Adequate Public Facilities

As part of the Mayor and Council’s initiative for improved mobility and public services, the city has adopted an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) and Adequate Public Facilities Standards (APFS) to establish minimum service standards for public facilities such as roads and schools.

New developments are required to perform studies to determine if the capacity of certain public facilities could accommodate new development and redevelopment and, if deemed appropriate, require that their impacts be mitigated prior to approval.

The test for school program capacity is based on data provided by Montgomery County Public Schools and is updated each Fiscal Year. The data for FY2024-2029 is shown at Supplemental School Data for FY2024-2029.

The Comprehensive Transportation Review (CTR) is referenced in the APFO for transportation-related measures. The process outlined in the CTR ensures that each development application meets the minimum transportation standards set forth in the city’s APFO.

Water and sewer capacity is tested through the submission of a Water and Sewer Authorization Application (WSA). Capacity standards are established through Section 24-12 of the City Code and can be found in the Water and Sewer Adequacy Standards.