Here’s a look at Subtitle D of the 2016 DC Zoning Regulations, which covers lower-density residential zones in the city.

1. A Look at DC’s New Zoning
Regulations - Residential
House Zones
RACHAEL HESLING

2. A Look at DC’s New Zoning Regulations -
Residential House Zones
 Subtitle D of the 2016 Washington, DC Zoning Regulations covers residential housing.
These zones will create stable residential areas with low- to moderate density
development.
 There are several goals for these residential zones. The R zones will acknowledge and
support each neighborhood’s character, walkability, and affordability, as well as
promote aging in place and the preservation of housing stock. Compatible accessory
and non-residential uses will be limited in these zones. Development on existing lots
is allowed, but the regulations have established a minimum lot area for subdividing
and creating new lots. The regulations discourage the development of multiple
dwelling units, like apartments and condominiums, but buildings and structures
related to public education, public libraries, and public recreation will be permitted.

3. A Look at DC’s New Zoning Regulations -
Residential House Zones (cont.)
 Height, floor area ratio (FAR), and lot occupancy in the R zones will be controlled by
development standards. These same standards will also control the location of these structures in
relationship to adjacent lots and streets, as well as rear and side yards.
 In R zones, a single principal dwelling unit and a single accessory apartment is allowed in each
recorded lot. Any buildings that are detached or semi-detached will not qualify as an attached
unit for the purposes of assessing occupancy of the lot. A place of worship in an R zone will be
allowed a maximum lot occupancy of 60%.
 There are some exceptions to the maximum height of buildings in R zones. These exceptions
include architectural decorations, like minarets, spires, towers, and domes, as well as chimneys
and smokestacks. Public recreation and community centers can only extend to a maximum of 45
feet, but places of worship and public school buildings can reach up to 60 feet. Institutional
structures can be as tall as 90 feet, provided the structure is removed from lot lines at one foot
of distance per foot of structural height.

4. Residential House Zones
 R-1-A zones will be designated for large lots and detached homes, while R-1-B
zones will be for detached houses on moderately sized lots. The R-2 zones will
provide for semi-detached dwellings and protect these areas from denser
residential development. R-3 zones will permit row dwellings, as well as a
combination of row dwellings with detached and semi-detached dwellings.

5. Tree and Slope Protection Residential
House Zones
 Zones R-6 and R-7 are for the purpose of tree and slope protection. They are
meant to protect park-like neighborhood settings by limiting the ways in which
natural landscapes can be altered. These zones will attempt to preserve mature
trees and natural topography as much as possible. These zones will be mapped
where there are stream beds, public open spaces, groves of trees, and
undeveloped space. Zone R-6 is intended for large lots with detached dwellings,
while R-7 includes moderately sized lots with detached houses.

6. Forest Hills Tree and Slope Residential
House Zones
 Zones R-8, R-9, and R-10 are similar to zones R-6 and R-7, but are intended
specifically for the Forest Hills neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods
bordered to the west by Connecticut Avenue and Thirty-Second Street, to the
east by Rock Creek Park, to the north by Fort Circle Park and Nevada Avenue
NW, and to the south by Melvin C. Hazen Park.

7. Naval Observatory Residential House
Zones
 Zones R-11, R-12, and R-13 are intended to protect the Naval Observatory land.
These zones recognize the historic importance of the Naval Observatory and
are intended to regulate land use in this area in a way that reflects that
importance. This zone will also provide the additional controls to protect federal
interests on private land, namely the scientific research conducted at the Naval
Observatory and the security needs of the Vice President’s residence.

8. Wesley Heights Residential House Zones
 Zones R-14 and R-15 are intended to protect the low-density character of the
Wesley Heights neighborhood. These zones will regulate construction of new
and existing buildings in the area, with the R-14 zone being intended for large
lots and the R-15 zone intended for moderate lots.

9. Sixteenth Street Heights Residential
House Zone
 The R-16 zone is intended to address concerns about the increasing non-
residential use of houses in the Sixteenth Street Heights area. This zone will limit
the expansion of nonresidential uses in order to maintain the housing supply,
while still recognizing and maintaining the important number of health and
social service facilities in this area.

10. Foggy Bottom Residential House Zones
 Zone R-17 is intended to enhance the historic character and the walkable, so-
called “human scale” of the Foggy Bottom area by limiting curb cuts,
maintaining landscaped green space, and encouraging the use of public
transportation to avoid disruptive traffic.

11. Georgetown Residential House Zones
 Zones R-19 and R-20 are designed to protect the Georgetown National
Landmark Historic District by limiting the construction of new and expanded
buildings, retaining the quiet, residential nature of the area, and controlling
compatible nonresidential uses.

12. Chain Bridge Road/University Terrace
Residential House Zone
 Zone R-21 is intended to preserve the park-like setting of the Chain Bridge Road
and University Terrace area. This zone will limit the minimum size of lots, protect
environmentally sensitive natural areas such as parkland and streambeds, and
limit new construction.