DC Zoning Changes Approved, Will Go Into Effect in September
Grubbs Pharmacy on Capitol Hill
On Thursday night, the Zoning Commission unanimously approved the city’s long-debated zoning changes. The changes will go into effect on September 6 of this year. Below is a look at select changes to the code that are probably of most interest to the UrbanTurf readership. For a more comprehensive rundown of all the changes, click here.
- Accessory Apartments
Under the new code, accessory apartments will be legalized in many low-density sections of the city where they are currently not allowed. An accessory apartment is defined as a residential unit located on a single family dwelling lot. The most common accessory unit is an English basement, but garage units also qualify. The new code will require that the owner of the property live in the main residence and there will be a limit to the total number of people living in the accessory unit, but the dwellings will be allowed by-right.
story continues below
loading...story continues above
- Elimination of Parking Minimum Requirements
Currently, developers constructing new residential buildings in DC must build a certain number of parking spaces. The new code will eliminate this parking minimum in certain parts of DC, like high-density residential areas near public transit. Instead, the number of parking spaces will be determined by the market in that area.
- Corner Stores
In the new code, corner stores will be encouraged in areas zoned R-3 and R-4. Limitations will protect existing commercial zones and the residential quality of the neighborhood: no more than four stores will be allowed per block, the hours of operation and size will be limited, and stores cannot open up within 500 feet of a commercial zone. These numbers could be adjusted on a neighborhood-to-neighborhood basis.
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dc_zoning_changes_approved_will_go_into_effect_in_september/10765.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
In this article, UrbanTurf will explain what special assessments are, how they work, ... read »
Plans are moving forward at the site of a long-planned project in Ivy City, however w... read »
Nearly 1,400 residential units are on the boards around Union Market, about the same ... read »
Up 8% year-over-year, it is the first time that prices have exceeded $800,000 for det... read »
If there was ever a place where the old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s... read »
- What Are Special Assessments in Condo Buildings and What Do They Cover?
- Douglas Development Pitches Large Warehouse For New City Site Along New York Avenue
- Hotels, A Public Park and The 1,400 Units In The Works For Union Market
- The Price For A House in The DC Area Hit A New High in April
- Tile, Furniture, Appliances & (Much) More -- The Local Warehouse Chock Full of Salvaged Home Goods
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro