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A McDonald's Big Mac has 540 calories.

If you didn't know that before hitting the drive-through, you'll know soon enough. The Montgomery County Council approved legislation Tuesday requiring chain restaurants, including McDonald's, to post calorie information on menus and menu boards.

Additional information on fat content, sugar and other nutritional details will be available on request, said Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, who sponsored the bill.

The vote Tuesday was 8-1, with Councilman Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown opposed.

Council members decided to exclude convenience stores, movie theaters, bowling alleys and grocery stores from the requirement.

Leventhal introduced the legislation in 2007, but the bill stalled at the start of the economic recession. Now, Leventhal says a national movement on the issue makes it a good time for county restaurants to undertake the change.

The requirement will apply only to chain restaurants with 20 or more locations nationwide.

"Information is power, and this bill will empower customers," council President Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg said Tuesday.

The Restaurant Association of Maryland opposes Leventhal's bill and instead supports a nationwide menu labeling requirement, saying it would be less costly than if chain restaurants were forced to comply with a different code in every jurisdiction.

The labeling requirement is part of a health care bill being debated in Congress, and Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring said she hoped it would be adopted.

Until that legislation would take effect — in about three years — Montgomery County will benefit from a local requirement, Council Vice President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac said.

Melvin Thompson, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for the state's restaurant association, said local bills pose a "nightmare" for restaurant owners.

However, Mark Cohen, general manager of Phillips Seafood in Rockville, said it would not be difficult for him to comply. While his restaurant will not be forced to abide by Leventhal's bill, Cohen has been considering voluntarily posting some nutritional information on menus.

"Customers don't realize how many calories are in (their food)," he said. "I think they would change their eating habits if they did."

Knapp, the only council member voting against the measure, said there was no evidence that posting nutritional information on menus and menu boards had altered behavior elsewhere.

Leventhal's bill would not be expensive for chain restaurants, most of which already have locations in New York City, where they are required to provide nutritional information in menus and on boards, he said.

Cohen said it likely would cost him only a few hundred dollars to post the nutritional information.