All phone numbers are area code 301 unless otherwise noted.

Never get lost navigating the uncertain waters of local government again. This guide answers basic questions about living in Montgomery County -- from voting and paying taxes to pets and parking.

Browse, or jump to the table of contents for quick answers. Go ahead and suggest questions you'd like to see answered here.

From your school system:

1996-97 School Calendar

List of County Schools

Frequently Called Numbers

How do I register my kid for school?
Contact the school that serves your neighborhood. There is no deadline for registration. In Maryland, all children over age 6 are required to attend school and must have proof of immunization against childhood diseases. Children should be registered at their neighborhood school, which can be determined by consulting the telephone book, an ADC map, or by calling the Board of Education's office of school boundaries at 279-3331 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

When do report cards come out?
Report cards are sent home two days after the end of each marking period. For 1996-97, the first marking period ends Nov. 8, the second marking period ends Jan. 29, and the third marking period ends April 15. The final report card is mailed home after the last day of school, June 19.

When are vacations?
For the 1996-97 school year, the first day of school for students is Sept. 3; the last day is June 19. Students are off for the following holidays:
Yom Kippur, Sept. 23
Oct. 25
Election day, Nov. 5
Thanksgiving, Nov. 28-29
Winter Holidays, Dec. 24-31
New Year's Day, Jan. 1
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Jan. 20
Jan. 31
Presidents' Day, Feb. 17
Easter, March 28-31
Spring break, April 1-4
Memorial Day, May 26

From your local government:

Useful Government Numbers

County Charter

When and where do I have to register to vote?
For voter registration, call the Board of Supervisors of Elections (217-6450), which registers voters, conducts elections, assists persons seeking elective office with candidate filings and campaign fund reports, assists citizens seeking to place questions on the ballot, and preserves electoral information.

Board of Supervisors of Elections
751 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville
217-6450; TTY 217-6505

For 24-hour registration and voting information, call 217-VOTE.

When are local elections held?
The County Council is currently composed of nine members, four of whom are nominated and elected by voters from the entire County, and five who are elected by voters in each of the County's five Councilmanic districts. Terms for the County Executive and County Council are 4 years, and elections are held in conjunction with elections for state offices. The next local elections will be held in 1998.

Who are my county's representatives, how can I reach them, and when and where do they meet?

The incorporated cities, towns, villages, and municipalities in Montgomery County have their own officials and enact many of their own laws. The incorporated cities are Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Takoma Park. Other incorporated municipalities are Barnesville, Brookeville, Chevy Chase, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Kensington, Laytonsville, Poolesville, Somerset, and Washington Grove.

Here's who to call on the County Council and the School Board.

The County Council representatives are:
(Click on a member's name below to read his or her biography, supplied by the council.)

County Executive, Douglas M. Duncan
County Council:
Gail Ewing (At-Large)
Isiah Leggett (At-Large)
Neal Potter (At-Large)
Michael L. Subin (At-Large)
Betty Ann Krahnke (District 1)
Nancy Dacek (District 2)
William E. Hanna, Jr. (District 3)
Marilyn Praisner (District 4)
Derick Berlage (District 5)

The Council's mailing address is:
Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Ave.
Rockville, Md. 20850

Letters addressed to the County Executive or to the County Council are brought to the attention of all of the members of the Council.

Important county government telephones:
Council Office: 217-7900
Individual Council Offices: 217-7907
Legislative Information Services: 217-7910
A 24-hour Comment Line where citizens may leave a message for the Council: 217-7999
To sign up for a public hearing or arrange a group visit: 217-7931

The Council meets most Tuesdays beginning at 9 a.m., and council committees meet on Mondays and Thursdays. With very few exceptions, all Council and Committee meetings are open to the public. All full Council sessions are broadcast live and repeated on County Cable 55 (5 on cable-ready sets).

Advance agendas for Council and Committee meetings are available online via the Library Public Access Catalogue (PAC). If you are not a PAC user, your library can provide details.

The School Board members are:
Beatrice Gordon, President (at-large)
At-large - Alan Cheung
District 1 - Nancy J. King
District 2 - Steve Abrams
District 3 - Ana Sol Gutierrez
District 4 - Blair G. Ewing
District 5 - Reginald M. Felton
Student representative - Charles McCullough

You can reach school board members can by writing to them in care of the Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Md. 20850, or call the Board of Education at 279-3617.

What are the non-emergency police phone numbers?
Montgomery County Police:
-- Non-emergency: 279-8000

City Police - Non-emergency phone numbers:
-- Gaithersburg: 258-6400 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F; otherwise, call 279-8000)
-- Rockville: 309-3100
-- Takoma Park: 270-8724

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Police: 949-3010

Maryland State Police: 424-2101

Fire and Emergency Rescue Services, non-emergency phone numbers:
-- Director's Office: 217-2444
-- Emergency Management: 217-2470
-- Fire Marshal: 217-2442
-- Fire Safety Education: 217-2442
-- Plans Review and Fire Code Enforcement: 217-4570

What is required to register my car here, how much does it cost, and where can I do it?
You must title and register your car within 30 days of moving to Maryland, and you may do it in person at a full service Motor Vehicles Administration office, or by mail. Most locations in the county are within a 30-minute drive from a full-service office.

