District of Columbia Administrative Code

1210 EDU-2.2 SCHOOLS IN COMMUNITY PLANNING 1210.1 School facility planning should be integrated with broader community planning efforts such as Small Area Plans and revitalization plans. The inclusion of schools in these plans can help promote parental involvement, improve school…

1211 EDU-3 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 1211.1 Washington, DC has an extraordinary concentration of academic resources, including some of the country’s finest colleges and universities. Beyond their core role as educators and knowledge hubs, universities are jobs and cultural center…

1212 EDU-3.1 UDC 1212.1 Continued political and financial support for UDC is essential if it is to fulfill its mission as a viable educational option and path to career advancement for District residents. Creation of UDC campus locations across the District has been a priority of…

1213 EDU-3.2 EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS 1213.1 The array of learning institutions is vitally important to Washington, DC and its residents, particularly its youth. Institutions of higher learning are involved in a myriad of community and educational partnerships to improve access t…

1214 EDU-3.3 COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS 1214.1 The growth of colleges and universities, while supported by the District, has generated concerns in some Washington, DC neighborhoods. Most of the universities have limited land area for expansion and are located immed…

1215 EDU-4 CHILD DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES 1215.1 OSSE, under the DME provides support for and collaborates with other public and private child- and family-serving advocacy organizations to provide services and care for District children up to five years of age. OSSE also provides a…

1216 EDU-4.1 CHILD DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES 1216.a Child Care as Child Development Recognizing that learning begins from the earliest age, OSSE now uses child development as an umbrella term that includes child care. Therefore, references to child development facilities in this sec…

1300 OVERVIEW 1300.1 The Infrastructure Element provides policies and actions on the District’s water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, solid waste management, energy, information and communications technology, and enhanced coordination among these sectors. Investments in these system…

1301 INFRASTRUCTURE GOAL 1301.1 The overarching goal for infrastructure is to provide high-quality, robust, efficiently managed and maintained, and properly funded infrastructure to meet the needs of residents, workers, and visitors in an accessible and equitable way, as well as …

1302 IN-1 DRINKING WATER 1302.1 The water system serving the District consists of two primary components: the water supply and treatment system, and the water distribution system. 1302.2 DC Water was created by District law in 1996, with the approval of the United States Congress…

1303 IN-1.1 ENSURING AN ADEQUATE FUTURE WATER SUPPLY 1303.1 While conservation efforts and other measures have been used as assumptions for the current 20-year drinking water demand forecast, which is significantly lower than demand was in 1995, important factors could affect fut…

1304 IN-1.2 MODERNIZING DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 1304.1 In conjunction with DC Water, Washington, DC must consider the impacts of new development and ensure that water infrastructure will be able to meet future demand while maintaining water quality and reliability. Planned …

1305 IN-2 WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER SYSTEMS 1305.1 This section of the element addresses wastewater and stormwater needs as well as DC Water’s efforts to improve its system to meet current and future needs. Although wastewater (sewage) and stormwater disposal needs are very diffe…

1306 IN-2.1 WASTEWATER SYSTEM 1306.1 DC Water is responsible for wastewater collection and transmission in the District, including operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system. DC Water operates 1,800 miles of sanitary and combined sewers, 160 flow meters, nine wastewat…

1307 IN-2.2 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT 1307.1 The District’s storm drainage system consists of approximately 1,800 miles of sanitary and combined sewers, 16 stormwater stations, 75,000 catch basins and manholes, and 22 flow-metering stations. DC Water also maintains more than 500 sepa…

1308 IN-2.3 COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM 1308.1 As noted earlier, a portion of the District’s sewer system includes combined wastewater and stormwater pipes. This area encompasses about 12,600 acres—or one-third of the District’s land area (see Figure 13.4). A majority of this area was …

1309 IN-3 SOLID WASTE 1309.1 District-owned solid waste facilities transfer roughly 450,000 tons of solid waste per year, which is collected by both public and private solid waste collectors. Municipal solid waste consists of everyday items, such as product packaging, food waste,…

