The CG zone is Alexandria's general commercial district permitting the widest range of commercial uses, including auto-oriented retail, drive-throughs, and large-footprint commercial. Concentrated along Richmond Highway (US-1), Seminary Road, and Duke Street. Residential use requires an SUP. Nonresidential and residential floor area ratios differ -- see the development standards below.
Development standards in CG
Front setback
Dwellings (all types): Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
4-406(A)(2)(a)
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-406(A)(1)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement
4-406(A)(4)(a)
Side setback
Single-family detached and two-family: At least 0 ft if the lot width is less than 25 ft; otherwise the greater of 8 ft and the building height divided by 3 if the lot width is at least 25 ft
4-406(A)(2)(b)
Single-family attached, interior end lot: At least the greater of 8 ft and the building height divided by 3 if the lot width is more than 25 ft; otherwise 0 ft if the lot width is at most 25 ft
4-406(A)(2)(b)
Multifamily: At least 0 ft if the lot width is less than 25 ft; otherwise the greater of 16 ft and half of the building height if the lot width is at least 25 ft
4-406(A)(2)(b)
Single-family attached, ['interior', 'corner'] lot: No requirement
4-406(A)(2)(b)
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-406(A)(1)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement
4-406(A)(4)(a)
Rear setback
Dwellings (all types): At least the greater of 8 ft and the building height minus half of the width of the alley the lot abuts (0 if none)
4-406(A)(2)(c)
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-406(A)(1)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement
4-406(A)(4)(a)
Maximum height
At most 50 ft
4-406(C)
Maximum FAR
Other principal uses: At most 0.5
4-406(B)(1)
Dwellings (all types): At most 0.75
4-406(B)(2)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: At most 0.75
4-406(B)(3)
Max density
Single-family attached: At most 22 dwellings per acre
4-406(B)(2)
Minimum lot size
Single-family detached: At least 5,000 sq ft
4-405(B)(1)
Two-family: At least 5,000 sq ft (2,500 times 2)
4-405(B)(1)
Single-family attached: At least 1,980 sq ft
4-405(B)(1)
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-405(A)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement
4-405(D)
Minimum lot width
Single-family detached and multifamily: At least 50 ft
4-405(B)(2)
Two-family, duplex: At least 50 ft
4-405(B)(2)
Two-family, semi-detached: At least 25 times the number of dwelling units
4-405(B)(2)
Single-family attached, interior lot: At least 18 ft
4-405(B)(2)
Single-family attached, end lot: At least 26 ft
4-405(B)(2)
Single-family attached, interior corner lot: At least 38 ft
4-405(B)(2)
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-405(A)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement
4-405(D)
Minimum open space
Dwellings (all types): At least 35%
4-406(A)(2)(d)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: At least 25%
4-406(A)(4)(b)
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-406(A)(1)
Each row above is the ordinance’s own rule, written out in words and cited to its section. Where a figure depends on what you build (the kind of building, a conventional or cluster subdivision, an interior or corner lot, or the building’s height), each case is its own line; where it depends on the building height, the cited table says how that height is measured.
Sec. 4-406(B)(1) nonresidential: .5. Residential: .75, not to exceed 22 units per acre for townhouse development. Continuum of care: .75 with up to 50 percent residential floor space.
Sec. 4-406(C): the maximum permitted height of a building is 50 feet.
Read from City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance, effective through 2026-01-24. We last checked with the publisher on 2026-09-24 and found nothing newer -- a check on that date, not a promise about today.
How complete is this market? Across 24,956 parcels we answer 69.7% of the 6 questions this site is built to answer, each with a source you can check. The rest are shown as “not recorded” rather than filled in — we would rather be short than wrong.
Permitted uses in CG
AllowedSingle-unit dwelling Sec. 4-402(A)
AllowedTwo-unit dwelling Sec. 4-402(A.1)
AllowedTownhouse dwelling Sec. 4-402(A.2)
AllowedMulti-unit dwelling Sec. 4-402(B)
AllowedAuxiliary dwelling, up to 4 units Sec. 4-402(B.1)
AllowedBusiness and professional office Sec. 4-402(C)
AllowedCemetery Sec. 4-402(D)
AllowedChurch Sec. 4-402(E)
AllowedDay care center Sec. 4-402(E)
AllowedHealth and athletic club or fitness studio Sec. 4-402(E.2)
AllowedMedical laboratory Sec. 4-402(F)
AllowedOutdoor dining at commercial complex Sec. 4-402(F.1)
AllowedHealth profession office Sec. 4-402(G)
AllowedMotor vehicle parking/storage, 20 or fewer vehicles Sec. 4-402(H)
AllowedPrivate school, commercial Sec. 4-402(H.3)
AllowedPersonal service establishment Sec. 4-402(I)
AllowedPublic school Sec. 4-402(J)
AllowedRecreation and entertainment uses, indoor Sec. 4-402(J.1)
AllowedRestaurant within a commercial complex or hotel Sec. 4-402(J.2)
AllowedRetail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 sf Sec. 4-402(K)
AllowedSeminary, convent or monastery Sec. 4-402(L)
AllowedSocial service use Sec. 4-402(L.1)
AllowedUtilities (Sec. 7-1200) Sec. 4-402(M)
AllowedAccessory uses (Sec. 7-100) Sec. 4-402(N)
ConditionalAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation (in commercial complex) Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(A)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, not to exceed two units Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(A.1)
ConditionalRestaurant Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(B)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(C)
ConditionalOutdoor market Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(D)
ConditionalOutdoor dining on private property Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(E)
ConditionalValet parking Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-402.1(F)
ConditionalAny use with live entertainment Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(A)
ConditionalAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(B)
ConditionalAutomobile service station Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(C)
ConditionalAutomobile and trailer rental or sales Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(D)
ConditionalBus shelter on private property Special Use Permit required. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
ConditionalCo-living dwelling (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(E)
ConditionalCongregate housing facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(F)
ConditionalContinuum of care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(G)
ConditionalDay labor agency Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(H)
ConditionalDrive through facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(I)
ConditionalFood and beverage production exceeding 5,000 sf with retail component Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(J)
ConditionalFraternal or private club Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(K)
ConditionalFuneral home Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(L)
ConditionalHospital Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(O)
ConditionalHotel Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(P)
ConditionalLaundry, dry cleaning operation Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(Q)
ConditionalLight automobile repair Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(R)
ConditionalMedical care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(S)
ConditionalMotor vehicle parking/storage, more than 20 vehicles Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(T)
ConditionalNursing or convalescent home or hospice Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(V)
ConditionalOutdoor dining (other than permitted or admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(V.1)
ConditionalOutdoor market (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(V.2)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(V.3)
ConditionalPrivate school, academic, more than 20 students Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(W)
ConditionalPublic building Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(X)
ConditionalRecreation and entertainment use, outdoor Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(W)
ConditionalRetail shopping establishment, larger than 20,000 sf Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-403(X)
ConditionalSTR - Short-Term Rentals STR permit required for >10 days/year; owner-occupied or unhosted permitted; Sec. 7-1403/7-1404
"Conditional" means the use generally requires a public hearing or special-exception approval — a very different timeline and risk profile from a by-right permit.
This is the zone. What about the parcel?
Zone rules are the starting point — the answer for a specific property also depends on lot
size, overlays, existing improvements and site conditions. Run a free address lookup to see
what applies to one property.