Home Health Practitioner

What is the Definition of a Home Health Practitioner’s Office?

 A Home Health Practioner is an office for a practioner who resides in the dwelling unit which the office is located.

For this purpose, a health practitioner is defined as a person who is licensed or certified by a Board under the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and has an advanced degree in the field from an accredited educational institution, (except that this definition excludes an electrologist, mortician, nursing home administrator, pharmacist, or veterinarian). This definition includes a registered nurse or physician’s assistant only if that person has an advanced degree in the field and practices independently.

What is the Application Process?

 Applicants who wish to apply for a Home Health Practioner need to submit a Home Occupation Application, Use and Occupancy Application, Site Plan, Floor Plan, Photographs of the Parking Area, Landscape Plan, and a copy of the individuals Certificate or License from Marylands Depatment of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

What are some of the Conditional Approvals?

 A home health practitioner's office, in those agricultural or residential zones where it is allowed as a registered use and not a Special Exception must comply with the following requirements: 

• No more than 2 Resident Health Practitioners are allowed
• No Non-Resident Health Practitioner is allowed
• Nonresident Support Staff is allowed – a Nurse or Physician’s assistant under supervision of the Resident Health Practitioner is deemed support staff.
• An indoor waiting room is required
• The sale of goods on the premises is prohibited, except for medication prescribed by the Health Practitioner.                 
• The home health practitioner(s) may be allowed to treat more than one patient or client at a time, if this does not result in more than 5 vehicle trips containing not more than 10 patients arriving or departing at the same appointment time.
• Clients, patients, or other visitors must visit by appointment only and must be informed of the correct address and parking location. Emergency patients may visit without appointment; abuse of this exemption may lead to revocation of the Certificate of Registration.
• The display of a Sign must comply with the requirements of Article 59-F of the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance.
• Not less than 4 Off-Street Parking Spaces must be provided for each Practitioner.  Parking must be screened.  Construction of new parking must be located at the side or rear yard.