Mission Statement

The mission of the Board of Appeals is to implement the flexibility provided by the Zoning Ordinance, as approved by the County Council, in a fair and equitable manner, and to assist County residents, irrespective of race, ethnicity, nativity, gender, disability, or other relevant demographic or socioeconomic characteristics, in understand and participating in the variance, administrative appeal, special exception modification, and conditional use appeal processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Board of Appeals has authority to hear and decide cases involving certain land use issues, including modification of special exceptions filed or decided before October 30, 2014, and variances from the development standards or other requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The Board also hears and decides Administrative Appeals from actions by the County government (as specified by the County Code). The Board applies the Zoning Ordinance Standards applicable to all such cases. The Board has County-wide jurisdiction, except for the municipal corporations of Brookeville, Poolesville, Laytonsville, Rockville, Barnesville, Gaithersburg and Washington Grove.

Commitment to Racial Equity and Social Justice

The Montgomery County Board of Appeals includes racial equity and social justice as part of its core values.  The Board of Appeals recognizes that the history of racism in our country has led to many current day disparities in housing, education, and employment, among other things, and that racial inequities have become institutionalized in the policies and practices of many agencies and organizations, including governmental agencies.

The Board of Appeals recognizes this history and strives to achieve racial equity and social justice through its actions.  The Board endeavors to administer the responsibilities given to it by the County Council in a manner that will, to the maximum extent possible, assist all Montgomery County residents and other persons that come before it in overcoming these historic inequities and injustices. 

This Commitment Statement is a living, enduring statement that captures the Board’s on-going commitment to advancing an equitable community and to affirmatively furthering racial equity and social justice in Montgomery County.