Oct 6, 2026 - Council Session (PM)

The Montgomery County Council’s October 6, 2026 afternoon session held public hearings on several housing and building-safety bills. Bill 40-26 would require landlords to accept specified non-online rent payments; supporters cited access for seniors, low-income renters, and people with limited digital access. Bill 41-26 would change accessory dwelling unit (ADU) licensing procedures and fees. Testimony debated reduced fees and removal of the owner-occupancy requirement, with some speakers warning of effects on homebuyers and neighborhood stability and others supporting expanded housing options. Bill 42-26 would require short-term rental platforms to verify licenses and report activity; testimony raised enforcement, tax collection, staffing, and compliance concerns. Bill 43-26 would require smoke escape hoods in certain rental buildings. Supporters emphasized life safety, while opponents questioned storage, deployment, responsibility, and cost; one speaker estimated that 10,000 hoods could cost $3 million, while another cited a unit cost of $350. No votes were taken on these bills during the hearings.

The Council also introduced local map amendment H-160 for a proposed change from R-60 to a CRTF zone to allow mixed-use development. It then unanimously approved a separate map amendment for 495 Self Storage LLC, supporting redevelopment of an existing self-storage facility under an industrial-light floating zone, with the same 50-foot height limit, a single vehicle access point, and a proposed limit of five parking spaces subject to a waiver. No contract awards or purchasing decisions were identified; the session focused on legislation, licensing and zoning, and building-safety requirements.