Permit Holder Responsibilities and Usage Guidelines
To be valid, the permit holder must be over the age of 21.
Youth Event Requirement: One adult over the age of 21 must be present for every ten children under 18.
The permit is for the sole use of the group or individual named on the permit contract and is not transferable.
The permitholder must have the permit on-site during the permitted activity. The permit must be shown to Park personnel upon request. Areas not listed on the permit are not included in your reservation and must remain open for public use.
The permit entitles the permit holder to use the permitted area(s) in the facility only for the dates and times indicated on the permit, which is inclusive of set-up and clean-up time. The permit holder must remove all personal items from the rental facility. Any items left in the building will be discarded. The permit holder will be charged hourly for overnight storage of items left in the facility.
Uses of the Permitted Areas must be appropriate for an office-building setting and include meetings or conferences of professional organizations, community non-profits, and for government use.
If the desired location is deemed unsuitable for the proposed activities in a rental request, staff will work with the requestor to identify an alternate space (Permitted Area), subject to availability.
Facility Capacity Limits:
- 1st Floor Main Lobby: 100 standing. Audio/Visual and IT equipment is not available
- 2nd Floor Lobby (outside Auditorium): 100 standing. Audio/Visual and IT equipment is not available
- 2nd Floor Auditorium: 200 seats. Additional fees will apply for Audio/Visual and IT equipment
Rental of the Wheaton HQ auditorium includes use of the chairs (Estimated Qty: 200) but does not include use of the Planning Board dais. This space also includes approximately (8) eight six-foot rectangular tables that can be used by permit holders. M-NCPPC does not provide additional tables and chairs beyond what is available in the Permitted Area. The permitholder is required to rent tables and chairs to accommodate an event in either lobby. Delivery and set-up must be coordinated with the Park Permit Office and Building Manager in advance.
No food or drink is permitted in the Auditorium. No beer or alcohol is allowed on-site unless specifically requested and approved by M-NCPPC. A separate permit may be required from Montgomery County – Alcohol Beverage Service. Bands, amplified sound, and music must be maintained at acceptable levels and adhere to any special conditions of use or may be shut down. Entertainment should not be at a level as to disturb building.
Bands, amplified sound, and music must be maintained at acceptable levels and adhere to any special conditions of use or may be shut down. Entertainment should not be at a level as to disturb building occupants or the surrounding community. Events/meetings scheduled outside of standard business hours may be subject to additional staffing and security fees
Decorations may not be affixed to walls, suspended from ceilings, or affixed to any handrails, or flooring. Nails, glue, tape, screws, push pins, metal hooks, or damaging adhesives on any surface are not allowed. Balloons, glitter, and confetti are not permitted inside the facility. M-NCPPC reserves the right to cancel this permit with as much notice as is practicable.
Collection of fees or money exchange is prohibited without prior approval. Event organizers hosting fundraising events must provide proof of their organization’s 501(c)(3) or non-profit status or indicate how monies raised will be used or submit a signed letter from a charity or non-profit acknowledging the fundraiser.
All events/meetings must have a Park Staff person on-site for the event, including setup and cleanup time. If an event is held outside of standard business working hours, a Park Staff person will need to be scheduled to be on-site and additional fees will apply.
All event/meeting applications are reviewed by Park Police to determine if additional officers are required to be onsite. If your event/meeting requires additional security, you will be contacted to coordinate appropriate security arrangements.
A list of associated Park Police and Staff fees can be found online at Park Permits
Parking, Traffic, and Transportation
- All parking in the building garage and surrounding parking lots require payment.
- Public paid parking is available in the underground garage, in the surface lot adjacent to the Wheaton HQ, and at other nearby locations in downtown Wheaton operated by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.
- Please refer to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Parking/Parking-Facilities/WheatonPLD.html for additional information including parking locations and fees.
- Use of the Wheaton Metrorail across from the Wheaton HQ or carpooling to events is encouraged to retain open public parking spaces for public use of parking.
- You will be contacted directly by Park Police to coordinate appropriate security measures.
- The permitholder may be asked to provide a detailed map outlining possible road closures for review and a traffic management plan to handle parking for attendees, VIPs, staff, and volunteers, as well as plan of action for busing and or other forms of group transportation if needed.
Cancellation or Change Policy:
Facility cancellations must be submitted in writing at least 10 business days prior to date of event, an Admin fee of $50 is required at the time of the request. Reservation changes must be submitted in writing at least 7 business days in advance of the requested date, an Admin fee of $50.00 is required for each change. Cancellation and Change requests can be submitted via email to Park Permits
Inclement Weather Policy:
Wheaton Headquarters rentals are rain or shine use facilities. The rental fee is non-refundable due to inclement weather. Weather-related emergencies will be handled on a case-by-case basis requiring closure. In the event of a park closure due to inclement weather, please submit a written request no later than five (5) business days after the scheduled event to the Permit Office at parkpermits@montgomeryparks.org to obtain a full refund or reschedule your event.
If there is someone or another group occupying your rental space, present your permit to them and ask them to vacate. In case of an emergency or to report a problem that significantly affects use, contact Park Police Non-Emergency Number: 301-949-8010.