Montgomery County issues Stop Work Order at Bethesda building

The start of the new year brought activity at the vacant restaurant space at 8003 Norfolk Avenue. "For Lease" signs that had been posted at the former home of Buon Giorno and Satsuma since the latter closed in December 2022 were gone January 2. Brown paper went up over the windows. Now an inspector with the Montgomery County Department of Permitting has issued a Stop Work Order at the property. The order cites Chapter 8 - Section 24 (a) of the Montgomery County Code, which reads as follows:

"When required. It is unlawful to construct, enlarge, alter, remove or demolish a building or change the occupancy of a building from one use group to another requiring greater strength, exitway or sanitary provisions; or to change to a prohibited use; or create or alter any ownership unit when a use under an occupancy certificate or a structure exists on the parent lot; or to install or alter any equipment for which provision is made or the installation of which is regulated by this chapter, without first filing an application with the department in writing and obtaining the required permit therefor; except, that ordinary repairs as defined in Section 8-3 which do not involve any violation of this Chapter are exempt from this provision."