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Alexandria, VA zoning › where can I put this

Where can I put a retail in Alexandria, VA?

“retail” matches 15 uses this ordinance names separately. We do not choose between them — they can have different answers, so every one is shown.

Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 sf with retail component
Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 sf with retail component (OCM50)
Food or beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component
Freestanding commercial buildings for office or retail use where clearly designed as part of and to serve a residential development of at least 2,000 dwelling units and where no such building exceeds 10,000 square feet
Outdoor display of retail goods
Retail
Retail Shopping (10,000 sf or less)
Retail establishment (ground floor)
Retail shopping establishment
Retail shopping establishment, larger than 20,000 gross square feet
Retail shopping establishment, larger than 20,000 sf
Retail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 gross square feet
Retail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 sf
Retail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 sf (on same lot as office)
Townhouse dwellings (must not interfere with active retail streetscape)

Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 sf with retail component

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 7 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CD the ordinance paragraph quoted here	419	Conditional	Sec. 4-503(I) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component; (I.1) Fraternal or private club;
CDX the ordinance paragraph quoted here	74	Conditional	Sec. 4-603(G) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
CG the ordinance paragraph quoted here	52	Conditional	Sec. 4-403(J) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
CR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Sec. 4-703(A.2) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
CSL the ordinance paragraph quoted here	145	Conditional	Sec. 4-303(B.1) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
OC the ordinance paragraph quoted here	43	Conditional	Sec. 4-803(J) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
OCH the ordinance paragraph quoted here	234	Conditional	Sec. 4-1103(I.1) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;

Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 sf with retail component (OCM50)

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 3 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
OCM the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Sec. 4-903(G) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
OCM(100) the ordinance paragraph quoted here	273	Conditional	Sec. 4-903(G) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
OCM(50) the ordinance paragraph quoted here	117	Conditional	Sec. 4-903(G) Food and beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;

Food or beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 4 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CRMU/H the ordinance paragraph quoted here	186	Conditional	Sec. 5-303(H) Food or beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
CRMU/L the ordinance paragraph quoted here	202	Conditional	Sec. 5-103(H) Food or beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
CRMU/M the ordinance paragraph quoted here	200	Conditional	Sec. 5-203(H) Food or beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;
CRMU/X the ordinance paragraph quoted here	179	Conditional	Sec. 5-403(H) Food or beverage production exceeding 5,000 square feet, which includes a retail component;

Freestanding commercial buildings for office or retail use where clearly designed as part of and to serve a residential development of at least 2,000 dwelling units and where no such building exceeds 10,000 square feet

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 1 district

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
RC the ordinance paragraph quoted here	169	Conditional	Sec. 3-903(F) Freestanding commercial buildings for office or retail use where clearly designed as part of and to serve a residential develop- ment of at least 2,000 dwelling units and where no such building exceeds 10,000 square feet;

Outdoor display of retail goods

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 1 district

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
NR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	10	Conditional	Sec. 4-1403.1(A.4) Outdoor display of retail goods;

Retail

Allowed by right in 1 district

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
KR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	160	Allowed	Sec. 6-702(A)(1)(e) Retail, 10,000 square feet or less in size;

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 1 district

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CDD the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;

Retail Shopping (10,000 sf or less)

Allowed by right in 1 district

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
W-1 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	250	Allowed	Sec. 5-502(F.1) Retail, 10,000 square feet or less in size;

Retail establishment (ground floor)

Allowed by right in 1 district

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
NR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	10	Allowed	Sec. 4-1403(A)(1) Retail;

Retail shopping establishment

Allowed by right in 2 districts

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Allowed	Sec. 4-702(G) Retail;
RMF the ordinance paragraph quoted here	5	Allowed	Sec. 3-1402(C)(4) Retail; (4.1) Private school, academic;

Retail shopping establishment, larger than 20,000 gross square feet

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 10 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CDD the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(F)(3) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#1 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	74	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(F)(3) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#10 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	696	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(F)(3) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#16 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	190	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(F)(3) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#5 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	372	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(F)(3) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#9 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	990	Conditional	Sec. 5-602(F)(3) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CRMU/H the ordinance paragraph quoted here	186	Conditional	Sec. 5-303(N) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.
CRMU/L the ordinance paragraph quoted here	202	Conditional	Sec. 5-103(N) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.
CRMU/M the ordinance paragraph quoted here	200	Conditional	Sec. 5-203(N) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.
CRMU/X the ordinance paragraph quoted here	179	Conditional	Sec. 5-403(T) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.

Retail shopping establishment, larger than 20,000 sf

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 8 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CC the ordinance paragraph quoted here	2	Conditional	Sec. 4-203(P) Retail shopping, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.
CDX the ordinance paragraph quoted here	74	Conditional	Sec. 4-603(T) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
CG the ordinance paragraph quoted here	52	Conditional	Sec. 4-403(X) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.
CL the ordinance paragraph quoted here	408	Conditional	Sec. 4-103(L) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet.
I the ordinance paragraph quoted here	54	Conditional	Sec. 4-1203(R.2) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
OCM the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Sec. 4-903(W) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
OCM(100) the ordinance paragraph quoted here	273	Conditional	Sec. 4-903(W) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;
OCM(50) the ordinance paragraph quoted here	117	Conditional	Sec. 4-903(W) Retail, larger than 20,000 gross square feet;

