Big Support For Change That Could Lead To More Alley Homes in DC

• September 5th 2025

by UrbanTurf Staff

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A proposed zoning change with the goal of making better use of underutilized alleys around the city appears to have a lot of support. 

Back in May, zoning text amendments were proposed with the aim of making it easier to build in alleys around DC. Specifically, the changes would allow residential development on alley lots in R-1 and R-2 zones, and allow a second residential unit to be built within an alley lot building based on the lot size.

The amendments also call for reducing the maximum lot occupancy for alley lots in R-1 and R-2 zones, and increasing yard requirements for those lots in the R-1 zone. DC's Office of Planning estimates that around 500 vacant alley lots around the city could permit residential development under the change.

The amendments are a follow-up or sorts for measures that were unanimously approved six years ago which were focused on spurring more alley dwellings to be built in DC. And there appears to be a great deal of support from DC residents for the new measures. 

In the zoning filing, there are over 100 letters of support for the proposed change and not one in opposition. It is quite rare for a zoning amendment in the city to see such overwhelming support.

The proposed change will go before the Zoning Commission in November. 

Thumbnail photo by Ted Eytan.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/big_support_for_change_that_could_lead_to_more_alley_homes_in_dc/23834.