1310 IN-3.1 SOLID WASTE TRANSFER FACILITIES 1310.1 An efficient solid waste transfer station system is essential to the District. There are currently four solid waste transfer facilities, two of which are privately owned and two of which are District-operated. The DPW-operated tr…

1311 IN-4 DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE 1311.1 The provision of high-quality digital infrastructure—wireless networks, fiber optics, and broadband telecommunications—is important to residents and businesses and is vital to economic development. Such infrastructure is critical in the 21s…

1312 IN-4.1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE 1312.1 Localities such as the District plan for and regulate telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with the 1996 Telecommunications Act, as well as other regulations and orders issued by the Federal Communications Commission…

1313 IN-4.2 LEVERAGING NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY 1313.1 Digital technology is enabling Washington, DC to enhance infrastructure systems and to create new ways to serve and support neighborhoods. The District’s smart city approach leverages intelligent city infrastructure, conne…

1314 IN-4.3 OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF INFRASTRUCTURE 1314.1 The strategic and monetary value of Washington, DC’s infrastructure is likely to increase significantly. As an example, increased demand for denser, faster networks and access points for 5G and related technologies are an…

1315 IN-5 ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE 1315.1 While population growth may entail a significant increase in energy demand, demand will be offset by the incorporation of distributed energy resources (DERs). DERs increase the efficiency and effectiveness of energy generation, storage, dist…

1316 IN-5.1 ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE 1316.1 Electricity is delivered to District consumers by electric transmission and distribution facilities. Power plants generate high-voltage electricity, which is transported along transmission lines into the power grid to substations located…

1317 IN-5.2 NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE 1317.1 Consumption of natural gas has remained stable for the past 25 years, (+/- 30 trillion BTU), even as petroleum and coal consumption have decreased dramatically and as the population has grown. District consumers receive natural gas th…

1318 IN-6 INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH 1318.1 This section addresses the need to plan for, coordinate, fund, and implement capital improvements to address existing deficiencies, as well to address the impacts and cost of new development. SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Pl…

1319 IN-6.1 INFRASTRUCTURE AND NEW DEVELOPMENT 1319.1 One of the basic purposes of the Comprehensive Plan is to improve the linkage and coordination between the District’s development and capital improvement decisions. When well-coordinated, a state of good repair for existing in…

1320 IN-6.2 PAYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE 1320.1 In general, local governments and/or independent agencies or authorities (e.g., DC Water and PEPCO) are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure. There are a number of ways that local governments fund infrastructure…

1321 IN-6.3: CROSS-SYSTEMS INTEGRATION 1321.1 Future improvements to the District’s infrastructure should be planned in a collaborative, integrated manner that can identify and maximize shared benefits, rather than be siloed by specific systems or agency. Examples of success, suc…

1322 IN-7: INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE 1322.1 It is critical that infrastructure in Washington, DC be designed to withstand chronic stressors and system shocks. In recent years, the District has seen how hazardous events and climate change can stress and hurt infrastructure. For ex…

1323 IN-7.1: RESILIENCE AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 1323.1 Washington, DC faces major infrastructure challenges, a growing population, and increasing risks posed by natural hazards and climate change in addition to human-made hazards and incidents. As the effects of climate chang…

1400 OVERVIEW 1400.1 The Arts and Culture Element provides policies and actions dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the arts and culture in Washington, DC. Its focus is on strengthening the role of the arts and culture in shaping the physical form of the District. 1400…

1401 ARTS AND CULTURE GOAL 1401.1 The overarching goal for arts and culture is to facilitate a cultural environment in Washington, DC that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible. This type of cultural environment will increase artistic opportunities for individual and collective…

1402 ARTS AND CULTURAL SPACES AC-1 CREATING AND ENHANCING ARTS AND CULTURAL SPACES 1402.1 This element guides expansion and democratization of cultural space by emphasizing how social, informal, and formal cultural spaces are interconnected as a system. This approach elevates loc…

