Where can I put a large format retail (50,000+ sq ft) in Washington, D.C.?

“large format retail (50,000+ sq ft)” matches 2 uses this ordinance names separately. We do not choose between them — they can have different answers, so every one is shown.

Large Format Retail (50,000+ sq ft)
Retail, large format (50,000+ sq ft single tenant)

Large Format Retail (50,000+ sq ft)

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 12 districts

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

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
D-1 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-1-R the ordinance paragraph quoted here	60	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-2 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	78	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-3 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	116	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-4 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	131	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-4-R the ordinance paragraph quoted here	194	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-5 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	506	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-5-R the ordinance paragraph quoted here	148	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-6 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	316	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-6-R the ordinance paragraph quoted here	113	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-7 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	141	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;
D-8 the ordinance paragraph quoted here	30	Conditional	Subtitle I §303.1(g) Large format retail uses subject to the conditions in Subtitle U § 511.1, except that sufficient parking shall be provided for employees and customers;

Retail, large format (50,000+ sq ft single tenant)

Allowed only with a discretionary approval in 3 districts

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

District	Properties loaded	Code	What says so
NHR the ordinance paragraph quoted here	19	Conditional	Subtitle U §511.1(h) Retail, large format, subject to the following conditions: (1) The development standards and design guidelines contained within this section apply to all new large format retail establishments with single tenant space of fifty thousand (50,000) gross square feet or greater; (2) The use shall be located so that it is not likely to become objectionable to adjoining and nearby property because of noise, traffic, parking, loading, City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-22 deliveries, lighting, trash compacting and collection, hours of operation, or otherwise objectionable conditions; (3) Sufficient automobile parking, but not less than that required in Subtitle C, Chapter 7, shall be provided to accommodate the employees and customers; (4) An application under this section shall include the following information: (A) A general site and development plan, indicating the proposed use, location, dimensions, number of stories, and height of building; (B) A study of site characteristics and conditions; (C) A description of existing topography, soil conditions, vegetation and drainage consisting of written material, plats, maps and photographs; (D) Proposed topography including street grades and other grading contours; (E) Identification of mature trees to remain and percent of site to be covered by impervious surface; (F) Proposed drainage and sewer system and water distribution; (G) Proposed treatment of existing natural features, such as steep slopes, ravines, natural watercourses; (H) Proposed method of solid waste collection; (I) Estimated water consumption (gallons per year); (J) A transportation study, containing the following: (1) Proposed circulation plan, including the location of vehicular and pedestrian access ways, other public space and the location and number of all off-street parking and loading spaces, loading berths and service delivery spaces; (2) Estimated number and type of trips assumed to be generated by project, and assumed temporal and directional distribution; (3) Traffic management requirements (lights, stop signs, one-way streets, etc.); (4) Relationship of the proposed project to the mass transit system (nearest bus stops and routes, nearest Metrorail stations, etc.); and City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-23 (5) Vehicular trip generation, trip assignment and before-and-after capacity analyses and level of service at critical intersections; and (6) Any other information needed to fully understand the final building proposed for the site; (7) An applicant requesting approval under this section must demonstrate that the proposed use, building, or structure, including the siting, architectural design, site plan, landscaping, sidewalk treatment, and operation, will: (A) Will not result in light spillage off the site; (B) Minimize unarticulated blank walls adjacent to public spaces through facade articulation, materials, display windows, entries, and other architectural efforts; and (C) Be in context with the surrounding street patterns; (8) Where additional stores or individual uses are located within a large format retail use, each such store shall have at least one (1) exterior customer entrance; (9) The following list should be considered as guidelines for the design of large format retail buildings: (A) Building design shall incorporate architectural features and patterns to provide visual interest; (B) Exterior