We're still verifying City of Alexandria, VA's answers against the city code.

RSRS / Townhouse Residential

Alexandria, VA · Alexandria Zoning Ordinance

The RS zone is a townhouse district allowing attached dwellings at a maximum density of 15 units per acre. Minimum lot size per unit is 2,904 square feet with a minimum 18-foot frontage. Heights are limited to 35 feet and FAR to 0.75. Open and usable space must comprise at least 35 percent of each lot. A public alley or walkway is required to facilitate trash removal. Walkway requirement and lot standards were modified through Ord. No. 5593 (June 2025).

Development standards in RS

Front setback	Single-family attached: At least 20 ft	3-1206(A)(1)
Side setback	Single-family attached, end lot: At least the greater of 8 ft and the building height divided by 3	3-1206(A)(2)
Side setbacks combined	The ordinance sets no figure for this case	3-1200
Rear setback	Single-family attached: At least the greater of 16 ft and the building height minus half of the width of the alley the lot abuts (0 if none)	3-1206(A)(3)
Maximum height	Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 35 ft	3-1206(D)
Maximum FAR	Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 0.75	3-1206(C)
Max density	Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 15 dwellings per acre	3-1205(A)
Minimum lot size	Single-family attached: At least 2,904 sq ft	3-1205(B)
Minimum lot width	Single-family attached, interior lot: At least 18 ft	3-1205(C)
	Single-family attached, end lot: At least 26 ft	3-1205(C)
	Single-family attached, corner lot: At least 38 ft	3-1205(C)
Maximum lot coverage	The ordinance sets no figure for this case	3-1200
Minimum open space	Single-family attached and other principal uses: At least 35%	3-1206(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. 3-1205(A): gross density shall not exceed 15 dwelling units per acre.

Sec. 3-1206(C): the maximum permitted floor area ratio is .75.

Sec. 3-1206(D): the maximum permitted height of a structure is 35 feet. Sec. 3-1200 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 RS

AllowedTownhouse dwelling
Sec. 3-1202(A)
AllowedAccessory uses, as permitted by section 7-100
Sec. 3-1202(B)
AllowedChild or elder care home, as permitted by section 7-500
Sec. 3-1202(C)
AllowedChurch
We could not find this use in the Alexandria zoning ordinance. Confirm with the City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning.
AllowedHome occupation, as permitted by section 7-300
Sec. 3-1202(D)
AllowedPublic park
Sec. 3-1202(G)
AllowedUtilities, as permitted by section 7-1200
Sec. 3-1202(I)
ConditionalChild or elder care home, other than pursuant to section 3-1202
Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-1202.1(A)
ConditionalADU / Accessory Dwelling
Sec. 7-700 standards apply
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.

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Sources

Alexandria Zoning Ordinance — read the ordinance
City of Alexandria — official zoning map / authority
Standards as recorded by Zonescore: Alexandria Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3-1200 (3-1205, 3-1206); Ord. No. 5593

Values are read from the City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance.

Other Alexandria zones

CC CD CDD CDD#1 CDD#10 CDD#16 CDD#5 CDD#9 CDX CG CL CR CRMU/H CRMU/L CRMU/M CRMU/X CSL I KR NR OC OCH OCM OCM(100) OCM(50) R-12 R-2-5 R-20 R-5 R-8 RA RB RC RCX RD RM RMF RT UT W-1