Arlington County, VA · Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO)
RA14-26 is a medium-high density apartment district that permits multifamily buildings at 35ft/3.5 stories by-right, up to 60ft for large-scale housing projects (ACZO §6.2). Often found along primary corridors and near the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro spine.
Development standards in RA14-26
Maximum height
35 ft
6.2
Rear setback
25 ft
3.2.6
3.5 stories by-right; up to 6 stories / 60 ft for large-scale housing projects by special exception (ACZO §6.2.D)
Read from Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO), effective through 2026-06-13. We last checked with the publisher on 2026-09-14 and found nothing newer -- a check on that date, not a promise about today.
How complete is this market? Across 38,683 parcels we answer 65.5% 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 RA14-26
AllowedMulti-Family Residential By-right: the ACZO §6.1.2 RA-districts principal use table row 'Multiple-family' (p68) reads P for RA14-26, RA8-18 and RA6-15.
AllowedTownhouse By-right: ACZO §6.1.2 use table row 'Townhouses' (p68) reads P for RA14-26, RA8-18 and RA6-15 (RA7-16 reads S).
AllowedTwo-Family (Duplex/Semidetached) ACZO §6.1.2 use table (p68): the 'Duplexes' and 'Semidetached' cells for RA14-26, RA8-18 and RA6-15 each show P stacked with S -- a by-right path and a site-plan path in the same cell. The §6.1.3 transitional use table (p70) additionally reads U for duplexes and semidetached dwellings abutting other than C-1 or C-1-O districts.
AllowedOne-Family Detached Dwelling By-right: ACZO §6.1.2 use table row 'One-family detached' (p68) reads P for RA14-26, RA8-18 and RA6-15.
AllowedRecovery Residence The cell is not one answer. The ACZO §6.1.2 RA-districts principal use table row 'Recovery residence' (p68) stacks P over U for RA14-26, RA8-18 and RA6-15 -- a by-right path and a use-permit path printed in the same box. §12.3.9 says what separates them: "recovery residences with eight or fewer residents are permitted by-right in one-family detached dwellings. Recovery residences with more than eight residents and/or located in a dwelling other than a one-family detached dwelling shall require County Board approval of a use permit, per §15.4." Both paths are shown; neither is chosen for you.
AllowedHome Occupation By-right, subject to §12.9.11
ConditionalIndependent / Assisted Living Site plan (ACZO §6.1.2)
ConditionalNursing / Continuing-Care Home Zonescore groups two uses the ACZO lists separately, and here they agree. §6.1.2 row 'Nursing homes' (p68) reads S for RA14-26 and row 'Continuing care retirement communities' (p68) reads S for RA14-26 -- both site plan approval, §15.5. RA8-18 and RA6-15 read the same. Both rows are named so you can see which one your proposal is.
ConditionalGroup Home / Dormitory Use permit (ACZO §6.1.2)
ConditionalChild Care / Day Care Zonescore groups child care and day care under one label. The ACZO answers them on three separate rows and they do not agree: §6.1.2 row 'Child care centers' (p68) reads U for RA14-26, and row 'All other day care uses' (p68) reads U for RA14-26 -- both a use permit -- while the §6.1.4 ACCESSORY use table row 'Family day care homes' (p71) reads P for RA14-26, by right. RA8-18 and RA6-15 read the same three symbols. A family day care home in the dwelling is the by-right path; a centre is not. All three are shown; none is chosen for you. Use standards at §12.4.1.
ConditionalSchool / College Use permit (ACZO §6.1.2)
ConditionalCommunity Center / Library Use permit (ACZO §6.1.2)
ConditionalHospital Use permit (ACZO §12.4.2)
ConditionalMedical or Dental Office/Clinic Use permit (ACZO §6.1.2)
ConditionalBed & Breakfast Use permit (ACZO §12.5.3)
ConditionalMembership Club or Lodge Use permit (ACZO §6.1.2)
AllowedSTR - Short-Term Rentals By-right (P) in the ACZO accessory use tables, subject to an accessory homestay permit issued by the zoning administrator (ACZO §12.9.12). The permit application requires proof that the property is the applicant's permanent residence (ACZO §12.9.12.B.2).
"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.
Standards as recorded by Zonescore: Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO), Effective June 13, 2026
Values are read from the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO). Where a district allows more density through site plan approval than by right, both are shown -- they are very different entitlement paths.