What's Hot: The 4 Projects in the Works Near DC's Starburst Intersection | A 153-Room Aloft Hotel Pitched For Mt. Vernon Triangle
DCRA: New Multifamily Construction in Some DC Zones to Require BZA Approval
As UrbanTurf reported earlier this year, the DC area is facing a housing shortage that will necessitate production of over 25,000 additional housing units annually. Now, it is about to get harder to build multi-family properties in some parts of DC proper.
Yesterday, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs released guidance regarding the provision that multi-family construction cannot be built in the RA-1 and RA-6 zones without a special zoning exception. In practical terms, this meant that developers in these zones must apply to the Board of Zoning Adjustment before being eligible for permits to build a multi-family property. As of January 1st, this regulation will also apply to expansions of existing properties in cases where the number of units and gross floor area would, at minimum, double, or where the numbers of units increases by at least 10.
story continues below
loading...story continues above
The "RA" in these zone titles stands for "Residential Apartment", a nod to the prevalence of low- to moderate-density multi-family buildings in these zones interspersed with detached and attached single-family dwellings. Both zones permit by-right construction as high as 40 feet or three stories; the RA-6 zone in particular, however, refers solely to the neighborhood surrounding the Naval Observatory.
As shown in the above map, the majority of the 76 tracts zoned as RA-1 are east of the Anacostia River, where multi-family development is already prevalent; many of the other tracts are dispersed in corridors which are less friendly toward new multi-family development, including parts of Spring Valley and Cathedral Heights. UrbanTurf will be interested to see how or whether this new stipulation will impact the pace and location of development overall in the District.
Clarification: The article earlier stated that new multi-family construction would require special exception in these zones as of January. A special exception for new multi-family construction was always required in these zones; the new guidance pertains to expansion of existing properties.
See other articles related to: board of zoning adjustment, building permits, bza, multi-family properties, zoning, zoning changes, zoning code
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/per-dcra-new-multifamily-construction-in-some-zones-to-require-bza-approval/14777.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
In this article, UrbanTurf looks at the estimated annual maintenance costs associated... read »
Another concept has been unveiled for one of DC's most contentious development sites,... read »
The residential development in the works along Florida Avenue NE is looking to increa... read »
Renter demand has continued to push Class A apartment rents in the DC region up this ... read »
The big news in the development pipeline east of DC's H Street Corridor is the resur... read »
- What Are the Annual Maintenance Costs When You Own a Home?
- A First Look At The New Plans For Adams Morgan's SunTrust Plaza
- 46 to 48: The Biggest Project In Trinidad Looks To Get Bigger
- How Much Did DC-Area Rents Rise At The Beginning of 2024?
- The 4 Projects In The Works Near DC's Starburst Intersection
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