The RCX zone is Alexandria's medium-density apartment district, allowing apartment buildings and townhouse clusters up to 50 feet in height with a FAR of 1.25. Gross density for townhouses is capped at 35 du/acre (up to 54.45 du/acre with a Special Use Permit). DUA limits for apartment uses were removed by the 2023 Zoning for Housing ordinance; density is now governed by FAR and setbacks. The zone serves as a medium-intensity residential buffer and is suitable for mid-rise apartment infill and mixed-residential development.
Development standards in RCX
Front setback
No requirement
3-806(A)(1)
Side setback
Multifamily: At least 0 ft if the lot width is less than 25 ft; otherwise the greater of 16 ft and the building height divided by 3
3-806(A)(2)(d)
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
3-806(A)(2)(d)
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
3-806(A)(2)(d)
Side setbacks combined
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-800
Rear setback
Single-family attached and multifamily: 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)
3-806(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)
3-806(A)(3)
Maximum height
Single-family attached and multifamily and other principal uses: At most 50 ft
3-806(D)
Maximum FAR
Single-family attached and multifamily and other principal uses: At most 1.25
3-806(C)
Max density
Single-family attached: At most 35 dwellings per acre
3-805(A)
Minimum lot size
Single-family attached: At least 1,600 sq ft
3-805(B)(2)
Other principal uses: No requirement
3-805(B)(3)
Minimum lot width
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least 50 ft
3-805(C)(1)
Single-family attached, interior lot: At least 18 ft
3-805(C)(2)
Single-family attached, end lot: At least 26 ft
3-805(C)(2)
Single-family attached, corner lot: At least 38 ft
3-805(C)(2)
Single-family attached: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
3-805(C)(2)
Maximum lot coverage
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-800
Minimum open space
Single-family attached and multifamily: At least 35% “(C) Developments with site plans approved prior to July 6, 1966 were required to include a minimum amount of open and usable space of 300 square feet per dwelling unit or 37.5 percent of the total lot or tract area, whichever was greater. The same requirements shall continue to apply to those particular develop- ments under this ordinance.”
3-806(B)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
3-808(B)
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. 3-806(C): the maximum permitted floor area ratio is 1.25.
Sec. 3-806(D): the maximum permitted height of a structure is 50 feet. Sec. 3-800 sets no limit in stories.
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 RCX
AllowedTownhouse dwelling Sec. 3-802(A)
AllowedMulti-unit dwelling Sec. 3-802(B)
AllowedAccessory uses, as permitted by section 7-100 Sec. 3-802(C)
AllowedChild or elder care home, as permitted by section 7-500 Sec. 3-802(D)
AllowedChurch Sec. 3-802(E)
AllowedHome occupation, as permitted by section 7-300 Sec. 3-802(E)
AllowedPublic park Sec. 3-802(G)
AllowedPublic school Sec. 3-802(H)
AllowedUtilities, as permitted by section 7-1200 Sec. 3-802(J)
ConditionalChild or elder care home, other than pursuant to section 3-802 Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-802.1(A)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, not to exceed two units Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-802.1(B)
ConditionalDay care center within a church or school building Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-802.1(C)
ConditionalCemetery Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(B)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, other than pursuant to section 3-802.1 Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(C)
ConditionalContinuum of care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(C.1)
ConditionalDay care center Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(D)
ConditionalNursing or convalescent home or hospice Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(E)
ConditionalOutdoor dining on private property Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(F)
ConditionalOutdoor market Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(F.1)
ConditionalPrivate school Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(G)
ConditionalSeminary, convent and monastery Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(I)
ConditionalBank, saving and loan bank or association, and similar financial institution The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(1)
ConditionalBarber shop or beauty shop The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(2)
ConditionalCleaning, laundry or pressing agency with no actual operations on premises The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(3)
ConditionalDay care center The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(4)
ConditionalDrugstore The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(5)
ConditionalGift shop The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(6)
ConditionalGrocery store or convenience store, where products are not prepared or consumed on premises The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(J)(7)
ConditionalHealth and athletic club or fitness studio; (8.1) Medical care facility The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
ConditionalProfessional and business office, provided that no inventory, stock-in-trade, materials or supplies other than general office supplies are stored on site and that no trucks, vans or similar vehicles are parked on site outside of business hours The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
ConditionalRestaurant The following commercial uses in a multi-unit building of four or more stories in height if limited to an area the size of the first floor or a floor below it, whichever is less, and located on the first floor or any floor below the first floor of the building. Special Use Permit required. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
ConditionalAny church or school parking added after October 1, 1996 which exceeds the number of spaces required by this ordinance; provided, however, that no special use permit for such excess parking shall regulate or substantially burden any religious practice or belief Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-803(K)
AllowedADU / Accessory Dwelling By-right accessory use; /7-203 standards (accessory to single/two/townhouse dwellings). We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
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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