A sign variance is required when a proposed sign does not conform to the requirements of the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the size of the sign or its location.
A formal variance request is filed by the applicant and reviewed by the Montgomery County Sign Review Board which conducts a public hearing to decide the variance request based on the hearing testimony. The following must be submitted to DPS to obtain a hearing date:
Sign Variance Application
Sign Permit Application
Sign Drawings (design plans, site plans)
Photographs
.
The Sign Review Board normally approves or disapproves a variance request immediately after the hearing. In unusual circumstances, the Board may require additional time to consider testimony before a decision is rendered. When a sign variance is approved, the applicant must apply for the appropriate sign permits at the Department of Permitting Services.
| Application Package | |
|---|---|
| Sign Variance Application | Application for Sign Variance |
| Application for Sign Permit | |
| Fees and Taxes | |
| Fees | Executive Regulations |
| Automation Enhancement Fee | Automation Enhancement |
| Credit Card Authorization Form | Credit Card Authorization Form |
| Bonds | |
| No Bonds at this time | |
| Codes, Standards, Executive Regulations | |
| None at this time | |
| Guidelines, Memorandum of Understandings, Interpretations | |
| None at this time | |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
| 311 Web Portal: Enter key word "Sign Variance" | http://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311 |
| Online Permitting Status Information and Inspections | |
| Online Data Search | Search DPS |
| Call for More Information | |
| In Montgomery County | 311 |
| Outside of Montgomery County | 240-777-0311 |
| Other Agencies to Contact | |
| Other Agencies and Utilities to Contact | Allegheny Power |
| Board of Appeals | |
| Historical Society | |
| Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation | |
| Maryland Department of the Environment | |
| Maryland Division of State Documents | |
| Miss Utility | |
| MNCPPC: Historic Area Work Permits | |
| MNCPPC: MC Atlas | |
| MNCPPC: Zoning | |
| Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) | |
| Recycling | |
| Verizon | |
| Washington Gas Light Co. | |
| WSSC | |