On Tuesday, June 16, the Montgomery County Council will review legislation to restrict unlicensed for-profit parties.
Last month, Montgomery County Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Andrew Friedson introduced legislation to crack down on unlicensed, for-profit house parties in residential areas by raising maximum fines from $500 to $5,000 and strengthening enforcement tools.
Per the news release: “This already illegal activity is creating unsafe situations in too many communities. Residents are rightfully asking for the County to take action,” Councilmember Luedtke said. “In extensive discussions with our partners in County government, we learned that the existing tools to enforce violations for commercial and unlicensed house parties are not effective. Bill 13-25 increases potential fines for these for-profit events, which can bring in thousands of dollars, and gives our County a needed option to pursue multiple violations at one time.”
“These unlawful parties have turned residential homes into promoted nightclubs and wreaked havoc on neighborhoods in our community,” said Councilmember Friedson. “This legislation will help ensure the punishment for these dangerous and disruptive activities more closely matches the negative impacts so we can protect the safety and well-being of Montgomery County families.”
Unlicensed commercial parties create safety and traffic congestion issues in residential communities throughout the County, including noise disturbances, intoxicated attendees, overcrowded parking on small residential streets, and illegal fireworks use. While these events are already illegal according to Montgomery County zoning, Bill 13-25 seeks to provide more effective tools to fight unlicensed commercial parties.
Bill 13-25 would prohibit an unlicensed party for gain or profit to which the general public is admitted. The legislation would also increase the potential fines from a maximum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000 related to four existing violations for this type of activity at a residential property: unpermitted commercial parties; noise violations; unpermitted commercial use in a residential zone; and violations of recreation and entertainment use zoning.
The bill would authorize these increased fines only when the violation is a result of unpermitted commercial house party activity. Tax-exempt organizations are not subject to the legislation when the entire profit from an event directly benefits the organization.
Bill 13-25 underscores Montgomery County’s commitment to maintaining healthy, peaceful and safe neighborhoods.
Full County Council Committee meeting agenda below courtesy Montgomery County Government:
“The Public Safety (PS) Committee will meet on
Monday
, June 16, at 9:30 a.m.
to review Executive Regulation 14-25, Emergency Medical Services Transport Reimbursement Program. The members of the PS Committee include Chair Sidney Katz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Kristin Mink.
The joint Economic Development (ECON) and PS Committee will meet at
9:45 a.m.
to review Bill 13-25, Licensing and Regulations Generally – Picnics, Dances, Soirees, and Other Entertainment – Amendments. The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Natali Fani-González and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Evan Glass and Laurie-Anne Sayles.
The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee will meet at
1:30 p.m.
to review Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-05, Development Standards – Optional Method Public Benefits. The members of the PHP Committee include Chair Andrew Friedson, Council Vice President Will Jawando and Councilmember Fani-González.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Executive Regulation 14-25, Emergency Medical Services Transport Reimbursement Program
Review:
The PS Committee will review Executive Regulation 14-25, Emergency Medical Services Transport Reimbursement Program, which revises the existing fee structure for Emergency Medical Services Transport. The regulation increases rates for different transport types and introduces a new charge for mobile integrated health visits. The regulation supersedes Executive Regulation 6-20 and reflects changes necessary to ensure that billing rates keep pace with the rising cost of providing emergency services and remain aligned with insurance reimbursement practices.
Bill 13-25, Licensing and Regulations Generally – Picnics, Dances, Soirees, and Other Entertainment – Amendments
Review:
The joint PS and ECON Committee will review Bill 13-25, Licensing and Regulations Generally – Picnics, Dances, Soirees, and Other Entertainment – Amendments, which would prohibit an unlicensed party for gain or profit to which the general public is admitted. The legislation would also increase the potential fines from a maximum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000 related to four existing violations for this type of activity: unpermitted commercial use in a residential zone; commercial parties; noise violations; unpermitted commercial use in a residential zone; and violations of recreation and entertainment use zoning. The bill would authorize these increased fines only when the violation is the result of unpermitted commercial house party activity.
The lead sponsors of Bill 13-25 are Councilmembers Luedtke and Friedson. Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Balcombe, Council President Kate Stewart, and Councilmembers Glass and Katz are cosponsors of the legislation.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-05, Development Standards – Optional Method Public Benefits
Review:
The PHP Committee will review ZTA 25-05, Development Standards – Optional Method Public Benefits, which would update the public benefit system in the Commercial/Residential and Employment Zones. ZTA 25-05 would create a new optional method of public benefits using a tiered system that is more closely tied to Floor Area Ratio (FAR) than the prior point system, with categories that have been updated to align with County policy priorities.
The County has had a public benefits point system since 2010, which allows developers to receive additional approved density in exchange for providing certain public benefits in the Commercial/Residential and Employment Zones. In October 2024, the Planning Department completed an Incentive Zoning Update, which included recommendations designed to update the public benefits point system. The update takes into consideration recent County policies and initiatives, such as Thrive Montgomery 2050, the Climate Action Plan and implementation of the County’s Racial Equity and Social Justice Act.
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the
Council website
.
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via
YouTube
and on
Facebook Live
and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM
live stream
.
