The RT zone allows attached townhouse dwellings at urban-scale density while maintaining a low-rise character. It is the defining zone for Old Town Alexandria's historic rowhouse blocks and Potomac Yard townhouse development. Side yard requirements are often waived at party walls. Dimensional limits, including the building coverage cap in Sec. 3-1306(B), are in the development-standards table below.
Development standards in RT
Front setback
Single-family attached: At least 4 ft
3-1306(A)(1)(b)
Side setback
Single-family attached, end lot: At least the greater of 12 ft and half of the building height
3-1306(A)(2)
Side setbacks combined
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1300
Rear setback
Single-family attached: At least the greater of 12 ft and the building height minus half of the width of the alley the lot abuts (0 if none)
3-1306(A)(3)
Maximum height
Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 35 ft
3-1306(D)
Maximum FAR
Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 0.5
3-1306(C)
Max density
Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 9.5 dwellings per acre
3-1305(A)
Minimum lot size
Single-family attached: At least 2,500 sq ft
3-1305(B)
Minimum lot width
Single-family attached, interior lot: At least 22 ft
3-1305(C)(2)
Single-family attached, corner lot: At least 45 ft
3-1305(C)(3)
Single-family attached, end lot: At least 45 ft
3-1305(C)(3)
Maximum lot coverage
Single-family attached and other principal uses: At most 30%
3-1306(B)
Minimum open space
The ordinance sets no figure for this case
3-1300
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. 3-1305(A): gross density shall not exceed 9.5 dwelling units an acre.
Sec. 3-1306(C): the maximum permitted floor area ratio is .5.
Sec. 3-1306(D): the maximum permitted height of a structure is 35 feet.
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 RT
AllowedTownhouse dwelling Sec. 3-1302(A)
AllowedAccessory uses, as permitted by section 7-100 Sec. 3-1302(B)
AllowedChild or elder care home, as permitted by section 7-500 Sec. 3-1302(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. 3-1302(D)
AllowedPublic park Sec. 3-1302(G)
AllowedUtilities, as permitted by section 7-1200 Sec. 3-1302(I)
ConditionalChild or elder care home, other than pursuant to section 3-1302 Admin approval required (Sec. 11-513); Sec. 3-1302.1(A)
ConditionalCemetery Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1303(A)
ConditionalCo-living dwelling, not to exceed two units Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1303(A.1)
ConditionalNursing or convalescent home or hospice Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1303(B)
ConditionalSeminary, convent and monastery Special Use Permit required; Sec. 3-1303(D)
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. 3-1303(E)
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.