District of Columbia Administrative Code

1007 HP-1.5 DESIGNATING HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND DISTRICTS 1007.1 Historic properties are recognized through designation as historic landmarks or historic districts in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites, Washington, DC’s official list of historic properties. Listi…

1008 HP-1.6 THE IMAGE OF WASHINGTON, DC 1008.1 The treasured image of Washington, DC and its wealth of historic buildings and neighborhoods is matched by few other cities in the United States. These assets include the grand and monumental legacies of the L’Enfant and McMillan Pla…

1009 HP-2 PROTECTING AND ENHANCING HISTORIC PROPERTIES 1009.1 Protection of historic properties is inherent in the District’s community planning, economic development, and construction permitting processes. Preservation protections help to ensure that building renovations and new…

1010 HP-2.1 THE DISTRICT’S HISTORIC PLANS 1010.1 Preservation of historic properties in Washington, DC begins with its historic plans. The L’Enfant Plan, drawn by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791, has served as an enduring symbol and armature for growth of the national capital, but the Di…

1011 HP-2.2 HISTORIC LANDSCAPES AND OPEN SPACE 1011.1 The natural beauty of Washington, DC creates an exceptional setting for the nation’s capital. Nature permeates the District, helping to define its historic character. A long planning legacy has also endowed Washington, DC with…

1012 HP-2.3 DISTRICT GOVERNMENT STEWARDSHIP 1012.1 The District government should set the standard for historic preservation in Washington, DC, through both committed leadership and exemplary treatment of its own historic properties. The following policies promote District govern…

1013 HP-2.4 ZONING COMPATIBILITY 1013.1 The District’s zoning regulations adopted in 2016 (ZR16) improve consistency between zoning and existing building conditions in Washington, DC’s historic districts and older neighborhoods. The regulations also include incentives for retenti…

1014 HP-2.5 REVIEW OF REHABILITATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION 1014.1 Historic properties have generated record levels of rehabilitation and construction activity in Washington, DC in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. Whether these projects are modest home improvem…

1015 HP-2.6 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES 1015.1 Washington, DC has been the home of successive generations stretching far back in time. The artifacts and human-made features uncovered through archaeological investigation are important evidence of the District’s history, its colonial …

1016 HP-2.7 ENFORCEMENT 1016.1 Enforcement programs are necessary to encourage consistent compliance with District property maintenance codes, as well as with historic preservation laws, permits, and approvals. Inspections and enforcement programs require cooperation among buildi…

1017 HP-2.8 HAZARD PROTECTION FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES 1017.1 While preservation planning is a well-established function in Washington, DC, more work needs to be done to effectively integrate the District’s preservation and resilience programs. This should include greater consider…

1018 HP-3 EXPANDING PRESERVATION KNOWLEDGE 1018.1 Broad public awareness of historic properties and cultural resources is vital to a vibrant historic preservation program. It promotes understanding and appreciation of the District’s heritage, allowing communities to take pride in…

1019 HP-3.1 ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT HISTORIC PROPERTIES 1019.1 District residents may first encounter the practice of preservation through a home improvement project. Communities may have the same experience when a new building or a historic district is proposed. For develope…

1020 HP-3.2 PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES 1020.1 Washington, DC’s most important historic features are widely familiar and officially recognized through historic designation. The District’s monuments are world-famous, and some of its neighborhoods are well-known to peop…

1021 HP-3.3 PRESERVATION PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVOCACY 1021.1 The foundation of a strong preservation program is an informed and participatory public that understands why historic preservation is important, how it is achieved and what benefits it can provide. Strong preservation part…

1022 HP-4 INVESTING IN HISTORIC ASSETS 1022.1 Historic preservation is fundamental to the growth and development of District neighborhoods. It is a proven catalyst for neighborhood investment and improvement, whose financial impact on Washington, DC is well documented. Preservati…

1023 HP-4.1 PRESERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1023.1 Investment in historic preservation has been a source of economic development for Washington, DC. Continual investment in the District’s architectural heritage supports stable property values and keeps neighborhoods vibrant…

