Ordinances and Resolutions Passed by the Town Council
The table below is sortable by ordinance/resolution number, date, key words and description. The table is incomplete; documents are added to the table as they become available to the webmaster.
Note that the search box currently searches words presented in the table, but not words contained only in the PDF files that the table links to.
Below the table is a discussion of ordinances and resolutions, when the Town Council will typically use one versus the other to effect an action, and when the Town Charter or State law require use of an ordinance rather than a resolution.
Ordinances and Resolutions
| Ordinance/ Resolution Number and Link | Ordinance or Resolution | Effective Date (YYYY-MM-DD Format) | Key Word or Phrase | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04 | Resolution | 2024-07-08 | 2024-07-08 | Authorization of Deer Management Bow Hunting Sessions in Conservation Meadow |
| 2024-03 | Resolution | 2024-07-08 | 2024-07-08 | Authorization of Deer Management Bow Hunting Sessions in East and West Woods Preserves |
| 2024-02 | Resolution | 2024-07-08 | Committees | Create guidelines for the proper governance of Town committees. NOTE: this Resolution supersedes Resolution 2019-13 |
| 2024-01 | Ordinance | 2024-06-20 | Budget | Adopt FY24-25 budget; levy property tax |
| 2023-08 | Ordinance | 2024-04-25 | ADUs | ADUs / ZTA to expand housing opportunities and update vehicle parking requirements |
| 2023-07 | Resolution | 2023-10-09 | McCathran Hall | Updated Regulations For the Rental of MCcathran Hall |
| 2023-06 | Resolution | 2023-08-14 | Energy | Establishment of a Renewable Energy Conversion Incentives Pilot Program |
| 2023-03 | Resolution | 2023-06-12 | Budget | Reflecting transfers from Planning and Zoning account to Finance account |
| 2023-02 | Ordinance | 2023-05-22 | Budget | Adopt FY23-24 budget; levy property tax |
| 2023-01 | Resolution | 2023-05-08 | Racism | Acknowledging Washington Grove's Racially Exclusionary Past and Committing to an Equitable and Inclusive Future |
| 2022-09 | Resolution | 2022-10-10 | Cherry Avenue | Closure of Cherry Avenue to vehicular access |
| 2022-07 | Resolution | 2022-08-29 | Comprehensive Plan | Adoption of the 2022 Comprehensive Plan |
| 2022-04 | Resolution | 2022-06-13 | Budget | Budget transfers in FY 2022 |
| 2022-03 | Ordinance | 2022-05-24 | Budget | Adopt FY22-23 budget; levy property tax |
| 2022-02 | Resolution | 2022-03-30 | Comprehensive Plan | Planning Commission approval of Comprehensive Plan |
| 2022-01 | Resolution | 2022-02-14 | Sustainability Committee | Creation/recognition of committee |
| 2021-13 | Resolution | 2021-12-13 | Shared Use Path | Designation of lower Brown St. as the preferred shared-use pathway connection for WG Connector |
| 2021-12 | Resolution | 2021-09-13 | Sustainability | Authorization for Washington Grove to seek Sustainable Maryland Municipal Certification |
| 2021-10 (adopted; this version to be replaced by final version) | Resolution | 2021-08-09 | Deer Management | Authorization for Deer Management Bow-Hunting Sessions |
| 2021-09 | Resolution | 2021-06-14 | Budget | Budget transfers in FY 2021 |
| 2021-07 | Ordinance | 2021-05-17 | Fees, permit | Set expiration limits for archeological or fossil permit fees |
| 2021-05 | Ordinance | 2021-05-17 | Budget | Adopt FY21-22 budget; levy property tax |
| 2021-04 | Resolution | 2021-04-08 | Permits - driveways, parking areas, and walkways | Modifies Article III, Section 14, Construction in Public Ways and on Town Property, to establish criteria for driveways, parking areas, and walkways that include public ways / property. Supersedes / replaces Resolution 2019-19. |
| 2021-03 | Resolution | 2021-01-11 | Commendation | Commendation of workers at post office for service during Covid-19 pandemic |
