Alexandria, VA · Alexandria Zoning Ordinance
The W-1 Waterfront Mixed Use zone promotes mixed-use development with public amenities along appropriate portions of Alexandria's waterfront, permitting a mixture of residential, commercial, cultural and institutional uses at greater densities than would otherwise be allowed where the mix of uses, design and location warrant. Floor area ratio is tiered by use mix and rises to 2.0 with a special use permit; building height is set by the applicable height district map rather than by the base zone. Development on sites identified in the Waterfront Small Area Plan is governed by that plan's Development Goals and Guidelines.
| Front setback | No requirement | 5-506(A) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family and two-family dwellings: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 5-512(C)(1) | |
| Side setback | Single-family detached: At least 0 ft if the lot width is less than 25 ft; otherwise the greater of 8 ft and the building height divided by 3 “Side yards. No side yards are required except in the following cases:” | 5-512(C)(2) |
| Two-family: At least 0 ft if the lot width is less than 25 ft; otherwise the greater of 8 ft and the building height divided by 3 “Side yards. No side yards are required except in the following cases:” | 5-512(C)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, interior end lot: At least 8 ft if the lot width is more than 25 ft; otherwise 0 ft | 5-506(B)(1) | |
| Multifamily: At least the greater of 16 ft and half of the building height | 5-506(B)(2) | |
| Single-family attached and other principal uses: No requirement | 5-506(B) | |
| Side setbacks combined | The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 5-504(A) |
| Rear setback | Multifamily: 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) | 5-506(C) |
| Single-family and two-family dwellings: At least the greater of 8 ft, 8 ft and the building height minus half of the width of the alley the lot abuts (0 if none) | 5-506(C) | |
| Other principal uses: At least 8 ft | 5-506(C) | |
| Maximum height | Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 5-507 |
| Maximum FAR | Other principal uses, commercial: At most 0.75 “In the case of either (1) or (2), an additional .25 of retail use is permitted.” | 5-504(A) |
| Multifamily: At most 1 “In the case of either (1) or (2), an additional .25 of retail use is permitted.” | 5-504(A) | |
| Single-family and two-family dwellings: At most 1 “In the case of either (1) or (2), an additional .25 of retail use is permitted.” | 5-504(A) | |
| Single-family and two-family dwellings: At most 1.5 “In the case of either (1) or (2), an additional .25 of retail use is permitted.” | 5-504(A) | |
| Mixed-use building, mixed use: At most 1 “If a parcel is developed for both commercial and residential use, and the residential use constitutes at least 25 percent of the floor space of the development, the maximum permitted floor area ratio is 1.0 plus an additional .25 of retail use.” | 5-504(B) | |
| Residential or mixed use with a special use permit: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 5-504(A) | |
| Waterfront plan development site: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 5-504(A) | |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 5-504(A) | |
| Mixed-use building, mixed use with residential under 25 percent of floor space: The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 5-504(A) | |
| Max density | Single-family and two-family dwellings: At most 30 dwellings per acre | 5-505(A) |
| Multifamily and other principal uses: The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 5-504(A) | |
| Minimum lot size | Single-family attached: At least 1,452 sq ft | 5-505(B)(2) |
| Single-family detached: At least 5,000 sq ft | 5-512(A) | |
| Two-family: At least 2,500 times the number of dwelling units | 5-512(A) | |
| Multifamily and other principal uses: No requirement | 5-505(B)(3) | |
| Minimum lot width | Multifamily: At least 50 ft | 5-505(C)(1) |
| Single-family attached, end lot: At least 26 ft | 5-505(C)(2) | |
| Single-family attached, not an end lot lot: At least 18 ft | 5-505(C)(2) | |
| Single-family detached: At least 50 ft | 5-512(B) | |
| Two-family: At least 50 ft | 5-512(B) | |
| Two-family: At least 25 times the number of dwelling units | 5-512(B) | |
| Other principal uses: No requirement | 5-505(C)(3) | |
| Maximum lot coverage | The ordinance sets no figure for this case | 5-504(A) |
| Minimum open space | Dwellings (all types): At least 35% | 5-508(A) |
| Continuum of care facility, continuum of care facility: Not computed here: the ordinance makes it depend on facts about the site | 5-504(A) |
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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