Alexandria, VA · Alexandria Zoning Ordinance
The CSL zone is reserved for community-serving institutional uses: churches, private schools, civic buildings, and non-profit facilities. It maintains low-scale massing compatible with adjacent residential zones. CSL properties often sit on large lots with significant open space.
| Front setback | Dwellings (all types): Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 4-306(A)(2)(a) |
|---|---|---|
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 4-306(A)(1) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement | 4-306(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 | 4-306(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 | 4-306(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 | 4-306(A)(2)(b) | |
| Single-family attached, ['interior', 'corner'] lot: No requirement | 4-306(A)(2)(b) | |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 4-306(A)(1) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement | 4-306(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) | 4-306(A)(2)(c) |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 4-306(A)(1) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement | 4-306(A)(4)(a) | |
| Maximum height | At most 50 ft | 4-306(C) |
| Maximum FAR | Other principal uses: At most 0.5 | 4-306(B)(1) |
| Multifamily: At most 0.75 | 4-306(B)(2) | |
| Single-family and two-family dwellings: At most 0.75 “except that for single-unit, two-unit, and townhouse dwellings within the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray Districts only, the maximum permitted floor area ratio is 1.50 not to exceed a maximum of 30 dwelling units for each acre.” | 4-306(B)(2) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: At most 0.75 | 4-306(B)(3) | |
| Max density | Single-family attached: At most 22 dwellings per acre “except that for single-unit, two-unit, and townhouse dwellings within the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray Districts only, the maximum permitted floor area ratio is 1.50 not to exceed a maximum of 30 dwelling units for each acre.” | 4-306(B)(2) |
| Minimum lot size | Single-family detached: At least 5,000 sq ft | 4-305(B)(1) |
| Two-family: At least 5,000 sq ft (2,500 times 2) | 4-305(B)(1) | |
| Single-family attached: At least 1,980 sq ft | 4-305(B)(1) | |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 4-305(A) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement | 4-305(D) | |
| Minimum lot width | Single-family detached and multifamily: At least 50 ft | 4-305(B)(2) |
| Two-family, duplex: At least 50 ft | 4-305(B)(2) | |
| Two-family, semi-detached: At least 25 times the number of dwelling units | 4-305(B)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, interior lot: At least 18 ft | 4-305(B)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, end lot: At least 26 ft | 4-305(B)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, interior corner lot: At least 38 ft | 4-305(B)(2) | |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 4-305(A) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: No requirement | 4-305(D) | |
| Minimum open space | Dwellings (all types): At least 35% | 4-306(A)(2)(d) |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: At least 25% | 4-306(A)(4)(b) | |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 4-306(A)(1) |
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.
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