The UT zone is applied to utility infrastructure and transportation facilities including railroad yards, WMATA stations, substations, and water facilities. It is a narrow zone that accommodates essential infrastructure uses. Residential and commercial uses are not permitted. Most intensive uses require a Special Use Permit.
Development standards in UT
Front setback
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1305(A)
Side setback
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1305(A)
Rear setback
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1305(A)
Maximum height
Other principal uses: At most 35 ft
4-1305(C)
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
4-1305(C)
Maximum FAR
Other principal uses: At most 0.25
4-1305(B)
Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site
4-1305(B)
Minimum open space
Other principal uses: No requirement
4-1305(A)
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. 4-1305(B): .25 by right; may be increased to not more than .5 with a special use permit.
Sec. 4-1305(C): 35 feet by right; may be increased to not more than 50 feet with a special use permit.
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 UT
AllowedElectrical substation/switching station, less than 10,000 sf land area Sec. 4-1302(A)
AllowedRailroad, bus and rail transit passenger stations Sec. 4-1302(B)
AllowedRailroad switching yard Sec. 4-1302(C)
AllowedRailroad tracks Sec. 4-1302(D)
AllowedTelephone company dial center Sec. 4-1302(E)
AllowedUtilities (Sec. 7-1200) Sec. 4-1302(F)
AllowedUtility company office Sec. 4-1302(G)
AllowedWMATA stations and associated facilities and operations Sec. 4-1302(H)
AllowedWater pumping station, tower and reservoir Sec. 4-1302(I)
AllowedAccessory uses (Sec. 7-100) Sec. 4-1302(J)
ConditionalBus shelter on private property Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(A)
ConditionalElectrical power generating plant Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(B)
ConditionalElectrical substation/switching station, 10,000 sf or more Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(B-1)
ConditionalHelistop Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(C)
ConditionalPublic utility service yard Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(D)
ConditionalRailroad, bus and rail transit maintenance, repair and operating facilities Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(E)
ConditionalRailroad car assembly operations Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(F)
ConditionalRailroad engine service operations Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(G)
ConditionalRailroad repair yards Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(H)
ConditionalUtility and transportation equipment and outdoor storage yards Special Use Permit required; Sec. 4-1303(I)
Not AllowedSTR - Short-Term Rentals Residential use not permitted as primary use in UT zone; Sec. 7-1403
"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.