The cost is about $70 for the average passenger car, including: 5 percent tax, based on the current retail value of your vehicle; $15 titling fee; $20 lien recording fee, if applicable; and two-year registration fee.

The MVA office serving Montgomery County is in Gaithersburg at 15 Metropolitan Grove Road. The main MVA office is located at 6601 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie.

To title and register your vehicle (or a used vehicle purchased out-of-state), bring or mail the following information to an MVA full service office:

• an application for a Maryland title (MVA form VR-5);
• the out-of-state title as proof of ownership (altered titles will not be accepted);
• a Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate issued by a licensed Maryland inspection station within the 90 days prior to titling your vehicle; and
• proof of the required Maryland-recognized liability insurance coverage: the policy or binder number, and the company's name and agent's name.

For more information call the MVA Customer Service Center at 1-800-950-1682.

Can I park my car anywhere on the street? How much do permits cost?
No. Parking permits are required in residential neighborhoods unless you have a driveway. If you don't have a permit, you can get a ticket for $30.

A permit costs $20 and is good for two years. Permits may be obtained at 730 Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring, inside the garage. For more information call the division of Residential Parking Permits at 565-7340.

What property is taxed?
Real estate.

When are property tax assessments made?
Property assessments are made every three years.

What are the current tax rates, and how often are they changed?
The property tax rate is structured in Montgomery County but averages $3 per $100 of assessed value. The assessed value is 40 percent of the full cash value of the property.

Tax rates are reviewed annually.

Do I have to recycle?
Recycling is mandatory but the county doesn't inspect your garbage. You do pay for the program through your taxes whether you use it or not. For more recycling information, call 217-2870.

What can I recycle?
Recyclables include newspapers, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles with a No. 1 or 2 on the bottom, metal food cans or containers such as coffee cans and pie tins. Throw any lids away, rinse the items, do not bother to remove any labels, and place your recyclables at the curb in your blue bin. Newspapers go in a brown paper bag or can be wrapped in 12-inch-deep bundles bound with string.

Does the county pick up recycling material at the curbside?
There is a once-a-week pickup. Call 217-2870 to find out what day your recyclables are collected.

What is the water billing schedule and rate?
Montgomery County is served by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, (301) 206-8000 or 1-800-634-8400. There are 16 different rates for water and sewer service based on consumption; contact the commission with questions. There is a flat rate sewer charge for well and septic systems, $60 per quarter.

What is the electricity bill schedule and rate?
Montgomery County is served by two different electric utilities, PEPCO and Potomac Edison.

PEPCO, (202) 833-7500. Bills are sent out monthly. Residential service rates: Winter rates, in effect November through May: .04158 cents per kwh for the first 800 kwh, and.02675 cents per kwh after the first 800 kwh. The summer rate is a flat .07230 cents per kwh.

Potomac Edison, 1-800-654-3317. The flat residential rate for electricity is .05450 cents per kwh. You can be billed either monthly or bimonthly, depending on your preference.

What is the gas bill schedule and rate?
Washington Gas residential monthly rates are 74.16 cents per therm for the first 25 therms, 58.06 cents for the next 100 terms, and 53.39 cents per therm for use after the first 125 therms. For more information, call Washington Gas's customer service hotline at 750-1000.

Does the county offer classes and sports leagues? Where can I get a catalog?
Montgomery County's Department of Recreation offers a variety of classes, programs, performances, and sports activities. For class schedules, call 217-6880 (recording). For general information, call 217-6797. For Disability Services, call 217-6890 or (TTD) 217-6891.

Following is a listing of major recreation services and programs in Montgomery County:

Adult Sports Leagues and Tournaments. Men's, women's and co-rec softball, football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis. For information, call 217-6790.

Area Recreation Programs. The county offers a variety of arts and leisure classes, from sailing to tiny tots to fine arts. For information and a class schedule, call 217-6797.

Montgomery County comprises three Recreation Areas with programs organized specifically for the local community. Emphasis is on programs for youth, including summer day camps and playgrounds and teen programs.

Eastern Area - (serving Aspen Hill, Wheaton, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Colesville/White Oak, Burtonsville): 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, 217-3980.

Northern Area - (serving Upper Montgomery County, Montgomery Village, Germantown, Damascus, Darnestown, Redland, Olney, Poolesville): 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, 217-3380.

