Montgomery County staff unveil 'Recipe for Success' brochure to simplify restaurant openings

Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services presented a new "Recipe for Success" brochure to the County Council Economic Development Committee on Sept. 23, outlining step‑by‑step guidance for prospective restaurant owners and announcing a dedicated webpage, English and Spanish PDFs, and a promotional outreach plan.

The brochure, described by Deputy Director Ehsan Motezadi as a concise, six‑page guide, lays out key steps — researching property and permitted uses, hiring licensed design professionals and contractors, scheduling a no‑cost pre‑design consultation, submitting plans and drawings online, obtaining food licensing from HHS, and scheduling inspections — and includes information on outdoor café seating and alcohol licensing. "The new guide is concise, consisting of 6 pages," Motezadi said as he summarized the guide's contents and distribution plans.

Why it matters: committee members said many small business owners sign leases or buy properties before confirming whether a restaurant use is allowed, which can impose substantial retrofit costs or block openings. Councilmember Evan Glass pressed staff on prevalence; DPS staff said roughly "2 out of 10" or "3 out of 10" of the people who come to them have already signed leases that later create code or zoning conflicts. "We want them to contact DPS before signing a lease or purchasing a property," Motezadi said.

Councilmembers and the chair urged edits and operational changes before wide release. The chair criticized the draft as "way too long" and objected to listing the generic 311 line as the primary contact on a restaurant‑focused brochure, saying, "You should have a number designated for the person who's handling and managing restaurants in DPS, not a 311 number." Councilmember Balcom asked that the brochure highlight the requirement for a certified food service manager as a distinct step and that the outdoor‑seating guidance explicitly state it applies to public right‑of‑way (sidewalks), not private property.

DPS responses and staffing: staff said the brochure was developed mostly in‑house and printed by the county at minimal cost. Gail Lucas, chief of customer support and outreach, said DPS can repurpose direct lines and that currently about eight staff are assigned to restaurant calls among roughly 30 permit technicians; staff also said they hired an assistant to the director in April to improve customer service and shepherd projects through permitting and inspections. When asked how many restaurant applications were in the queue year‑to‑date, Lucas said 99 applications were active, mostly alterations to existing spaces.

Regulatory clarity and outreach: committee members asked whether hiring a design professional is mandatory. DPS said pre‑design consultations are highly recommended and that many commercial permit types effectively require professionally prepared plans; staff noted that for certain permanent structural documents a Maryland‑licensed design professional is required under state rules. Members also requested clearer, section‑specific URLs in the brochure, direct contact information for the Small Business Center, and that the county test the brochure's readability with current restaurant operators — including Spanish speakers and other language communities — before broad distribution.

Next steps: staff said they will circulate a second draft to committee members and stakeholders, follow up with the Restaurant Association within weeks, translate the final English version (Spanish first), and aim to finalize the guide and distribution plan by Thanksgiving. The committee adjourned after the discussion.

Sources: Department of Permitting Services directors and staff and members of the Montgomery County Council Economic Development Committee participated in the Sept. 23 work session on the draft brochure and permitting process.