District of Columbia Administrative Code

609 E-2.5 SUSTAINING WILDLIFE 609.1 At the time of initial European settlement, Washington, DC was home to species as diverse as buffalo, bear, sturgeon, cranes, rattlesnakes, wolves, and bobcats. While these animals were killed off or driven from the local landscape decades ago,…

610 E-3 CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES 610.1 This section of the Environmental Protection Element addresses the conservation of water and energy resources and the reduction of solid waste. Water and energy are both limited resources, subject to growing demand, constrained supply, a…

611 E-3.1 CONSERVING WATER 611.1 Washington, DC’s drinking water is sourced from the Potomac River. While there have not been any water supply issues, severe drought conditions could stress the Potomac River. With competing demands in the watershed during the next 20 years, the D…

612 E-3.2 CONSERVING ENERGY AND REDUCING GHG EMISSIONS 612.1 Greater energy efficiency results in a cleaner District, better air quality, and lower energy bills for District residents. More than $2.3 billion a year is spent on energy by District residents, employees, businesses, …

613 E-3.3 REDUCING SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL NEEDS 613.1 Sustainable materials management practices and policies consider the entire life cycle of products, from materials extraction, manufacturing, distribution, and usage through end-of-life management, including solid waste disposal…

614 E-4 PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 614.1 The term sustainability has many definitions. At its core, it refers to managing resources so that they are not permanently depleted or lost for future generations. On a local level, this principle suggests that care is taken t…

615 E-4.1 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 615.1 GI can include a variety of construction and design techniques that conserve the natural hydrology of development or redevelopment sites. It includes small-scale practices that allow water to infiltrate, evaporate, or transpire on-site rather …

616 E-4.2 PROMOTING GREEN BUILDING 616.1 Green building standards are well-established as a means of growing more sustainably. The LEED rating system, established by the Green Building Council, establishes varying levels of certification for green buildings based on the degree to…

617 E-4.3 ENHANCING URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION AND COMMUNITY GARDENING 617.1 With more than 60 percent of District residents living in multi-family housing with limited access to private open space, community gardens provide an important opportunity for green community space and for r…

618 E-4.4 REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT 618.1 The District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act (DCEPA), modeled after the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires all District agencies to analyze and disclose the environmental effects of their major…

619 E-5 REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS 619.1 Environmental hazards in Washington, DC that may be related to land use include a variety of sudden shocks and chronic stressors, such as air and water pollution, contaminated soils, hazardous materials, noise, disease vectors, floodin…

620 E-5.1 REDUCING AIR POLLUTION 620.1 Air quality has improved tremendously over the decades thanks to successful air pollution control programs and technology improvements. Washington, DC residents continue to experience occasional smoggy summer days that can be harmful to huma…

621 E-6 THE LINK BETWEEN LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, AND AIR QUALITY 621.1 Land use and transportation policies work in tandem to affect the region’s air quality. Fifty-one percent of nitrogen oxide emissions and 31 percent of volatile organic compounds emissions—the two precursors…

622 E-6.1 REDUCING WATER POLLUTION 622.1 Like cities across the United States, Washington, DC faces the challenge of combating the pollution of its rivers, streams, and groundwater. The problem dates to colonial days when the District disposed of sewage and agricultural waste in …

623 E-6.2 CONTROLLING NOISE 623.1 Noise affects the general health and well-being of District residents. High noise levels can create a host of problems, ranging from stress to hearing loss. Noise can also impact urban wildlife. In the noisiest parts of Washington, DC, the sounds…

624 E-6.3 MANAGING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND MATERIALS 624.1 Hazardous substances include materials that may pose a threat to human health or the environment when they are improperly handled, stored, or disposed of. The use of hazardous substances is common in households and busin…

625 E-6.4 DRINKING WATER SAFETY 625.1 Drinking water quality in the District is impacted by land use in the Potomac Basin and by the condition of Washington, DC’s water distribution system. Runoff from upstream development, dairy and hog farms, and other agricultural and mining u…