1024 HP-4.2 PRESERVATION INCENTIVES 1024.1 Financial incentives are beneficial and sometimes necessary as a means of achieving preservation of historic properties. Incentives can also help to preserve affordable housing and protect neighborhood diversity. Existing preservation in…

1100 OVERVIEW 1100.1 The Community Services and Facilities Element contains policies and actions for public facilities that provide health and older adult care services, as well as community facilities that include libraries, police stations, fire stations, and other municipal fa…

1101 COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES GOAL 1101.1 The goal for community services and facilities is to provide high-quality, accessible, efficiently managed, and properly funded community facilities to support the efficient, equitable, and resilient delivery of municipal service…

1102 CSF-1 ADEQUATE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES 1102.1 Providing adequate community services and facilities requires careful planning and, in some cases, reallocating resources and refocusing priorities. It also requires improved coordination among District agencies and ong…

1103 CSF-1.1 LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES 1103.1 DGS is responsible for the management, care, and operation of many of Washington, DC’s government facilities. As of 2018, these facilities include over 835 government-owned properties that include 650 buildings, dozens …

1104 CSF-1.2 FUNDING AND COORDINATION 1104.1 The District’s CIP includes District-owned facilities (e.g., libraries, recreation centers, District offices, parking lots), District-owned equipment (e.g., police cars, fire trucks, snow removal equipment), and transportation infrastr…

1105 CSF-2 HEALTH 1105.1 One of Washington, DC’s most important resources is the health of its residents. While many of the District’s residents and neighborhoods enjoy exceptional health, significant health disparities persist along dimensions of income, geography, race, gender,…

1106 CSF-2.1 HEALTH and HEALTH EQUITY 1106.1 Health equity is defined as the commitment to ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be healthier. Many of the determinants of health and health inequities in populations have social, environmental, and economic orig…

1107 CSF-2.2 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND RESILIENCE 1107.1 Healthy communities, where social and structural determinants of health are met and supported, are also resilient communities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), “health is a key foundatio…

1108 CSF-2.3 HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES 1108.1 Over the last decade, the District focused public health efforts on expanding primary care across Washington, DC. During this time, the District invested over $71 million in the construction of new state-of-the-art primary care f…

1109 CSF-2.4 SENIOR/OLDER ADULT CARE 1109.1 The population of older adults or seniors (persons 60 years of age and older) is expected to continue to grow at a steady rate and to be the fastest growing segment of the District’s population during the next 15 to 20 years. Although D…

1110 CSF-3 LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES 1110.1 As one of world’s leading centers of information and knowledge, Washington, DC has a state-of-the-art public library system, which combines high-quality physical buildings with new technology, an expanded online presence, invit…

1111 CSF-3.1 LIBRARY FACILITIES 1111.1 Map 11.1 shows the location of DCPL facilities as of 2017. As noted earlier, the current system includes the central library and 25 branches. 1111.1a Text box: DC Public Library System As of 2018, DCPL is one of a few large urban library sys…

1112 CSF-3.2 LIBRARY LOCATION 1112.1 The recent modernization of branch libraries creates an exciting opportunity for many Washington, DC neighborhoods. High-quality public libraries can help anchor neighborhood and corridor reinvestment efforts. Libraries can also support many o…

1113 CSF-4 Public Safety 1113.1 Public safety affects Washington, DC residents’ lives and activities across multiple dimensions that collectively have a significant effect on quality of life. Over the past decade, the District experienced significant reductions in crime, particul…

1114 CSF-4.1 POLICE FACILITIES AND SERVICES 1114.1 MPD is the primary law enforcement agency for Washington, DC. The District is divided into seven Police Districts and 56 Police Service Areas (PSAs) that provide the basic building blocks for community policing. Map 11.2 shows th…

