The NR zone is Alexandria's smallest-scale commercial district, designed for neighborhood-serving corner stores, personal services, and small restaurants embedded within residential fabric. Buildings are limited to 35 feet and 0.5 FAR to maintain compatibility with adjacent houses. Typically covers one to two commercial blocks within residential neighborhoods.
Development standards in NR
Maximum FAR
0.5
Maximum height
35 ft
Front setback
0 ft
Side setback
0 ft
Sec. 4-1408(B)(1): 0.5. Sec. 4-1408(B)(2): 1.5 with a special use permit for a mixed use project including ground floor retail.
Sec. 4-1408(C): 35 feet along the street, increasable to 50 feet with a 15-foot building step back from the facade where found compatible.
Read from City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance, effective through 2025-06-14. Amendments adopted after that date (most recent 2026-03-14) are not yet reflected.
Permitted uses in NR
AllowedRetail establishment (ground floor) Ground floor facing sidewalk; Sec. 4-1403(A)(1)
AllowedPersonal service establishment, excl. pawnshop/check cashing/payday/title loan (ground floor) Ground floor; facade max 30 ft wide; Sec. 4-1403(A)(2)
AllowedBank, office, medical lab, health profession office, social service use, laundromat (ground floor) Ground floor; facade max 30 ft wide; no more than 2 adjoining; Sec. 4-1403(A)(3)
AllowedRestaurant within commercial complex or hotel (ground floor) Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(4)
AllowedDay care center (ground floor) Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(5)
AllowedPrivate school, commercial, frontage less than 30 ft on Mt. Vernon Ave (ground floor) Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(6)
AllowedRecreation and entertainment use, indoor (ground floor) Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(7)
AllowedHealth and athletic club or fitness studio in commercial/hotel/office complex or frontage less than 30 ft Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(8)
AllowedUtilities (Sec. 7-1200) Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(9)
AllowedOutdoor dining at commercial complex Ground floor; Sec. 4-1403(A)(10)
AllowedAuxiliary dwelling, up to 4 units (above ground floor) Sec. 4-1403(B)(2)
AllowedChurch (above ground floor) Sec. 4-1403(B)(3)
AllowedPrivate school, commercial (above ground floor) Sec. 4-1403(B)(4)
ConditionalAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation (in commercial complex) Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(A)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, upper floor, up to 2 units Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(A.1)
ConditionalLive theater Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(A.2)
ConditionalOutdoor dining on private property Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(A.3)
ConditionalOutdoor display of retail goods Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(A.4)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(B)
ConditionalOutdoor market Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(C)
ConditionalRestaurant (standalone) Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(D)
ConditionalValet parking Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1403.1(F)
ConditionalAny use with live entertainment Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(A)
ConditionalAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation (other) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(A.1)
ConditionalBanks, offices, medical labs, health offices, social services, laundromats (other than permitted) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(B)
ConditionalBus shelter on private property Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(B.1)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(C)
ConditionalCongregate housing facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(C.1)
ConditionalContinuum of care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(C.2)
ConditionalFraternal or private club Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(D)
ConditionalHealth and athletic club or fitness studio (other than permitted) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(E)
ConditionalLive theater (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(F)
ConditionalMedical care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(H.1)
ConditionalNursing or convalescent home or hospice Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(I)
ConditionalOutdoor dining (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(I.1)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(I.2)
ConditionalOutdoor market (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(J)
ConditionalPrivate school, academic, more than 20 students Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(K)
ConditionalPrivate school, commercial, frontage more than 30 ft on Mt. Vernon Ave Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(K.1)
ConditionalPublic building Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(L)
ConditionalPublic parking lot Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(L.1)
ConditionalRecreation and entertainment use, outdoor Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(M)
ConditionalTownhouse dwellings (must not interfere with active retail streetscape) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1404(N)
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.
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