626 E-6.5 SANITATION, LITTER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 626.1 Among the many aspects of environmental health in the District are the maintenance of sanitary conditions, the reduction of litter, and the control of disease-carrying pests. DC Health maintains numerous programs to red…

627 E-6.6 OTHER HAZARDS AND POLLUTANTS 627.1 Two other environmental hazards are addressed in this Comprehensive Plan. The first, light pollution, has been raised in the past around the Naval Observatory in the northwest quadrant. In some instances, brighter lighting may be desir…

628 E-6.7 ACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 628.1 Environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, national origins, and incomes, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. A…

629 E-7 ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, AND THE ECONOMY 629.1 The final section of this Element presents policies and actions that tie environmental quality to strategic decisions about government operations, economic growth, and education in Washington, DC. These policies take the Envir…

630 E-7.1 GREENING THE GOVERNMENT 630.1 The District needs to set high standards for its own operations if it expects others in the community to follow suit. It should be a role model in energy efficiency, renewable energy production, green building construction, GI, sustainable …

631 E-7.2 SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION AND STEWARDSHIP 631.1 A key element of the District’s environmental strategy is increased environmental education. This should begin with collaborative efforts between local nonprofits, the private sector, District and federal governments, and K…

632 E-7.3 ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY 632.1 Environmental and economic development goals intersect with respect to the redevelopment of brownfield sites. Brownfields include industrial, commercial, institutional, or government sites that are abandoned or underused, in part due to…

633 E-7.4 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT 633.1 The final section of this chapter addresses the administration of environmental policies and programs in Washington, DC. 633.2 Policy E-7.4.1: Adequacy of Funding Provide for adequate funding and coordination of environmental prote…

700 OVERVIEW 700.1 The Economic Development Element addresses the future of Washington, DC’s economy and the creation of economic opportunity for current and future District residents. It includes strategies to sustain the District’s major industries, diversify the economy, accom…

701 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOAL 701.1 The overarching goal for economic development in the District is to drive inclusive economic expansion and resilience by growing the economy and reducing employment disparities across race, geography, and educational attainment status. SOURCE: …

702 ED-1 DEFINING THE ECONOMIC FUTURE 702.1 The District’s economy is underpinned by a handful of core industries, including government (particularly federal government); educational services; professional, technical, and scientific services; administrative support services; reli…

703 ED-1.1 DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMIC BASE 703.1 The District can do more to leverage the strengths of its economy and the region’s skilled, highly educated labor force. It already has an enviable mix of assets that includes the nation’s capital, high-performing industries, numero…

704 ED-1.2 SUSTAINING THE FEDERAL PRESENCE 704.1 Although the number of federal jobs declined between 1990 and 1998 and continued to decline as a percentage of all jobs through 2017, retaining federal employment is an important part of the District’s economic development strategy…

705 ED-1.3 SUPPORTING INNOVATION IN THE ECONOMY 705.1 The District’s long-term economic strength depends on fostering continual growth and diversification. Historically, the federal government has driven the vast majority of the District’s economic growth. Looking forward, it is …

706 ED-2 THE SPATIAL IMPACTS OF THE JOB MARKET 706.1 The forecasted addition of 247,100 jobs between 2015 and 2045 will create demand for office, retail, hospitality, institutional, and industrial space. Estimates of floor space needs for the 30 -year period vary from around 50 m…

707 ED-2.1 THE OFFICE ECONOMY 707.1 The District has one of the largest inventories of office space in the nation. In 2006, there were 112 million square feet of office space, which grew over the next 10 years to over 142 million square feet. Among American cities, only Manhattan…

708 ED-2.2 THE RETAIL ECONOMY 708.1 The retail sector has generated significant tax revenue that provided employment and income for residents, enhanced the vitality of Washington, DC, and improved shopping, dining, and entertainment choices for District neighborhoods. In recent y…