walls shall feature projections and recesses; (C) Building roofs shall incorporate pitched rooflines and detailed roofing materials; (D) Building materials shall include stone, wood, brick, glass, and metal in keeping with the surrounding architectural context; (E) Entryways shall be well-marked and engaging and provide connection via wide sidewalks to primary streets and parking; (F) Building design shall incorporate sustainable measures to include solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, and use of permeable paving for surface parking areas; and (G) Landscaping shall be provided in the rear and side yards to screen and limit visibility of storage areas; (10) This section shall not apply to the following: City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-24 (A) Large format retail that would occupy a planned unit development approved as of the effective date of this title; or (B) Large format retail that would occupy a project with a completed review under the large tract review regulations (Title 10-B DCMR, Chapter 23) as of the effective date of this title; except that a modification to a completed large tract review that would result in a project with fifty thousand square feet (50,000 sq. ft.) or more of retail use shall also require approval under this section prior to certificate of occupancy for a use meeting the definition of large format retail;
NYE the ordinance paragraph quoted here	6	Conditional	Subtitle U §511.1(h) Retail, large format, subject to the following conditions: (1) The development standards and design guidelines contained within this section apply to all new large format retail establishments with single tenant space of fifty thousand (50,000) gross square feet or greater; (2) The use shall be located so that it is not likely to become objectionable to adjoining and nearby property because of noise, traffic, parking, loading, City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-22 deliveries, lighting, trash compacting and collection, hours of operation, or otherwise objectionable conditions; (3) Sufficient automobile parking, but not less than that required in Subtitle C, Chapter 7, shall be provided to accommodate the employees and customers; (4) An application under this section shall include the following information: (A) A general site and development plan, indicating the proposed use, location, dimensions, number of stories, and height of building; (B) A study of site characteristics and conditions; (C) A description of existing topography, soil conditions, vegetation and drainage consisting of written material, plats, maps and photographs; (D) Proposed topography including street grades and other grading contours; (E) Identification of mature trees to remain and percent of site to be covered by impervious surface; (F) Proposed drainage and sewer system and water distribution; (G) Proposed treatment of existing natural features, such as steep slopes, ravines, natural watercourses; (H) Proposed method of solid waste collection; (I) Estimated water consumption (gallons per year); (J) A transportation study, containing the following: (1) Proposed circulation plan, including the location of vehicular and pedestrian access ways, other public space and the location and number of all off-street parking and loading spaces, loading berths and service delivery spaces; (2) Estimated number and type of trips assumed to be generated by project, and assumed temporal and directional distribution; (3) Traffic management requirements (lights, stop signs, one-way streets, etc.); (4) Relationship of the proposed project to the mass transit system (nearest bus stops and routes, nearest Metrorail stations, etc.); and City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-23 (5) Vehicular trip generation, trip assignment and before-and-after capacity analyses and level of service at critical intersections; and (6) Any other information needed to fully understand the final building proposed for the site; (7) An applicant requesting approval under this section must demonstrate that the proposed use, building, or structure, including the siting, architectural design, site plan, landscaping, sidewalk treatment, and operation, will: (A) Will not result in light spillage off the site; (B) Minimize unarticulated blank walls adjacent to public spaces through facade articulation, materials, display windows, entries, and other architectural efforts; and (C) Be in context with the surrounding street patterns; (8) Where additional stores or individual uses are located within a large format retail use, each such store shall have at least one (1) exterior customer entrance; (9) The following list should be considered as guidelines for the design of large format retail buildings: (A) Building design shall incorporate architectural features and patterns to provide visual interest; (B) Exterior walls shall feature projections and recesses; (C) Building roofs shall incorporate pitched rooflines and detailed roofing materials; (D) Building materials shall include stone, wood, brick, glass, and metal in keeping with the surrounding architectural context; (E) Entryways shall be well-marked and engaging and provide connection via wide sidewalks to primary streets and parking; (F) Building design shall incorporate sustainable measures to include solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, and use of permeable paving for surface parking areas; and (G) Landscaping shall be provided in the rear and side yards to screen and limit visibility of storage areas; (10) This section shall not apply to the following: City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-24 (A) Large format retail that would occupy a planned unit development approved as of the effective date of this title; or (B) Large format retail that would occupy a project with a completed review under the large tract review regulations (Title 10-B DCMR, Chapter 23) as of the effective date of this title; except that a modification to a completed large tract review that would result in a project with fifty thousand square feet (50,000 sq. ft.) or more of retail use shall also require approval under this section prior to certificate of occupancy for a use meeting the definition of large format retail;
