Face Coverings / Masks
Content verified November 24, 2021
Effective November 20 at 12:01 a.m.: all persons in Montgomery County over the age of two must wear a face covering in any location accessible to the public.
Face coverings must be worn
Indoors
- By all persons in the County over the age of two years old when indoors at any location accessible to the public - Montgomery County Board of Health Regulation.
- In any business or organization that requires customers or visitors to wear face coverings.
- In Montgomery College facilities - Montgomery College requirement.
- By all visitors over the age of two, and all staff members, in City of Gaithersburg facilities - City of Gaithersburg requirement.
- By all visitors over the age of two, and all staff members, in City of Rockville facilities - City of Rockville requirement.
- By all individuals in Montgomery County Public School buildings - Maryland State Department of Education requirement (PDF).
In common indoor areas
- In lobbies, elevators, and other common building areas where people from different households, businesses, or workspaces might come together.
When using public transportation - Federal government requirement.
Face coverings are not required in some situations
A face covering is not required when you are:
- eating or drinking
- receiving dental services, shaving, or facial treatments or receiving another service requiring access to your face, mouth, head
- swimming or engaged in another physical activity where the use of a face covering would pose a bona fide safety risk
- unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability
- unable to wear a wearing a face covering because it impedes communication by, or with, persons who have a hearing impairment or other disability, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication
- unable to wear a face covering because it would create unsafe working conditions
- operating any public transportation conveyance, if you are
- the sole operator of the conveyance, and
- located in a separate compartment that is off-limits to riders
- required to show your entire face to verify your identity for bona fide security purposes
- giving a speech or performing for broadcast or an audience, if no one in a location accessible to the public is within six feet of you
- in a business or workplace that is not accessible to the public
Face coverings should fit properly
A face covering is fitted properly when it covers your nose, mouth, and chin.
It includes cloth face coverings, scarves, and bandanas. It does not include face coverings with a valve; or solely wearing a face shield.
Indoor face covering requirement
When Montgomery County is an area of substantial transmission for 7 consecutive days, Resolution 19-1043 requires the use of face coverings in indoor public spaces.
The requirement is in place as long as the level of community transmission is in a status of substantial or high. This requirement will end once the County’s level of COVID-19 community transmission returns to moderate status and/or low status for seven consecutive days. See the County's community transmission data.