709 ED-2.3 THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY ECONOMY 709.1 The District is a premier tourism, convention, and special events destination. Its array of attractions and cultural venues, particularly national museums and federal monuments, rivals that of other great cities around the glob…

710 ED-2.4 THE INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMY 710.1 The District’s institutional anchors—including colleges, universities, and hospitals—make a significant contribution to the local economy. As of 2017, colleges, universities, and professional schools accounted for 52,900 jobs in the Dist…

711 ED-2.5 THE PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND REPAIR ECONOMY 711.1 Production, distribution, and repair (PDR) areas in Washington, DC play an important role in District operations, in addition to preserving space for industries that make, distribute, and repair goods. PDR industri…

712 ED-3 SUPPORTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 712.1 The distinct characteristics of many of the District’s neighborhoods are expressed in their local shopping areas. Neighborhood business districts often reflect the ethnic heritage, building patterns, and architectura…

713 ED-3.1 STRENGTHENING RETAIL DISTRICTS 713.1 Part of growing an inclusive District involves improving access to basic goods and services for all residents of Washington, DC. Currently, some areas of the District lack basic amenities such as grocery stores, hardware stores, dru…

714 ED-3.2 SMALL AND LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES 714.1 Small goods and services businesses are an important part of what makes the District’s neighborhood commercial areas work. They provide full- and part-time employment opportunities for Washington, DC residents and contribute to …

715 ED-4 INCREASING ECONOMIC EQUITY 715.1 At the heart of Washington, DC’s economic development strategy is a goal to create good-quality jobs with livable wages and good benefits that are filled by residents. Good-quality jobs should offer stable employment with opportunities to…

716 ED-4.1 LINKING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT 716.1 Washington, DC is making progress toward improved educational outcomes, but the District continues to face serious challenges with respect to literacy, high dropout rates, low test scores, truancy, and unsatisfactory student perfo…

717 ED-4.2 INCREASING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS 717.1 A competitive and marketable workforce is crucial to the District’s economic health. Workforce development strategies must combine public and private investment and initiatives to close the occupational skills gap that now …

718 ED-4.3 GETTING TO WORK 718.1 In 2016, 35 percent of all employed District residents worked in the suburbs. This percentage is fairly typical of large, older central cities. The comparable 2014 figures for Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Philadelphia were 46, 53, 40, and…

800 OVERVIEW 800.1 This element addresses the future of parks, recreation, and open space in Washington, DC. It recognizes the important role parks play in recreation, aesthetics, health and wellness, neighborhood character, environmental quality, and resilience. The element also…

801 PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE GOAL 801.1 The overarching goal for parks, recreation, and open space is to preserve and enhance parks and open spaces within Washington, DC to meet active and passive recreational needs through universal access, promote health and wellness, …

802 PROS-1 PARK PLANNING AND LAND MANAGEMENT 802.1 This section of the element focuses on parks that are owned and operated by the District. Policies also express the District’s perspectives on the federally-owned parks that serve residents. 802.2 The District manages 375 parks a…

803 THE PARKS MASTER PLAN 803.1 In 2006, DPR drafted its first Comprehensive Master Plan since its establishment in 1942. Building on this earlier work, DPR and the DC Office of Planning completed the Parks and Recreation Master Plan in 2014 (the Parks Master Plan). 803.2 The Par…

804 PROS-1.1 DEVELOPING A PARK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM 804.1 Most large cities in the United States have adopted classification systems to guide the management of their parks and open spaces. In fact, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) defines park classification a…

805 PROS-1.2 CLOSING THE GAPS 805.1 At first glance, Washington, DC appears to have a more than adequate supply of parkland. There are 12.6 acres of parks per 1,000 residents, compared to 7.9 acres per 1,000 in Baltimore, 6.9 acres per 1,000 in Philadelphia, and 7.7 acres per 1,0…