District of Columbia Administrative Code

ANTENNAS SUBJECT TO BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT APPROVAL – GENERAL An application for special exception approval shall include the following written and graphic documentation: A map of area to be served by the new antenna; A map and explanation of the area being inadequately serve…

ANTENNA TOWERS AND MONOPOLES SUBJECT TO BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT APPROVAL A monopole shall be permitted if approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment in accordance with Subtitle X of this title, subject to the provisions of this section, in the zones specified in Subtitle C § 1…

NONCONFORMING ANTENNAS A nonconforming antenna shall not be altered, modernized, or otherwise replaced, except in conformity with all provisions of this title. If a nonconforming antenna stops functioning, a temporary replacement antenna may be installed, subject to the following…

EQUIPMENT CABINET OR SHELTER If an antenna equipment cabinet or shelter is provided on the ground, it shall be subject to the following: It shall be regulated as an accessory building subject to any applicable criteria within each zone; and It shall harmonize with the main struct…

REMOVAL OF ANTENNAS, ANTENNA TOWERS, MONOPOLES, AND RELATED EQUIPMENT Antennas, antenna towers, monopoles, equipment cabinets, or equipment shelters shall be removed at the expense of the property owner if they have not been used for a period of one (1) -year. A one (1) -year ext…

INTRODUCTION The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the construction of a retaining wall in any R or RF zone. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Zoning Regulations of 2016: General Ru…

GENERAL PROVISIONS The height of a retaining wall shall be determined as follows: The height of a retaining wall is the vertical distance measured from the natural grade at the base of the wall to the top of the wall; When the height of a retaining wall varies, the height shall b…

SPECIAL EXCEPTION FROM RETAINING WALL REQUIREMENTS Retaining walls not meeting the requirements of this section may be approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment as a special exception pursuant to Subtitle X. In addition to meeting the general conditions for being granted a speci…

INTRODUCTION 1500.1 A penthouse or rooftop structure, when not in conflict with the Height Act or otherwise restricted, may be erected to a height in excess of the building height authorized by the zone district, in accordance with the conditions specified in this section. 1500.2…

USES 1501.1 A penthouse or rooftop structure may house mechanical equipment, or any use permitted within the zone, except that penthouse space shall be restricted as follows: (a) Within residential zones in which the building is limited to thirty-five feet (35 ft.) or forty feet …

1502 HEIGHT 1502.1 Except as otherwise limited in this Chapter, height and number of stories permitted for a penthouse or rooftop structure shall be as prescribed in the development standards for the applicable zone. 1502.2 The height and number of stories permitted for a penthou…

1503 ENCLOSING WALLS 1503.1 All penthouses and mechanical equipment shall be in one (1) enclosure, except that the following may be contained within a separate enclosure: (a) Penthouse and mechanical equipment located on the roof of a public school, public recreation center, or p…

1504 SETBACKS 1504.1 Except as exempted by Subtitle C §§ 1504.2 to 1504.4, a penthouse or rooftop structure shall be set back from the edge of the roof upon which it is located, measured from a point where a line extending from the top of the roof intersects with the outside face…

1505 ENCLOSED AREA 1505.1 For the purposes of calculating floor area ratio for the building, the aggregate square footage of all levels or stories of a penthouse measuring six and one-half feet (6.5 ft.) or more in height shall be included in the gross floor area contributing to …

1506 RELIEF FROM PENTHOUSE OR ROOFTOP STRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS 1506.1 Relief from the requirements of Subtitle C §§ 1503 and 1504 may be granted as a special exception by the Board of Zoning Adjustment subject to: (a) The special exception requirements of Subtitle X, Chapter 9; (b)…

1507 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION REQUIREMENT GENERATED BY CONSTRUCTION OF PENTHOUSE HABITABLE SPACE 1507.1 The construction of penthouse habitable space on a building that is devoted to entirely non-residential or lodging use shall contribute funds to the Housing Trust Fund in …

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 22 (January 6, 2017); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published …

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Zoning Regulations of 2016: General Rules 11-C DCMR § 1608 AUTHORIT…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Zoning Regulations of 2016: General Rules 11-C DCMR § 1609 AUTHORIT…

[REPEALED] SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3776 (April 3, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023). District of Columbia Municipal Regula…

INTRODUCTION Plaza regulations are intended to provide spaces in private developments that serve as transitional spaces between streets or pedestrian rights-of-ways and the entrances of buildings. These spaces are intended for public use, and may also be used for temporary commer…

GENERAL PROCEDURES Plaza space for new development subject to this chapter shall be located immediately adjacent to the main entrance to the principal building or structure on the lot, and shall serve as a transitional space between the street or pedestrian right-of-way and the b…