| 2021-02 | Resolution | 2021-03-08 | Permits - artifacts, fossils | Establishment of process to obtain permits to search for/remove artifacts or fossils |
| 2021-01 | Ordinance | 2021-03-08 | Zoning | Amend Article VII of the Ordinances, Zoning, to add section 2.4 to terminate restrictive covenants |
| 2020-15 | Ordinance | 2021-01-11 | Covenants | Terminate restrictive covenant on setback for 201 Chestnut Avenue |
| 2020-14 | Ordinance | 2021-01-01 | Fees, permit | Set public ways and property permit application fee |
| 2020-13 | Ordinance | 2021-01-11 | Woods | Amend Article I of the Ordinances, Public Nuisances, Morals and Conduct, to permit Council to regulate use and enjoyment of the woods and any Town park or land via resolution; prohibit removal of archeological or cultural artifacts or fossils, or injury to or removal of trees, plants or minerals in the woods, parks or other Town land |
| 2020-11 | Ordinance | 2020-11-09 | Zoning | Amend Article VII of the Ordinances, Zoning, to modify minimum setback requirements for accessory buildings in residential zones |
| 2020-05 | Ordinance | 2020-05-18 | Budget | Adopt FY20-21 budget; levy property tax |
| 2020-01 | Ordinance | 2020-07-13 | Application of County legislation | Amend Article XIII of the Ordinances, Application of County Legislation, to add County Code Chapter 33B "Pesticides” to the list of County legislation that is applicable in the Town |
| 2019-18 | Ordinance | 2020-02-10 | Zoning | Amend Article VII of the Ordinances, Zoning, to modify minimum lot size standards for the RR-3 zone |
| 2019-17 | Ordinance | 2019-11-11 | Telecom facilities | Add Article XVIII to the Ordinances, Small Wireless Telecommunications Facilities |
| 2019-15 | Ordinance | 2019-11-11 | Permits, work on driveways and parking areas | Amend Article III of the Ordinances, Traffic, Vehicles And Transportation, to apply to construction in Public Ways and on Town Property, to residential driveways and parking areas |
| 2019-13 NOTE: this Resolution was superseded by Resolution 2024-02 | Resolution | 2020-04-13 | Committees | Create guidelines for the proper governance of Town committees. NOTE: this Resolution was superseded by Resolution 2024-02 |
| 2019-05 | Ordinance | 2019-05-20 | Budget | Adopt FY19-20 budget; levy property tax |
| 2019-04 | Ordinance | 2019-04-08 | Deer management | Amend Article I of the Ordinances, Public Nuisances, Morals and Conduct, to provide for deer management hunt sessions |
| 2019-02 | Ordinance | 2019-03-11 | Permits, building | Modify requirements for building permits in Article IV of the Ordinances, Building Permit Regulations |
| 2019-01 | Ordinance | 2019-03-11 | Zoning | Modify Article IV of the Ordinances, Zoning, to update definitions re: maintenance and repairs |
| 2018-13 | Ordinance | 2018-12-10 | Elections | Amend Article X of the Ordinances, Registration and Voting, to revise procedures for absentee balloting, provisional balloting, resolution of tie votes, and to bar political activities |
| 2018-05 | Ordinance | 2018-08-13 | Permits, building | Amend Article IV of the Ordinances, Building Permit Regulations, to modify and clarify requirements for building permits |
| 2018-04 | Ordinance | 2018-08-13 | Zoning | Amend Article VII of the Ordinances, Zoning, to modify special rules for fences and carports and modify accessory building setbacks |
| 2018-03 | Ordinance | 2018-05-21 | Budget | Adopt FY18-19 budget; levy property tax |
| 2016-12 | Resolution | 2017-01-31 | Charter, Contracts | Amend Section 57 of the Charter and amend the bidding process for contracts |
| 2016-04 | Ordinance | 2016-05-23 | Budget | Adopt FY16-17 budget; levy property tax |
Ordinances vs. Resolutions
When the Town Council wants to assert an action, it can do so by either passing an ordinance or adopting a resolution.
