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Structure of the Zoning Regulations of 2016

(Foreign Language Translations)

The review of the Zoning Regulations of 1958, as amended, was a project that began in 2007 with the Zoning Commission holding two roundtables and concluded on January 14, 2016 with the Zoning Commission voting unanimously to adopt text to revise the DC Zoning Regulations and approve map amendments to implement that text. This is the first time the Zoning Regulations and Zoning Map have been comprehensively revised since 1958. The new Zoning Regulations of 2016 will be published on March 4, 2016 and will become effective on September 6, 2016. 

The following is a list of subtitles that comprise the text as approved by the Zoning Commission on January 14, 2016:

Subtitle A - Authority and Applicability

Subtitle D

Contains information that is currently contained in Chapters 1 and 32 of the current Zoning Regulations, including the code organization, effective date, vesting, and administration and enforcement provisions.

Chapter 1:  Introduction to Title 11

Chapter 2: Administrative and Zoning Regulations

Chapter 3: Administration and Enforcement

Chapter 4: Other Authorities

 

 

 

Subtitle B - Definitions, Rules of Measurement, and Use Categories

Subtitle B

Contains information that is currently contained in Chapters 1 and 32 of the current Zoning Regulations, including the code organization, effective date, vesting, and administration and enforcement provisions.

Chapter 1: Definitions

Chapter 2: Use Categories

Chapter 3: General Rules of Management


 

 

 

 

Subtitle C - General Rules

Contains general guidelines for non-conformities, subdivisions, tree protection, green area ratio, parking, inclusionary roof structures, etc.

Subtitle C

Chapter 1: Introduction to General Rules

Chapter 2: Nonconformities

Chapter 3: Subdivision

Chapter 4: Tree Protection

Chapter 5/6: Pervious Surface/Green Area Ratio

Chapter 7/8: Vehicle Parking/Bicycle Parking

Chapter 9: Loading

Chapter 10: Inclusionary Zoning

Chapter 11: Waterfront

Chapter 12: Combined Lot Provisions

Chapter 13: Antennas

Capter 14: Retaining Walls

Chapter 15: Penthouses

Chapter 16: Public Education, Recreation, Library Buildings or Structures

Chapter 17: Plaza

Subtitle D - Residential House (R) Zones - (former R-1-A through R-3 zones, including those with overlays)

Subtitle D

Contains development standards, including height, lot occupancy, setback, accessory standards, etc. for low- to moderate-density residential areas. It also includes the rules regarding § 223 (special exceptions for single-family dwellings) in the current Zoning Regulations, which can be found in the new § 5201.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle E - Residential Flat (RF) Zones- (former R-4 zone, including those with overlays and two new residential flat zones)

Subtitle E

Contains development standards, including height, lot occupancy, setback, accessory standards, etc. for areas developed primarily with row dwellings, but within which there have been limited conversions of dwellings or other buildings into more than two dwellings units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle F - Residential Apartment (RA) Zones- (former R-5 zones, including those with overlays)

Subtitle F

Contains development standards, including height, lot occupancy, setback, accessory standards, etc. for moderate- or high-density residential areas suitable for multi-household development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle G - Mixed-Use (MU) Zones- (former SP, C-1 through C-3, CR, and W zones, including those with overlays)

Subtitle G

Contains development standards, including density, height, lot occupancy, setback standards, etc. for mixed-use developments that permit a broad range of commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential development at varying densities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle H - Neighborhood Mixed-Use (NC) Zones- (former Macomb-Wisconsin, Takoma Park, Woodley Park, Eighth Street, Georgia Avenue, and H Street NE Neighborhood Commercial Overlay zones)

Subtitle H

Contains development standards, density, height, lot occupancy, setback standards, etc. for stable mixed-use areas permitting a range of commercial and multi-household residential development in defined neighborhood commercial areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle I - Downtown (D) Zones- (former downtown commercial areas, including the Downtown Development, Mount Vernon-Triangle, Hotel/Residential Incentive Overlays and Transfer Development Right areas)

Subtitle I

Contains development standards, including density, height, lot occupancy, setback standards, etc. to allow for the appropriate mix of residential, office, lodging, retail, service, entertainment, cultural, and other uses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle J - Production, Distribution, and Repair (PDR) Zones- (former CM and M zones, including those with overlays)

Subtitle J

Contains development standards, including density, height, lot occupancy, setback standards, etc. for the use of land and structures and the erection and modification of structures in areas characterized by production, distribution, and repair uses, typically with heavy truck traffic and loading and unloading operations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle K - Special Purpose Zones- (former Southeast Federal Center, Capital Gateway, St. Elizabeth's, Union Station North, Uptown Arts, Reed-Cooke, Hill East, and Walter Reed Overlays)

Subtitle K

Contains the regulations for single large sites that require a cohesive, self-contained set of regulations to guide site design, building height and bulk, land uses, or other aspects of development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle U - Use Permissions

Subtitle U

Contains the use permissions for matter-of-right and special exception uses in the R, RF, RA, MU, ARTS, and PDR zones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle W - Specific Zone Boundaries

Subtitle W

Contains boundaries established for specific zone districts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle X - General Procedures

Subtitle X

Contains procedural regulations for campus plans, chanceries, planned unit developments, map and text amendments, design review, etc.

Chapter 1: Campus Plans, School Plans, and Medical Campus Plans

Chapter 2: Chancery Applications

Chapter 3: Planned Unit Developments

Chapter 4: Applications for Amendment to Create a New Zone

Chapter 5: Map Amendments

Chapter 6: Design Review

Chapter 7: Air Space Development

Chapter 8: Water Tower on the East Campus of Saint Elizabeths

Chapter 9: Special Exceptions

Chapter 10: Variances

Chapter 11: Zoning Appeals

Chapter 12: Civil Infraction Appeals

 

 

 

Subtitle Y - Board of Zoning Adjustment Rules of Practice and Procedure

Board of Zoning Adjustment

Contains regulations pertaining to Board information, application requirements, party status, ANC report information, hearing and meeting procedures, orders, fees, etc.

Chapter 1: Administration

Chapter 2: Public Participation

Chapter 3: Application Requirements

Chapter 4: Prehearing and Hearing Procedures: Applications

Chapter 5: Prehearing and Hearing Procedures: Zoning Appeals

Chapter 6: Post Hearing Procedures

Chapter 7: Approvals and Orders

Chapter 8: Remand Procedure

Chapter 16: Fees

 

 

 

 

 

Subtitle Z - Zoning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure

Zoning Commission

Contains regulations pertaining to Commission information, application requirements, party status, ANC report information, hearing and meeting procedures, orders, fees, etc.

Chapter 1: Administration

Chapter 2: Public Participation

Chapter 3: Application Requirements

Chapter 4: Prehearing and Hearing Procedures: Contested Cases

Chapter 5: Prehearing and Hearing Procedures: Rulemaking Cases

Chapter 6: Post Hearing Procedures

Chapter 7: Approvals and Orders

Chapter 8: Sua Sponte Review

Chapter 9: Remand Procedure

Chapter 16: Fees

Chapter 17: Appointment for Appointing Director