INTRODUCTION Where a court is provided for a building or portion of a building it shall be provided with the area and dimensions required in each zone or as prescribed in the applicable subtitle. For the purposes of determining court area and dimensions, "residential uses" shall …

RULES OF MEASUREMENT In the case of a building devoted to both residential and nonresidential uses, the minimum width and area of a court shall be computed as follows: When the residential and nonresidential uses are located on different floors of the building, the width and area…

INTRODUCTION TO NONCONFORMITIES This chapter addresses structures, uses of land, and uses of structures that were lawful before this title was adopted, but that would be prohibited, regulated, or restricted under the terms of this title as it may be amended, and provides: Guidanc…

GENERAL PROVISIONS Except as otherwise permitted in this chapter, nonconforming structures or uses may not be enlarged upon, expanded, or extended, nor may they be used as a basis for adding other structures or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same zone district. Any nonconformin…

NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES Except as provided in Subtitle C § 203.8, ordinary repairs, alterations, and modernizations to the structure, including structural alterations, shall be permitted. 202.2 Enlargements or additions may be made to the structure; provided that the addition or…

DESTRUCTION OF A NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE If a nonconforming structure is destroyed by fire, collapse, explosion, or act of God to an extent of more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the cost of reconstructing the entire structure, the nonconforming structure shall not be restore…

NONCONFORMING USE A nonconforming use of land or structure shall not be extended in land area, gross floor area, or use intensity; and shall not be extended to portions of a structure not devoted to that nonconforming use at the time of enactment of this title. Where the nonconfo…

DESTRUCTION OF A STRUCTURE DEVOTED TO A NONCONFORMING USE If a structure devoted to a nonconforming use is destroyed by fire, collapse, explosion, or act of God to an extent of more than fifty percent (50%) of the cost of reconstructing the entire structure, it shall not be resto…

INTRODUCTION This chapter provides: General rules for the creation of new record lots; Guidance regarding how to determine the applicability of lot dimension and shape regulations to a zone; General rules for measurement and standards that relate to the dimension and shape of lot…

SUBSTANDARD LOTS A record lot existing prior to the effective date of this title that does not conform with the lot dimension and lot area requirements of the zone in which it is located may be considered a conforming lot for the purposes of building permits and uses provided any…

SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS Where a lot is divided, the division shall be effected in a manner that will not violate the provision of this title for yards, courts, other open space, minimum lot width, minimum lot area, floor area ratio, percentage of lot occupancy, parking spaces, or…

LOT FRONTAGE All new record lots shall have at least one (1) street lot line on a public street or a public access easement approved by the District Department of Transportation, except that new Alley Record Lots shall instead comply with the rules of Subtitle C § 306. Where a mi…

RULES OF MEASUREMENT FOR LOT WIDTH Where the lot is an interior lot, lot width shall be determined as follows: Establish two points by measuring along each side lot line a distance of thirty feet (30 ft.) from the intersection point of each side lot line and the street lot line; …

THEORETICAL SUBDIVISIONS In the R, RF, and RA zones, the Board of Zoning Adjustment may grant, through special exception, a waiver of Subtitle C § 302.1 to allow multiple primary buildings on a single record lot provided that, in addition to the general special exception criteria…

306 NEW ALLEY RECORD LOTS 306.1 A new Alley Record Lot shall: (a) Have frontage along a public alley with a minimum alley width of twenty-four feet (24 ft.), with the alley frontage no less than fourteen feet (14 ft); (b) Have access to a public street through a public alley or a…

INTRODUCTION Tree protection regulations of this title shall apply only in designated zones and are intended to: Preserve mature trees in the District to the maximum extent possible; Prevent adverse impacts on open space, parkland, stream beds, or other environmentally sensitive …

TREE PROTECTION REGULATIONS The tree protection standards required by specific zones shall apply when: Constructing a building, accessory building, horizontal building addition, or other structure; or Causing any other land disturbing activity to the lot that could result in the …

INTRODUCTION Pervious surface regulations are intended to provide a minimum amount of pervious area and limit the amount of impervious surface on a lot. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Zo…

PERVIOUS SURFACE REQUIREMENT The minimum pervious surface percentage shall be as required by the development standards for the R and RF zones. The minimum pervious surface percentage requirement shall be applicable only in conjunction with the following: The construction of a new…

RULES OF MEASUREMENT FOR PERVIOUS SURFACES Only the following shall be considered pervious surfaces for the purposes of calculating the pervious surface area: Grass, mulched groundcover, all areas of a vegetated roof planted with a growing medium, and other planted areas; Permeab…

INTRODUCTION TO GREEN AREA RATIO Green Area Ratio (GAR) is the ratio of the weighted value of landscape elements to land area. The GAR score relates to an increase in the quantity and quality of environmental performance of the urban landscape. GAR sets integrated environmental r…