Construction Site Protocol To Be Followed By The Owner, Contractors and Sub-Contractors

The following standards are required either by Montgomery County or by Chevy Chase View. They are meant to be reminders about the importance of being considerate to adjoining residences during your construction period.

1) Noise Control Abatement - Montgomery County ordinances govern construction noise. Construction may not start until 7am on week days, and until 9am on weekends and holidays. Noise is to stop at 9pm. A noise disturbance is any sound that is unpleasant, annoying, or loud; abnormal for the time or location and detrimental to health, comfort, property or the conduct of business. With regard to building noise, some examples are: hammering, the use of power equipment, loud language and digging.

2) Street Safety - Montgomery County ordinances govern street safety. At no time should the homeowners or construction vehicles be parked

• within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
• within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
• within 30 feet in front of any flashing signal or stop sign located at the side of a roadway
• in front of a private driveway except with the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises.

3) Portable Construction Toilets - Montgomery County ordinances govern the placement of “Porta-Johns”. These should be placed on the owner’s property and not on the municipal right of way. This is normally no closer than twelve feet from the curb.

4) Construction Site Etiquette - Chevy Chase View and its residents expect the construction site to be generally free of construction waste. This means that the owner will either have a dumpster for the waste, or will have the waste regularly removed from the site. It is recommended that for safety reasons that the dumpster be on the construction site and not on the road or in the public right of way. If it must be on the street, the dumpster must be lighted at night and the owner will be liable for damage done to the street.

5) Garbage on the Site - Montgomery County ordinances govern. All personal garbage must be bagged in a covered trash can. It may not be thrown on the ground, as it will attract pests and create a general health hazard in a residential community. This garbage can be picked up by Waste Management if placed in trash bags. Some examples are coffee cups, plastic bottles, bags, food remains and so on.

6) Use of Waste Management to Remove Construction Materials - Chevy Chase View contracts with Waste Management for waste removal. Construction materials are forbidden to be part of the Tuesday/Friday weekly pickup. The bulk pickup, on the first Saturday of each month, allows for “up to five tied bundles per household of boards or similar items (approximately 40 pounds each)”. This provision is for the convenience of home repair and not for the removal of construction waste. A homeowner may make arrangements with Waste Management for a special collection. The homeowner is responsible for the cost of that special collection.

Over the past three years there has been an explosion of building activity in Chevy Chase View. Many of the sites comply with the above construction site protocols. The Council believes that attaching these standards to the CCV Building Permit will help resolve questions and lead to quick compliance in the few instances where the standard is not being met.

CCV residents who want to file a complaint, or have further questions about Montgomery County ordinances, should call the Montgomery County Environmental Protection Office at 240-777-7770.