USN the ordinance paragraph quoted here	no parcels loaded	Conditional	Subtitle U §511.1(h) Retail, large format, subject to the following conditions: (1) The development standards and design guidelines contained within this section apply to all new large format retail establishments with single tenant space of fifty thousand (50,000) gross square feet or greater; (2) The use shall be located so that it is not likely to become objectionable to adjoining and nearby property because of noise, traffic, parking, loading, City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-22 deliveries, lighting, trash compacting and collection, hours of operation, or otherwise objectionable conditions; (3) Sufficient automobile parking, but not less than that required in Subtitle C, Chapter 7, shall be provided to accommodate the employees and customers; (4) An application under this section shall include the following information: (A) A general site and development plan, indicating the proposed use, location, dimensions, number of stories, and height of building; (B) A study of site characteristics and conditions; (C) A description of existing topography, soil conditions, vegetation and drainage consisting of written material, plats, maps and photographs; (D) Proposed topography including street grades and other grading contours; (E) Identification of mature trees to remain and percent of site to be covered by impervious surface; (F) Proposed drainage and sewer system and water distribution; (G) Proposed treatment of existing natural features, such as steep slopes, ravines, natural watercourses; (H) Proposed method of solid waste collection; (I) Estimated water consumption (gallons per year); (J) A transportation study, containing the following: (1) Proposed circulation plan, including the location of vehicular and pedestrian access ways, other public space and the location and number of all off-street parking and loading spaces, loading berths and service delivery spaces; (2) Estimated number and type of trips assumed to be generated by project, and assumed temporal and directional distribution; (3) Traffic management requirements (lights, stop signs, one-way streets, etc.); (4) Relationship of the proposed project to the mass transit system (nearest bus stops and routes, nearest Metrorail stations, etc.); and City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-23 (5) Vehicular trip generation, trip assignment and before-and-after capacity analyses and level of service at critical intersections; and (6) Any other information needed to fully understand the final building proposed for the site; (7) An applicant requesting approval under this section must demonstrate that the proposed use, building, or structure, including the siting, architectural design, site plan, landscaping, sidewalk treatment, and operation, will: (A) Will not result in light spillage off the site; (B) Minimize unarticulated blank walls adjacent to public spaces through facade articulation, materials, display windows, entries, and other architectural efforts; and (C) Be in context with the surrounding street patterns; (8) Where additional stores or individual uses are located within a large format retail use, each such store shall have at least one (1) exterior customer entrance; (9) The following list should be considered as guidelines for the design of large format retail buildings: (A) Building design shall incorporate architectural features and patterns to provide visual interest; (B) Exterior walls shall feature projections and recesses; (C) Building roofs shall incorporate pitched rooflines and detailed roofing materials; (D) Building materials shall include stone, wood, brick, glass, and metal in keeping with the surrounding architectural context; (E) Entryways shall be well-marked and engaging and provide connection via wide sidewalks to primary streets and parking; (F) Building design shall incorporate sustainable measures to include solar energy, geothermal heating and cooling, and use of permeable paving for surface parking areas; and (G) Landscaping shall be provided in the rear and side yards to screen and limit visibility of storage areas; (10) This section shall not apply to the following: City of Washington, D.C. \| Title 11 - Zoning SUBTITLE U, CHAPTER 5-24 (A) Large format retail that would occupy a planned unit development approved as of the effective date of this title; or (B) Large format retail that would occupy a project with a completed review under the large tract review regulations (Title 10-B DCMR, Chapter 23) as of the effective date of this title; except that a modification to a completed large tract review that would result in a project with fifty thousand square feet (50,000 sq. ft.) or more of retail use shall also require approval under this section prior to certificate of occupancy for a use meeting the definition of large format retail;