1115 CSF-4.2 FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES 1115.1 Washington, DC’s FEMS provides fire protection and pre-hospital medical care and transportation to residents, workers, and visitors, including those in federal facilities located in the District. FEMS conducts fire inspections in ap…

1116 CSF-5 CORRECTIONS 1116.1 Corrections is a critical component of public safety in Washington, DC. Just as police are essential to deterring unlawful activity, DOC should ensure that individuals who are deemed by the legal system to pose a significant danger to themselves or o…

1117 CSF-5.1 CORRECTIONS FACILITIES 1117.1 Secure detention facilities, like jails, require significant resources to operate. In many cases, these facilities are not the best way to address the needs of all individuals who require correctional intervention. Less restrictive, yet …

1118 CSF-5.2 FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS 1118.1 Washington DC’s criminal justice system is a hybrid of local and federal control. The District’s felons are housed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, except in some instances during the last months of their sentences, where the…

1119 CSF-6 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE 1119.1 In the years since the 2006 Comprehensive Plan adoption, Washington, DC’s approach to emergency management and homeland security has evolved significantly. The District has expanded its focus to include not only pre-disaster…

1120 CSF-6.1 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 1120.1 HSEMA leads efforts to ensure the District is prepared to prevent, protect against, respond to, mitigate, and recover from all threats and hazards. HSEMA develops and implements homeland security and emergency preparedness plans in coord…

1121 CSF-6.2 RESILIENCE AND CRITICAL FACILITIES 1121.1 This section addresses the preservation and enhancement of Washington, DC’s facilities and lands to address vulnerability of critical facilities to adverse effects of natural and human-made shocks, such as extreme weather eve…

1200 OVERVIEW 1200.1 The Educational Facilities Element addresses the location, planning, use, and design of the District’s educational facilities and campuses. It includes policies and actions related to early childhood development facilities, public primary and secondary Distri…

1201 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES GOAL 1201.1 The overarching goal for educational facilities is to provide facilities that accommodate population growth and its geographic distribution and inspire excellence in learning; create a safe and healthy environment for students; and help eac…

1202 EDU-1 PK-12 AND ADULT/ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FACILITY PLANNING 1202.1 Public education in the District of Columbia is provided by DCPS and by public charter schools. DCPS is a traditional local education agency (LEA) headed by a chancellor appointed by the Mayor under the Public…

1203 EDU-1.1 Integrated Master Planning for All Public Schools 1203.1 Washington, DC is committed to not only modernizing its inventory but also to maintaining school facilities over the long term. The Facility Conditions Assessment (FCA) Program aims to complete FCAs for every D…

1204 EDU-1.2 DCPS FACILITIES 1204.1 Washington, DC has made significant progress toward modernizing DCPS school buildings, investing more than $2 billion since 2007 to modernize 73 school buildings. The District has budgeted an additional $1.6 billion to modernize 20 DCPS school …

1205 EDU-1.3 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES 1205.1 Public charter schools provide another school choice for families with school-age children. As of SY2016-17, 46 percent of all public-school students were enrolled in public charter schools, and DC PCSB approved the conditional…

1206 EDU-1.4 PRIVATE PK-12 SCHOOL FACILITIES 1206.1 Information gathered from the National Center for Educational Statistics, the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), the National Center for Education Statistics, and the National Catholic Education As…

1207 EDU-1.5 SCHOOL BUILDING DESIGN AND SITE PLANNING 1207.1 Attractive, well-designed, and well-sited schools communicate respect for the people who use them and contribute to a positive school climate and productive learning. By strategically locating windows, access points, an…

1208 EDU-1.6 PLANNING FOR THE LONG-TERM FUTURE 1208.1 An important long-range planning objective is to align DCPS and public charter school enrollment projections with the Comprehensive Plan’s demographic forecasts. The Comprehensive Plan can aid DCPS by identifying the specific …

1209 EDU-2.1 SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY ANCHORS 1209.1 Schools are a powerful expression of a community’s values and aspirations. In addition to supporting the academic needs of local students, they can reflect the social, educational, recreational, and personal needs of the broader co…