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Washington, D.C. zoning › where can I put this

Where can I put a corner store in Washington, D.C.?

“corner store” matches 8 uses this ordinance names separately. We do not choose between them — they can have different answers, so every one is shown.

Corner Store – Fresh Food Market or Grocery Store (devoted primarily to retail sale of food)

Allowed by right in 4 districts

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
R-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
12,125AllowedSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.
R-3/FB
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
216AllowedSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.
R-3/GT
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
4,453AllowedSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.
R-3/NO
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedAllowedSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.

Corner Store – Fresh Food Market or Grocery Store: alcohol for off-site consumption (max 15% of ground floor gross floor area)

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 4 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the District. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
R-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
12,125ConditionalSubtitle U §254.13(e)
A maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the gross floor area of the corner store located on the ground floor of the building may be devoted to the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption only when approved as a special exception.
R-3/FB
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
216ConditionalSubtitle U §254.13(e)
A maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the gross floor area of the corner store located on the ground floor of the building may be devoted to the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption only when approved as a special exception.
R-3/GT
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
4,453ConditionalSubtitle U §254.13(e)
A maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the gross floor area of the corner store located on the ground floor of the building may be devoted to the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption only when approved as a special exception.
R-3/NO
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle U §254.13(e)
A maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the gross floor area of the corner store located on the ground floor of the building may be devoted to the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption only when approved as a special exception.

Corner Store – Retail, General Service, Arts Design and Creation, or Eating and Drinking Establishment (not qualifying as fresh food market/grocery)

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 4 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the District. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
R-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
12,125ConditionalSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.
R-3/FB
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
216ConditionalSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.
R-3/GT
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
4,453ConditionalSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.
R-3/NO
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle U §254.1
254.1 A corner store shall only be permitted in any of the R-3 or RF-1 zones subject to the provisions of this section.

Corner store

Allowed by right in 11 districts

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
BF-2A
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
19AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
BF-2B
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
31AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
R-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
12,125AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
R-3/FB
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
216AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
R-3/GT
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
4,453AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
R-3/NO
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedAllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
RF-1
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
35,416AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
RF-1/CAP
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
2,093AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
RF-1/DC
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
272AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
RF-4
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
215AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
RF-5
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedAllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]

Corner store (RF-1 zones, matter-of-right conditions)

Allowed by right in 4 districts

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
MU-1
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
1AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
MU-1/DC
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
176AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
MU-2
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
99AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
MU-2/DC
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
39AllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]

Corner store use

Allowed by right in 2 districts

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
RF-2
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedAllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]
RF-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedAllowedSubtitle U §254
254 CORNER STORES CHAPTER 3 USE PERMISSIONS RESIDENTIAL FLATS (RF) ZONES [… quote continues in the ordinance; our stored extract stops here]

Corner store use not meeting matter-of-right conditions

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 1 district

These require a hearing or an approval from the District. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
RF-2
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;

Corner store use not meeting matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 8 districts

These require a hearing or an approval from the District. They are not a “no”, and they are not a “yes” either.

DistrictProperties loadedCodeWhat says so
BF-2A
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
19ConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
BF-2B
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
31ConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
RF-1
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
35,416ConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
RF-1/CAP
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
2,093ConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
RF-1/DC
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
272ConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
RF-3
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
RF-4
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
215ConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;
RF-5
the ordinance paragraph quoted here
no parcels loadedConditionalSubtitle U §320.1(d)
A corner store use in any of the RF-1 zones not meeting the matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U § 254, subject to the special exception conditions of Subtitle U § 254.14;

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This answer is good through April 3, 2026 — that is the date the ordinance we hold runs to, as published by DC Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances. The District has since adopted something newer that we have not taken in yet, so parts of this may already be out of date.

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