Western Area - (serving Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Dufief/Travilah): 11315 Falls Road, Potomac, 983-4467.

Where can I find a public swimming pool?
Montgomery County Recreation operates five outdoor and four indoor pools for public use. For information, phone 217-6840. Montgomery County public pools are:

Upper County Outdoor Pool - 8211 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg, 840-2446
Bethesda Outdoor Pool - Little Falls Parkway and Hillandale Road, Bethesda, 652-1598
Wheaton/Glenmont Outdoor Pool - off Randolph Road between Connecticut Avenue and Georgia Avenue (at Wheaton High School), 929-5460
Western County Outdoor Pool - 20151 Fisher Ave., Poolesville, 349-2217
Long Branch Outdoor Pool - 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, 431-5700
Martin Luther King, Jr. Indoor Swim Center - 1201 Jackson Road, Silver Spring, 989-1206
Montgomery Aquatic Center - 5900 Executive Blvd., North Bethesda, 468-4211
Olney Indoor Swim Center - 16601 Georgia Ave., Olney, 570-1210
Piney Branch Indoor Pool: 7510 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, 270-6093

Where can I find libraries?
There are over 15 public libraries serving Montgomery County. For general information, you can call 217-4636.

Most library branches are closed on Sundays, but some are open seven days a week. For specific information, call these numbers:
Library Services Information -- 217-3850
Telephone Reference Service -- 217-INFO

Where can I find gyms/recreation centers?
The county operates the following facilities:

Bauer Drive Community Center, 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville, 468-4015
Clara Barton Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John, 229-0010
Good Hope Community Center, 14715 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring, 989-1210
Leland Community Center, 4301 Willow Ave., Chevy Chase, 652-2249
Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, 431-5702
Longwood Community Center, 19300 Georgia Ave., Brookeville, 570-1200
Plum Gar Community Center, 19561 Scenery Drive, Germantown, 601-0966
Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac, 983-4471
Rosemary Hills Community, 2450 Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring, 565-7308
Ross Boddy Community Center, 18529 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring, 570-1204
Scotland Community Center, 7700 Scotland Drive, Potomac, 983-4455
Upper County Community Center, 8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg, 840-2469
Wheaton Community Center, 11711 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, 929-5500

Can I let my dog or cat run without a leash?
The animal does not have to be on a leash, but must be under immediate control of someone.

Do I have to have my pet spayed or neutered?
It is not required that you spay or neuter your pet, but it is recommended. Animals adopted through the Department of Animal Control are either spayed or neutered before adoption, or the adoptive owner is given a deadline by which the operation must be performed. There is a low-cost program open to all county residents regardless of income.

Do I have to have my pet licensed, and what's required?
All dogs and cats must be licensed through the Department of Animal Control and Humane Treatment or by the cities of Gaithersburg or Rockville. Proof of rabies vaccination is required. Clinics are held several times a year. For information, call 279-1823. You can also contact the recorded registration information line, 211-6199.

If the animal is under one year of age, the license is free, but you must present a certificate of rabies vaccination. License renewal fees after that are $6 a year if the animal has been spayed or neutered; $25 a year if your pet isn't altered.

If you breed a litter of dogs or cats, before you give them away or sell them you must buy a $25 breeder permit.

Is there a pooper-scooper rule?
Yes. Clean up after your pet.

If my neighbor and I have a dispute (radio is too loud, dogs digging in my yard), is there a group or agency that can help us resolve it?
Contact the police department's non-emergency number, 279-8000.

What if my landlord won't spray for cockroaches?
If you have a dispute with your landlord, you can call the Housing Code Enforcement Office at 217-3725 or 217-3750.

Back to Montgomery Q&A

Government
When and where do I have to register to vote?
When are local elections held?
Who are my county's representatives, how can I reach them, and when are where do they meet?
What are the non-emergency police phone numbers ?

Cars and Parking
What is required to register my car here, how much does it cost, and where can I do it?
Can I park my car anywhere on the street? How much does a permit cost?

Taxes
What property is taxed?
When are property tax assessments made?
What are the current tax rates, and how often are they changed?

Recycling
Do I have to recycle?
What can I recycle?
Does the county pick up recycling material at the curbside?

Utilities
What is the water billing schedule and rate?
What is the electricity bill schedule and rate?
What is the gas bill schedule and rate?

Recreation
Does the county offer classes and sports leagues? Where can I get a catalog?
Where can I find . . .

A public swimming pool?
Libraries?
Gyms/Recreation Centers?

Pets
Can I let my dog or cat run without a leash?
Do I have to have my pet spayed or neutered?
Do I have to have my pet licensed, and what's required?
Is there a pooper-scooper rule?

Dealing with Other People
If my neighbor and I have a dispute (radio is too loud, dogs digging in my yard), is there a group or agency that can help us resolve it?
What if my landlord won't spray for cockroaches?