Population: 68,401
Type of Requirement: Ordinance

Physical Address:
Department of Art and Culture
111 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Main Contact:
Betty Wisda, Arts Program Supervisor
Email Betty | 240.314.8681

The Code establishes that all construction projects within the city that require either a use permit, detailed application approval, subdivision approval; an amendment of any existing permit or approval; or an application for new building permits for interior and/or exterior modifications, renovations, or additions to multifamily residential, commercial, or industrial development for which a use permit is not required are subject to a mandatory public art requirement with enumerated exceptions. The value of a project’s contribution is calculated based on the type of development project with a tiered fee system based on the square footage or number of units.

Projects may satisfy the requirement in one of the following ways:

• Installation or presentation of a publicly-accessible work of visual art on either the construction site, private property other than the site within the same planning area, or property within the same planning area, subject to approval of the City or other owner of the proposed public property;
• Presentation of publicly accessible art offerings (visual, literary, or performance) within a temporary or limited time frame;
• Monetary contribution to either a City of Rockville Art in Public Places project located in the same planning area or another eligible arts organization;
• Provide space in the city for use by a City or a Rockville-based eligible arts organization;
• Provide arts-based infrastructure in the City for use by the City or an eligible arts organization suitable to the needs of the intended user and subject to approval; or
• Combine the art expenditure requirements of two or more developments within the same planning area to provide publicly accessible art, arts space, or arts-based infrastructure.