Land acquisition consulting in Chevy Chase

As of 2026, a new house in the Town of Chevy Chase must sit at least 25 feet back or behind the street’s building line. Buildable land starts there.

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The Service

Land acquisition consulting

Land acquisition consulting answers the developer’s first question: what is this dirt actually worth to build on?

Finding buildable land in Chevy Chase means reading municipal rules ahead of county ones. In the Town of Chevy Chase, a new house must sit at or behind the street’s established building line or 25 feet from the front lot line, whichever is deeper. Section 3 requires setbacks of 30 feet in front, 20 in back and 8 per side. Lots in Section 5 face a 30% building coverage cap. A parcel that looks roomy on a plat can shrink quickly under those numbers.

Trees shape the footprint as well. Chevy Chase Village requires a permit to remove a private tree measuring 24 inches or more in circumference at 4.5 feet. The Town of Chevy Chase asks for a replacement tree or a $750 impact fee per regulated tree removed. Clearing a mature canopy can cost thousands, and some removals are denied outright. We map the trees before any offer.

Demolition carries its own sequence. Montgomery County requires utility disconnections before issuing a residential demolition permit, along with a posted sign and a notice period. Municipal permits come after, and some towns add a demolition fee and bond. Allowing two or three months for approvals is common. A lot purchase agreement should account for that wait.

Our land math starts with recent new-house sales nearby, then subtracts construction and soft costs to show what the dirt can bear. Land acquisition consulting outlines the general service. Multi-unit plans belong on residential development consulting in Chevy Chase. Before signing with a builder, see builder contract review in Chevy Chase. Lots with wells and septic appear in Buildable land in Potomac. Owners of older houses curious about land value can contact a Chevy Chase real estate agent.

Where We Work

Chevy Chase

Rules shift from block to block. Front setbacks run deep in the Town of Chevy Chase, where a tree impact fee also applies. Fixed setbacks on all four sides govern Section 3 lots. Coverage and front-yard paving limits apply in Section 5. Chevy Chase Village adds tree permits and, for many lots, historic district review. Unincorporated lots near Chevy Chase Lake follow county zoning alone, though the sector plan shapes larger sites. A one-page rules summary accompanies each lot, so you know the buildable envelope before making any offer.

Neighborhood Coverage

Chevy Chase, block by block.

Serving every neighborhood across the city. Ask us about yours.

Neighborhood-level guidance comes standard: pricing, timing, and positioning tuned to the block, not just the ZIP code.

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Answered

Chevy Chase, answered.

Q: What front setback applies to a new Chevy Chase house? A: That depends on the municipality. The Town of Chevy Chase requires the house to sit at or behind the established building line or 25 feet back, whichever is greater, and Section 3 requires 30 feet. We confirm the exact figure for each Chevy Chase lot before you make an offer. Q: What does tree removal cost on a Chevy Chase building lot? A: Often a permit plus a fee. Chevy Chase Village regulates private trees 24 inches or more in circumference, and the Town of Chevy Chase asks for a replacement or a $750 impact fee per tree. Some removals get denied, so we map the canopy and estimate costs before you buy. Q: How much time do Chevy Chase teardown approvals need? A: Plan on two or three months in most cases. Montgomery County requires utility disconnections and a posted notice before a residential demolition permit, and Chevy Chase municipalities add permits of their own. We write that time into the lot agreement so the closing date reflects it.

Sources

Last reviewed October 2, 2026 by Levi Loveless, licensed in Maryland and Virginia. Every rule, rate and figure on this page links to the source we checked.

Town of Chevy Chase, Land Use Handbook, July 2019
Chevy Chase Section 3, February 2026 Newsletter, February 2026
Chevy Chase Section 5 Ordinances (June 2026), June 2026
Chevy Chase Village Code, Chapter 17, Urban Forest, current code
Town of Chevy Chase, Tree Removal Permit Application
DPS, Residential Demolitions

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Map setbacks and trees before you offer.

Email the address of the lot or older house that caught your eye. Our memo summarizes setbacks, coverage limits and tree rules, estimates approval time and sets the asking price against recent new-house sales on nearby streets.