The OCH zone is Alexandria's highest-intensity office commercial district, concentrated near the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station. Heights exceed 200 feet, FAR up to 6.0. OCH properties anchor Alexandria's primary Class A office market and carry the highest non-residential development potential in the city. Office-to-residential conversion is an active city priority for older OCH buildings.
Development standards in OCH
Maximum FAR
2
Maximum height
100 ft
Max density
54.45 units/acre
Sec. 4-1105(C)(1): 2.0 for nonresidential uses, increasable to 3.0 by special use permit (and 3.0 outright for certain lots). A separate residential FAR applies under Sec. 4-1105(C)(2).
Sec. 4-1105(D): 100 feet by right, with additional height up to 150 feet available by special use permit.
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 OCH
AllowedSingle-unit dwelling Subject to Sec. 4-1103(Y.1); Sec. 4-1102(A)
AllowedTwo-unit dwelling Subject to Sec. 4-1103(Y.1); Sec. 4-1102(A.1)
AllowedTownhouse dwelling Subject to Sec. 4-1103(A.1); Sec. 4-1102(A.2)
AllowedMulti-unit dwelling Subject to Sec. 4-1103(Y.1); Sec. 4-1102(B)
AllowedBusiness and professional office Sec. 4-1102(C)
AllowedCemetery Sec. 4-1102(D)
AllowedChurch Sec. 4-1102(E)
AllowedDay care center Sec. 4-1102(E.1)
AllowedHealth and athletic club or fitness studio Sec. 4-1102(E.2)
AllowedHospital Sec. 4-1102(F)
AllowedMedical care facility Sec. 4-1102(G)
AllowedMedical laboratory Sec. 4-1102(H)
AllowedHealth profession office Sec. 4-1102(I)
AllowedMotor vehicle parking/storage, 20 or fewer vehicles Sec. 4-1102(I.1)
AllowedOutdoor dining at commercial complex Sec. 4-1102(I.2)
AllowedPersonal service establishment (on same lot as office) Sec. 4-1102(J)
AllowedPrivate school, commercial Sec. 4-1102(K)
AllowedPublic school Sec. 4-1102(K.1)
AllowedRadio or television broadcasting office and studio Sec. 4-1102(L)
AllowedRecreation and entertainment use, indoor Sec. 4-1102(L.1)
AllowedRestaurant within commercial complex or hotel Sec. 4-1102(L.2)
AllowedRetail shopping establishment, up to 20,000 sf (on same lot as office) Sec. 4-1102(M)
AllowedSeminary, convent or monastery Sec. 4-1102(N)
AllowedSocial service use Sec. 4-1102(N.1)
AllowedUtilities (Sec. 7-1200) Sec. 4-1102(O)
AllowedAccessory uses (Sec. 7-100) Sec. 4-1102(P)
ConditionalAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation (in commercial complex) Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(A)
ConditionalCatering operation in industrial/flex space center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(A.1)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, up to 2 units Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(B)
ConditionalLight auto repair in industrial/flex space center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(B.1)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(C)
ConditionalOutdoor market Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(D)
ConditionalOutdoor dining on private property Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(E)
ConditionalRestaurant (standalone) Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(F)
ConditionalValet parking Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 4-1102.1(G)
ConditionalAny use with live entertainment Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(A)
ConditionalAnimal care facility with overnight accommodation (other) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(A.1)
ConditionalAutomobile service station Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(C)
ConditionalBus shelter on private property Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(C.1)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(D)
ConditionalCongregate housing facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(E)
ConditionalContinuum of care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(F)
ConditionalDay labor agency Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(H.1)
ConditionalDrive through facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(I)
ConditionalFood and beverage production exceeding 5,000 sf with retail component Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(I.1)
ConditionalFraternal or private club Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(J)
ConditionalFuneral home Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(K)
ConditionalHomeless shelter Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(N)
ConditionalHotel Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(O)
ConditionalInterstate bus station Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(P)
ConditionalLight automobile repair Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(Q)
ConditionalMotor vehicle parking/storage, more than 20 vehicles Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(R)
ConditionalMedical care facility (other than permitted by right) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(S)
ConditionalNursing or convalescent home or hospice Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(T)
ConditionalOutdoor dining (other than permitted or admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(T.1)
ConditionalOutdoor market (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(T.2)
ConditionalOutdoor garden center (other than admin special) Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(T.3)
ConditionalPrivate school, academic, more than 20 students Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(U)
ConditionalPublic building Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1103(V)
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.