Retail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 gross square feet

Allowed by right in 9 districts

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CDD the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Allowed	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#1 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	74	Allowed	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#10 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	696	Allowed	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#16 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	190	Allowed	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#5 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	372	Allowed	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CDD#9 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	990	Allowed	Sec. 5-602(E)(12) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CRMU/H the ordinance paragraph quoted here	186	Allowed	Sec. 5-302(H) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CRMU/L the ordinance paragraph quoted here	202	Allowed	Sec. 5-102(H) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CRMU/M the ordinance paragraph quoted here	200	Allowed	Sec. 5-202(H) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;

Retail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 sf

Allowed by right in 10 districts

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
CC the ordinance paragraph quoted here	2	Allowed	Sec. 4-202(J) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CD the ordinance paragraph quoted here	419	Allowed	Sec. 4-502(M) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CDX the ordinance paragraph quoted here	74	Allowed	Sec. 4-602(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CG the ordinance paragraph quoted here	52	Allowed	Sec. 4-402(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CL the ordinance paragraph quoted here	408	Allowed	Sec. 4-102(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
CSL the ordinance paragraph quoted here	145	Allowed	Sec. 4-302(J) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
OC the ordinance paragraph quoted here	43	Allowed	Sec. 4-802(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
OCM the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Allowed	Sec. 4-902(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
OCM(100) the ordinance paragraph quoted here	273	Allowed	Sec. 4-902(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;
OCM(50) the ordinance paragraph quoted here	117	Allowed	Sec. 4-902(K) Retail, up to 20,000 gross square feet;

Retail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 sf (on same lot as office)

Allowed by right in 1 district

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
OCH the ordinance paragraph quoted here	234	Allowed	Sec. 4-1102(M) Retail up to 20,000 gross square feet;

Townhouse dwellings (must not interfere with active retail streetscape)

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 1 district

These require a hearing or an approval from the city. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
NR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	10	Conditional	Sec. 4-1404(N) Townhouse dwellings, subject to the RB regulations for density, lot requirements, bulk and open space, and height and; allowed only in locations where the development of residential units will not interfere with the existing or the creation of the desired streetscape pattern of contiguous and active retail uses.

Recreation and entertainment use, indoor; (A.9.1) Restaurant within a commercial complex or hotel; (A.10) Retail shipping establishment, up to 20,000 gross square feet; (A.11) Multi-unit dwelling

We could not source this one. “Recreation and entertainment use, indoor; (A.9.1) Restaurant within a commercial complex or hotel; (A.10) Retail shipping establishment, up to 20,000 gross square feet; (A.11) Multi-unit dwelling” is a use we serve for this market — and we could not find the section of the ordinance that says so, so we are not citing one. That is a gap in our sourcing, not the jurisdiction saying no.

Districts we hold it in, all of them unsourced: CRMU/X.

We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.

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This answer is good through January 24, 2026 — that is the date the ordinance we hold runs to, as published by Municode. We last checked with the city on September 24, 2026 and found nothing newer. That is a check on that date, not a promise about today.

Ask another one in Alexandria, VA

What this does not cover

25,869 properties are loaded, county-wide. The city’s parcel record gives a street address but no ZIP code, so there is no ZIP breakdown to give and none is shown.
A further 4,248 properties carry a parcel zone code this page cannot match to a single column of the use table: (none), CC;CG, CC;CG;R, CC;R (3 variants, e.g. CC;R5), CD;CDD #, CD;CDX;OC;OCM(, CD;CDX;OCM(, CD;CDX;RM, CD;CL, CD;CL;CRMU/L, CD;CL;KR, CD;CL;RB, CD;CL;RM, CD;CRMU/L and 177 more.
3,800 of those lie in TWO OR MORE districts at once. Their code below holds every district the parcel really shares area with, joined by a semicolon — CC;CG, CC;CG;R5, CC;R5, CC;R5;R8, CC;R8 and 424 more. The ordinance does not say the larger share wins, so we do not pick one: the parcel is shown as straddling and is not counted under either district.
392 of those carry a code that looks like one of the districts above and is not one. CDD #11, CDD #12, CDD #14, CDD #15, CDD #17, CDD #17a and 14 more — these are separate zone classifications in their own right, not the same zone with something added, and the use table has no column for them. We do not fold them in.
(none) above means a parcel with no zone code assigned in the city's own data — 1 of them.
Owner filters. We have an owner of record for 25,099 of Alexandria’s 25,869 parcels, of which 3,100 are owned by a company, trust or other organization, including 368 owned by public bodies — governments, authorities, schools, churches. That split is Zonescore’s reading of the owner’s name, not something the city published, and we keep the two apart rather than deciding for you which counts as an investor. 1,828 have an owner whose mailing address is outside VA — the city publishes the owner’s state as its own field, so this is its answer rather than our reading of an address. It carries one for 25,749 of them; the rest are not counted either way. 15,915 are worth more as land than as building — the city’s own land assessment is at least 50% of its total. 70 properties carry no pair of assessments and are left out of that count rather than treated as zero, which would make every one of them look like bare land.
Owner data from GIS Division of the ITS, City of Alexandria, VA's real estate parcel records, retrieved September 4, 2026.
The parcel record we fetch carries no ZIP code for the property itself, so the district counts above carry no ZIP breakdown. It gives the street address only; the one ZIP it does carry belongs to the owner’s mailing address, which is a fact about a different place and is not used here. We do not infer a ZIP we were not given.
Overlay districts are not modeled here. An overlay can change what a property allows.
Some cells in this ordinance state two outcomes without saying what separates them; those are shown with their code and their source, and not guessed at.

Built from scripts/build_reverse_index.py, generated 2026-10-11T20:59:04+00:00.