign, as defined by the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance, may be erected in the county.
• Tree Removal Permit – required if plans meet certain criteria.
• Use & Occupancy Certificate – documents that the intended use of a space is permitted, and that all applicable safety code and health code requirements have been met. Required before a business can open in a physical location.
• Well Permit – required to ensure any well drilled in Montgomery County meets all current County and State standards relative to minimum setbacks associated with the protection of the health of all residents and the environment.

Montgomery County Code requires the following types of businesses be registered

• Bed and Breakfast Registration – ensures that the proposed use complies with County regulations.
• Commercial Parking Lots – property owners wishing to engage in the non-consensual towing of vehicles from their commercial property must first register each commercial parking lot (excluding garages).
• Home Occupation Registration – anyone that operates a home-based business which generates more than five visits to the site per week, or who employs a non-resident. In addition, all home-health practitioners and lawn maintenance services are required to register.
• Solid Waste Vehicle Registration – All vehicles used for hauling and/or collection must have registrations issued and decals affixed under the hauler or collector license.
• Motor Vehicle Repair, Maintenance & Towing – merchants engaged in motor vehicle repair and maintenance, auto body repair, or towing in Montgomery County.
• Pool Management Company Registration – any person, cooperative, association, partnership, firm or corporation, excluding a pool operator, who is responsible by contract or other agreement with the owner for the operation of a public swimming pool or spa in Montgomery County.
• Radio, Television and Electrical Appliance Installation and Repair – any person, firm or corporation that engages in the business, occupation, profession or trade of installing, repairing or maintaining radio and television equipment and electrical appliances.
  • Electrical appliances are defined as  any equipment used or intended for  use in the home such as air conditioners, dishwashers, dryers, freezers, furnaces, garbage, disposals, ranges, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and washing machines.
  • Radio and television equipment  is defined as  any device or instrument used or intended for personal use by the consumer for the  transmission, reception or amplification of sounds, pictures or images by means of electrical impulses, including (but not limited to) radios, televisions, amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, phonographs, tape recorders and tape players and any component part thereof.
• Video Game Registration – the owner of an establishment where video games are operated by the public must register the establishment.

• Benefit Performance – for events conducted and operated by a bona fide non-profit organization, the net proceeds of which are exclusively for the benefit of the organization, to which the public is invited or admitted.
• Fire Prevention and Code Compliance – Special Event Application
• Liquor Control One-Day Special Licenses – Any not-for-profit club, society, or association holding a bona fide event may apply for a Class C One Day Special License to serve or sell alcoholic beverages.
• ​ Major Equestrian Events License – includes events when a competition exhibition, or other display of equestrian skills involves between 151 and 300 participants and spectators per day.
• Special Events – A permit is required to close a street for any type of event (e.g. race, parade, festival, etc).
• Special Food Service Facility (Temporary Event) – Anyone who plans to sell or give away food at a temporary event must first obtain a Montgomery County Food Service Facility License. The only exception to the law is the sale of fresh produce or live crustaceans.

Food and beverage businesses must comply wiht a specific set of licensing requirements designed to protect public health

• Alcoholic Beverage Licenses – the Department of Liquor Control Licensure Office processes alcoholic beverage license applications (new, transfer, one-day, renewals) in compliance with Maryland state law and the Rules and Regulations of the Montgomery County Board of License Commissioners.
  • License Types, Hours and Cost
  • How to Apply for a New or Transfer Annual Alcoholic Beverage License
  • Online License Renewal
• Food Service Licenses – the Department of Health and Human Services issues food service licenses for all food products made available to the public.
  • Farm Market/Farmer’s Market License – for selling prepared foods at farmers markets and on-farm markets. Before completing this form, please create a Montgomery County, MD  Seamless Docs Account if you have not already done so.
  • Food Service Facility – Anyone planning to distribute, prepare, handle, or dispense food for public consumption with or without charge.
  • Mobile Food Service Unit – Anyone who plans to sell or give away food from a non-fixed location must first obtain a Montgomery County Food Service License. The only exception to the law is the sale of fresh produce or live crustaceans.

Licenses are required for certain occupations and may be issued by Montgomery County or the State of Maryland.

• Effective July 1, 2021, all electrical licenses are issued by the State of Maryland. For more information contact the  Maryland State of Board of Master Electricians and the  DPS Policy Memo. 

• New Home Builders – builders (as defined by Chapter 31C) who construct new homes, condominium unit contained within a building of four stories or less, or act in the capacity of a general contractor for such building projects.  Note, if a parent company is licensed, that does not mean that subsidiaries who are also builders under the statute can avoid licensure. 

• Secondhand Personal Property – dealers in secondhand personal property (e.g. - consignment stores, pawn shops, sellers of refurbished computers, auction houses, etc.)

• Sewage Sludge Utilization License – obtained by any person or company engaged in the business of cleaning and emptying septic tanks, holding tanks, privies or other sewage disposal facilities.

• Taxi Cab Licensing – a person must have a taxi cab license in order to provide taxicab service in Montgomery County.

State of Maryland Business Licenses