1403 AC-1.1 EXPANDING ARTS AND CULTURAL FACILITIES 1403.1 The District has made great strides in preserving, rehabilitating, and expanding arts and cultural facilities. Since 2005, numerous cultural venues have been established across the District, including the GALA Hispanic The…

1404 AC-1.2 ARTS AND CULTURE IN EVERY COMMUNITY 1404.1 A key concept in this element is culture everywhere, which is an approach for inclusive development that makes use of the cultural facilities and civic infrastructure distributed across the District as anchors for community e…

1405 AC-2 MAKING CULTURE MORE VISIBLE 1405.1 Culture reflects the practices and priorities of a society. The built environment is one of the most important spaces where cultural expressions are exchanged. Making culture visible creates connection points in new and existing spaces…

1406 AC-2.1 INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ART 1406.1 Public art can provide beauty, visual interest, and a source of community pride. It can contribute to cross-cultural understanding and become a source of community dialogue and shared experiences. It also brings economic …

1407 AC-2.2 USING ART TO EXPRESS CULTURAL HERITAGE 1407.1 Cultural installations and events help elevate and preserve the distinct history and identity of the District’s communities. For example, the Friendship Arch near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station celebrates the un…

1408 AC-3 THE CULTURAL ECONOMY 1408.1 The cultural economy is the system of individuals and organizations that produce and exchange cultural goods with consumers. This system facilitates cultural advancement by connecting cultural product development with revenue streams that ena…

1409 AC-3.1 HOUSING AND THE CULTURAL WORKFORCE 1409.1 Affordable housing is important for all residents, including members of the cultural workforce. Many members of the cultural workforce are self-employed or hold a series of jobs that balance income with creative freedom. As a …

1410 AC-3.2 CULTURAL ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT 1410.1 Cultural organizations of all sizes help increase creative opportunities and produce diverse, culturally relevant expressions. These organizations affirm individual identities and create opportunities for residents with differe…

1411 AC-3.3 PROMOTING CULTURAL TOURISM 1411.1 Cultural tourism “is travel directed toward experiencing the arts, heritage, and special character of unique places.” This definition emerged from the 1995 White House Conference on Travel and Tourism, which declared U.S. involvement …

1412 AC-4 SHARED STEWARDSHIP OF ARTS AND CULTURE 1412.1 Shared stewardship is an approach that establishes an explicit role for all stakeholders through partnerships among institutional funders, individual funders, and participants. These partnerships help form alignment between …

1413 AC-4.1 PUBLIC FUNDING 1413.1 In Washington, DC, CAH is the primary public arts and cultural funding agency. It provides programs and services, including grants, professional opportunities, and educational enrichment, to individuals and nonprofit organizations within the Dist…

1414 AC-4.2 PARTNERSHIPS 1414.1 Partnerships are tools for organizational innovation and growth that cross-pollinate cultural organizations and consumers with new ideas and experiences. They bring two or more organizations together through a balance of investment and trust. The c…

1415 AC-4.3 ENGAGING THE CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN PLANNING 1415.1 Incorporating arts and culture into community planning is part of building an inclusive District. Culture infuses new buildings and public spaces with works of art and cultural activities that are reflective of Washin…

1416 AC-4.4 INCREASING ARTS AND CULTURAL EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION 1416.1 Arts and culture play a crucial role in improving students’ ability to learn and can have a significant effect on a child’s overall success in school. Research points to strong relationships between arts …

1500 OVERVIEW 1500.1 The Capitol Hill Planning Area encompasses the 3.1 square miles located east of the U.S. Capitol, north of I-695, and south of Florida Avenue NE and Benning Road NE. Boundaries of the Planning Area are shown on the Capitol Hill map. Most of this area has hist…

1501 HISTORY 1501.1 The Capitol Hill Planning Area has played an important role in the growth of the nation’s capital since the 1700s. The neighborhood itself takes its name from what was once called Jenkins Hill. It was here that Pierre L’Enfant sought to locate the Congress Hou…