The I zone covers Alexandria's scarce industrial land (approximately 224 acres, or 2.3% of the city). Concentrated along the Eisenhower corridor and near the rail line. Eighty-seven acres are planned for eventual mixed-use redevelopment per the Eisenhower West and Landmark Van Dorn Small Area Plans. New industrial buildings must now meet compatibility standards for future residential/pedestrian-scale development per 2023 amendments.
Development standards in I
Front setback
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1205(A)
Side setback
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1205(A)
Rear setback
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1205(A)
Maximum height
Other principal uses: At most 50 ft
4-1205(C)
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
4-1205(C)
Maximum FAR
Other principal uses: At most 0.85
4-1205(B)
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
4-1205(B)
Minimum open space
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1205(A)
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. 4-1205(B): .85 by right; may be increased to not more than 1.25 with a special use permit.
Sec. 4-1205(C): 50 feet. Additional height for a tower, stack or similar feature required by the inherent nature of the operation may be approved with a special use permit.
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 I
AllowedAmbulance service Sec. 4-1202(A)
AllowedAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation Sec. 4-1202(A.1)
AllowedAnimal shelter Sec. 4-1202(B)
AllowedAutomobile service station Sec. 4-1202(C)
AllowedBottling plant Sec. 4-1202(D)
AllowedBuilding materials storage and sales Sec. 4-1202(E)
AllowedBusiness or professional office Sec. 4-1202(F)
AllowedCatering operations Sec. 4-1202(G)
AllowedChurch We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
AllowedDrive through facility Sec. 4-1202(H)
AllowedHealth profession office Sec. 4-1202(I)
AllowedFuneral home Sec. 4-1202(J)
AllowedGlass shop Sec. 4-1202(K)
AllowedHealth and athletic club or fitness studio Sec. 4-1202(L)
AllowedIce and cold storage facility Sec. 4-1202(L.1)
AllowedLaundry, dry cleaning operations Sec. 4-1202(M)
AllowedLight assembly and crafts Sec. 4-1202(N)
AllowedLight automobile repair Sec. 4-1202(N.1)
AllowedMachine shop Sec. 4-1202(O)
AllowedManufacturing Sec. 4-1202(P)
AllowedMedical laboratory Sec. 4-1202(Q)
AllowedMotor vehicle parking/storage, 20 or fewer vehicles Sec. 4-1202(Q.1)
AllowedOutdoor dining at commercial complex Sec. 4-1202(Q.2)
AllowedParcel delivery Sec. 4-1202(R)
AllowedPersonal service establishment Sec. 4-1202(S)
AllowedPrinting and publishing facilities Sec. 4-1202(T)
AllowedPrivate school, commercial Sec. 4-1202(T.1)
AllowedRadio or television broadcasting office and studio Sec. 4-1202(U)
AllowedRecreation and entertainment use, indoor Sec. 4-1202(U.1)
ConditionalAutomobile and trailer rental or sales Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(A)
ConditionalRestaurant Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(A.1)
ConditionalDay care center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(A.1)
ConditionalMotor vehicle parking/storage, more than 20 vehicles Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(B)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(C)
ConditionalOutdoor market Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(D)
ConditionalOutdoor dining on private property Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(E)
ConditionalPrivate school, academic, more than 20 students Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513). We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
ConditionalValet parking Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1202.1(F)
ConditionalAsphalt plant Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(A)
ConditionalAny use with live entertainment Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(K.1)
ConditionalAutomobile and trailer rental or sales (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(B)
ConditionalBusiness offices other than Sec. 4-1202(F) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(C)
ConditionalBus shelter on private property Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(D)
ConditionalConcrete mixing and batching plant Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(E)
ConditionalCrematorium Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(F)
ConditionalDay labor agency Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(F.1)
ConditionalFreight distribution center Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(G)
ConditionalFuel yard Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(G.1)
ConditionalGeneral automobile repair Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(H)
ConditionalHelistop Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(I)
ConditionalHomeless shelter Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(J)
ConditionalHospital Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(K)
ConditionalInterstate bus station Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(L)
ConditionalJunkyard Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(M)
ConditionalMedical care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(N)
ConditionalMotor vehicle parking/storage, more than 20 vehicles (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(O)
ConditionalMotor vehicle storage yard Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(P)
ConditionalOutdoor dining (other than permitted or admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(P.1)
ConditionalOutdoor market (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(P.2)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1203(P.3)
"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.