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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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What this does not cover

138,270 properties are loaded, county-wide. The District’s parcel record gives a street address but no ZIP code, so there is no ZIP breakdown to give and none is shown.
A further 2,535 properties carry a parcel zone code this page cannot match to a single column of the use table: (none), ARTS (6 variants, e.g. ARTS-1;ARTS-2), BF (7 variants, e.g. BF-1A;RA-1), CG (6 variants, e.g. CG-3;RA-2), D (17 variants, e.g. D-2;D-6), HE (6 variants, e.g. HE-1;HE-2), MU (131 variants, e.g. MU-1/DC;MU-2/DC), NHR;PDR, NHR;UNZONED, NMU (16 variants, e.g. NMU-3A/MW;RA-1), NYE;UNZONED, PDR (34 variants, e.g. PDR-1/CAP;RF-1/CAP), R (58 variants, e.g. R-1A/CBUT;R-1B), RA (18 variants, e.g. RA-1;RA-2) and 5 more.
1,678 of those lie in TWO OR MORE districts at once. Their code below holds every district the parcel really shares area with, joined by a semicolon — ARTS-1;ARTS-2, ARTS-1;ARTS-4;RA-2, ARTS-1;RF-1, ARTS-3;ARTS-4, ARTS-3;RA-2 and 327 more. The ordinance does not say the larger share wins, so we do not pick one: the parcel is shown as straddling and is not counted under either district.
(none) above means a parcel with no zone code assigned in the District's own data — 5 of them.
Owner filters. We have an owner of record for 132,963 of Washington, D.C.’s 138,270 parcels, of which 36,467 are owned by a company, trust or other organization, including 6,282 owned by public bodies — governments, authorities, schools, churches. That split is Zonescore’s reading of the owner’s name, not something the District published, and we keep the two apart rather than deciding for you which counts as an investor. 19,115 have an owner whose mailing address is outside DC — read off the end of the District’s own address string, where the state actually is, because “MD” also occurs inside “RICHMOND”. We could read a state on 126,746 of them; the rest are not counted either way. 34,374 are owned by somebody this District writes to at a different address — not the property itself. That is where the tax bill goes, which is not the same as where the owner sleeps — an owner can collect mail at a property they rent out, and one who is written to elsewhere may still live here. We can tell you the two addresses differ; we cannot tell you the owner does not live at the property. 18,004 of them are written to an address inside DC, so the out-of-state filter above cannot see them at all. That count is out of the 117,932 properties where we could compare the two addresses. On 15,031 more we could not — the owner is written to a post-office box, or the District’s own record of the property names a street and no building number — and those are left out rather than counted as living at home. Matching two addresses is Zonescore’s reading, not something the District published: we treat “123 Main St” and “123 Main Street” as one place, ignore an apartment number, and compare the ZIP code rather than the town name — a jurisdiction’s record of a property and its record of that property’s owner often name the same place by different towns, and treating those as two addresses would count somebody living in their own house as an absentee. Owned for (based on the last recorded transfer): under 2 years 13,000+; 2-5 years 18,000+; 5-10 years 26,000+; 10-20 years 26,000+; 20-30 years 18,000+. 30+ years: Not offered here. The transfer dates we hold for the District begin in 1997, so they cannot show a 30-year hold. Older recorded transfers from the District would close this. 33,000+ properties have no transfer date we can read and are in no bucket. 70,693 are worth more as land than as building — the District’s own land assessment is at least 50% of its total. 5,241 properties carry no pair of assessments and are left out of that count rather than treated as zero, which would make every one of them look like bare land.
Owner data from District of Columbia's property ownership records, retrieved September 25, 2026. CC BY 4.0.
The parcel record we fetch carries no ZIP code for the property itself, so the district counts above carry no ZIP breakdown. It gives the street address only; the one ZIP it does carry belongs to the owner’s mailing address, which is a fact about a different place and is not used here. We do not infer a ZIP we were not given.
Overlay districts are not modeled here. An overlay can change what a property allows.
Some cells in this ordinance state two outcomes without saying what separates them; those are shown with their code and their source, and not guessed at.

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