The RMF zone was created through the Zoning for Housing initiative to incentivize affordable multifamily housing. One-third of density above the base FAR must be provided as affordable units at 40% AMI. All five approved RMF projects to date have required City, State, or federal financial participation due to the deep affordability requirements. Rezoning to RMF is done case-by-case.
Development standards in RMF
Front setback
No requirement
3-1405(A)(1)
Side setback
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least 8 ft
3-1405(A)(2)
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
3-1405(A)(2)
Side setbacks combined
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1400
Rear setback
Multifamily and other principal uses: At least 8 ft
3-1405(A)(3)
Maximum height
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
3-1407
Maximum FAR
Multifamily and other principal uses: At most 0.75
3-1406(A)
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
3-1406(B)
Max density
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1400
Minimum lot size
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1400
Minimum lot width
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1400
Maximum lot coverage
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1400
Minimum open space
Multifamily: At least 25%
3-1405(B)
Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
3-1405(C)
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. 3-1406(A): the maximum permitted FAR shall not exceed .75. Sec. 3-1406(B): increasable to not more than 3.0 with a special use permit committing affordable housing equal to at least one third of the FAR increase, at an average of 40 percent AMI. Sec. 3-1406(C): for a continuum of care facility, .75 with at most 50 percent residential floor space, or up to 3.0 and 70 percent by special use permit.
Sec. 3-1407: the maximum permitted height of buildings shall be the height as depicted in the governing small area plan. The zoning ordinance sets no numeric cap.
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 RMF
AllowedMulti-unit dwelling Sec. 3-1402(A)
AllowedAccessory uses, permitted by section 7-100 Sec. 3-1402(B)
AllowedPersonal service establishment The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(1)
AllowedBusiness and professional office The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(2)
AllowedDay care center The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(3)
AllowedRetail shopping establishment The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(4)
AllowedPrivate school, commercial The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(5)
AllowedHealth profession office The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(6)
AllowedRestaurant The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(7)
AllowedHealth and athletic club or fitness studio The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(8)
AllowedMedical care facility The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(9)
AllowedOutdoor dining located on private property The following uses shall be permitted within a multi-unit building. Sec. 3-1402(C)(10)
AllowedUtilities, as permitted by section 7-1200 Sec. 3-1402(D)
AllowedChurch Sec. 3-1402(E)
AllowedPublic park Sec. 3-1402(F)
AllowedPublic building Sec. 3-1402(G)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, not to exceed two units Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-1402.1(A)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, other than pursuant to section 3-1402.1 Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1403(A)
ConditionalContinuum of care facility Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1403(B)
ConditionalTownhouse, up to 30 percent of the total number of units Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1403(C)
ConditionalPrivate academic school with more than 20 students within a multi-unit building Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1403(C)
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.