When an Ordinance is Used
The Council passes an ordinance when it wants to amend the Code of Ordinances. Per Sections 15(b) and (c) of the Town Charter, ordinances require:
- advance notice,
- introduction a month ahead,
- a public hearing,
- timely notice of enactment, and
- a process for voters to potentially petition to delay or stop the action.
The Council also passes ordinances if the Town Charter or State law so require. For example, ordinances must be used if the Council wishes to:
(Town Charter Provisions that Require Ordinances)
- set any Mayoral salary (Charter § 19);
- regulate the conduct and policies of any Town musical organizations (Charter § 21(b)(6));
- set or modify fees (Charter § 21(b)(21));
- prevent or abate all nuisances in the Town which are so defined at common law, by the Town Charter, or by State law (Charter § 21(b)(40));
- determine the location of and rates levied for any parking meters (Charter § 21(b)(43));
- amend or terminate restrictive covenants imposed on real property (Charter § 21(b)(47));
- adopt regulations relating to police, health, sanitary, fire, buildings, plumbing, traffic, speed, parking, and other similar issues (Charter § 21(b)(49));
- set procedures for issuing citations for a municipal infractions (Charter § 23(b)(3));
- determine any matters related to Town elections, including fraud prevention, recounts, special elections and resolving tie votes (Charter § 36);
- require the Town Treasurer to provide a bond with corporate surety (Charter § 40);
- create municipal debt or issue tax anticipation notes or other evidences of indebtedness (Charter § 54(a));
- set regulations regarding the use of competitive bidding and contracts for all or part of the Town’s purchases and contracts (Charter § 57);
- establish rules and regulations to appoint and promote administrative staff on the basis of merit and fitness (Charter § 60);
- participate in and pay for health or other employee benefit programs for Town staff (Charter § 63);
- take any necessary steps to establish and maintain the public ways of the Town (Charter §§ 65 and 66);
- establish procedures for the acquisition or sale of real property, as authorized by the Town Charter (Charter § 70); or
(Code of Maryland Provisions that Require Ordinances)
- request and authorize Montgomery County to administer or enforce any municipal legislation (Md. Code, Local Gov’t § 4-111);
- regulate the location and operation of junkyards (Md. Code, Local Gov’t § 5-103);
- regulate the licensing, location, and operation of a business that allows activity involving nudity and sexual displays listed under Maryland Code, Alcoholic Beverages Article (Md. Code, Local Gov’t § 5-105);
- acquire property through eminent domain (Md. Code, Local Gov’t § 5-215); or
- adopt budgets and levy property tax (Md. Code, Tax-Prop. § 6-308, permitting a taxing authority to adopt by law an increase in the real property tax rate).
When a Resolution is Used
The Council adopts a resolution, rather than passes an ordinance, when it wants to amend the Town Charter. The Local Government Article of the Maryland Code, §§ 4-301 et seq., provides the laws that govern amending a municipal charter via resolution, and the procedures are set forth in the Maryland Municipal League’s Charter Amendment Procedures for Maryland Municipalities (PDF). Amending the Charter requires public notice.
The Council also may adopt a resolution when it decides to assert an action where the Town Charter or the State does not require passage of an ordinance. Resolutions are often refinements, standards and/or details that follow up the passage of an ordinance. Resolutions can be adopted with little or no notice, can be effective immediately, and can be replaced with subsequent resolution(s) to later refine or correct details. There are also a few, limited, State-mandated processes that require action via resolution, e.g. annexations (Md. Code, Local Gov’t § 4-403); these require public notice.