The RD zone is Alexandria's highest-density residential classification, applied in the downtown core for high-rise residential towers. FAR reaches 4.0 and heights can exceed 100 feet. DUA limits removed 2023. RD properties carry the highest residential development potential in the city and are concentrated in areas planned for major urban infill.
Development standards in RD
Front setback
No requirement
3-1005(A)(1)
Side setback
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least the greater of 16 ft and half of the building height
3-1005(A)(2)
Side setbacks combined
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1000
Rear setback
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least the greater of 16 ft and half of the building height minus half of the width of the alley the lot abuts (0 if none)
3-1005(A)(3)
Maximum height
Multifamily and other principal uses: At most 150 ft
3-1005(D)
Maximum FAR
No requirement
3-1005(C)
Max density
Multifamily and other principal uses: At most 100 dwellings per acre
3-1004(A)
Minimum lot size
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least 43,560 sq ft
3-1004(B)
Minimum lot width
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least 100 ft
3-1004(C)
Maximum lot coverage
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1000
Minimum open space
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least 40%
3-1005(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. 3-1004(A): density shall not exceed 100 dwelling units per acre.
Sec. 3-1005(C) states that no maximum floor area ratio applies. That is an affirmative absence of a cap set by the ordinance, not missing data.
Sec. 3-1005(D): no building or structure shall exceed 150 feet in height.
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 RD
AllowedMulti-unit dwelling Sec. 3-1001(A)
AllowedAccessory uses, as permitted by section 7-100 Sec. 3-1001(B)
AllowedChurch Sec. 3-1001(B.1)
AllowedBarbershop or beauty shop The following uses within a multi-unit building provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of ten percent of the gross floor area of said building. Sec. 3-1001(C)(1)
AllowedBusiness office The following uses within a multi-unit building provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of ten percent of the gross floor area of said building. Sec. 3-1001(C)(2)
AllowedCleaning, laundry or pressing agency with no actual operations on premises The following uses within a multi-unit building provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of ten percent of the gross floor area of said building. Sec. 3-1001(C)(3)
AllowedFlorist shop The following uses within a multi-unit building provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of ten percent of the gross floor area of said building. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
AllowedPhotographic studio The following uses within a multi-unit building provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of ten percent of the gross floor area of said building. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
AllowedStationery store The following uses within a multi-unit building provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of ten percent of the gross floor area of said building. We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
AllowedUtilities, as permitted by section 7-1200 Sec. 3-1001(D)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, not to exceed two units Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-1001.1(A)
ConditionalApartment hotel Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(A)
ConditionalCemetery Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(A.1)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, other than pursuant to section 3-1001.1 Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(B)
ConditionalMedical care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(B.1)
ConditionalNursing or convalescent home or hospice Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(C)
ConditionalOutdoor market Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(C.1)
ConditionalOutdoor dining on private property Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(C.2)
ConditionalSeminary, convent and monastery Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(E)
ConditionalPrivate or fraternal club The following uses in a multi-unit building or apartment hotel provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of five percent of the gross floor area of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(F)(1)
ConditionalRestaurant The following uses in a multi-unit building or apartment hotel provided they occupy no more than an aggregate measure of five percent of the gross floor area of the building. Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1002(F)(2)
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. 3-1002(G)
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.