Alexandria, VA · Alexandria Zoning Ordinance
The RA zone is Alexandria's low-rise multifamily district, allowing apartment buildings up to 45 feet (30 feet for single- and two-unit dwellings). FAR is 0.75. DUA limits were removed by the Zoning for Housing ordinance (November 2023) to allow smaller, more affordable units within the same building envelope. The zone is commonly used as a transition buffer between single-family neighborhoods and more intense uses.
| Front setback | Other principal uses: At least 20 ft | 3-606(A)(1) |
|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (all types): Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 3-606(A)(1) | |
| 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 7 ft and the building height divided by 3 | 3-606(A)(2)(e) |
| Single-family attached, end lot: 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 | 3-606(A)(2)(e) | |
| 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 | 3-606(A)(2)(e) | |
| Other principal uses: At least 0 ft if the lot width is less than 25 ft; otherwise the greater of 25 ft and the building height | 3-606(A)(2)(e) | |
| Side setbacks combined | The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 3-600 |
| 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) | 3-606(A)(3) |
| Other principal uses: At least the greater of 25 ft and the building height minus half of the width of the alley the lot abuts (0 if none) | 3-606(A)(3) | |
| Maximum height | Single-family detached and two-family: At most 30 ft | 3-606(D) |
| Single-family attached and multifamily and other principal uses: At most 45 ft | 3-606(D) | |
| Maximum FAR | Single-family detached and single-family attached and two-family and multifamily and other principal uses: At most 0.75 | 3-606(C) |
| Max density | Single-family and two-family dwellings: At most 22 dwellings per acre | 3-605(A) |
| Minimum lot size | Single-family and two-family dwellings: At least 1,980 sq ft | 3-605(B)(2) |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 3-605(B)(3) | |
| Minimum lot width | Single-family detached and two-family and multifamily and other principal uses: At least 50 ft | 3-605(C)(1) |
| Single-family attached, interior lot: At least 18 ft | 3-605(C)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, end lot: At least 26 ft | 3-605(C)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, corner lot: At least 38 ft | 3-605(C)(2) | |
| Single-family attached: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 3-605(C)(2) | |
| Maximum lot coverage | The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 3-600 |
| Minimum open space | Dwellings (all types): At least 35% | 3-606(B) |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 3-608(B) |
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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