Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Permits high-density housing and appropriate renovation of or addition to the existing housing stock
Development standards in CG-1
Maximum FAR
6
Maximum height
90 ft
Maximum lot coverage
75%
Rear setback
15 ft
By-right FAR varies by building type: Residential (IZ) 7.2; Residential 6
Development standards for this market are not yet checked against a committed copy of the ordinance. Use the ordinance link below as the authoritative source.
Permitted uses in CG-1
Not AllowedCorner stores Explicitly excluded from the RF-zone uses carried into RA-1; Subtitle U §401.1(a)
AllowedPrivate clubs with sleeping accommodations Subtitle U §401.1(b)
AllowedChild/Elderly development center or adult day treatment facility Limited to no more than 25 individuals; Subtitle U §401.1(c)
Not AllowedMultiple dwellings (apartment house) Explicitly excluded for RA-1 zone under the 'Except for the RA-1 and RA-6 zones' carve-out; Subtitle U §401.1(d)(1)
Not AllowedHotel in existence as of May 16, 1980 (with valid certificate of occupancy or valid building permit application) Explicitly excluded for RA-1 zone under the 'Except for the RA-1 and RA-6 zones' carve-out; Subtitle U §401.1(d)(2)
AllowedRecreation building, park, playground, swimming pool, athletic field, ice rink, or other similar athletic facility (public or private, on local or federal land under joint federal-local jurisdictional transfer agreement) Subject to conditions: no part nearer than 70 ft. to nearest residential structure; uses not organized for profit; all parking areas shared; scoreboards no taller than 25 ft. above grade; lighting confined to lot boundaries; Subtitle U §401.1(e)
Not AllowedChancery Permitted only in RA-4, RA-5, RA-10, and RA-11 zones; RA-1 is not listed; Subtitle U §401.2
AllowedAny accessory use permitted in the R zones under Subtitle U § 250 Permitted as matter of right; incorporates all R zone accessory uses by reference; Subtitle U §410.1(a)
AllowedAccessory parking spaces or an accessory parking garage Subject to all applicable provisions of Subtitle C, Chapter 7; Subtitle U §410.1(b)
AllowedTemporary exhibits, fundraising functions, and benefit sales for nonprofit organizations Not to exceed 10 days; must be in a hotel with more than 100 rooms or suites; Subtitle U §410.1(c)
AllowedCommercial adjuncts as accessory uses to a hotel Hotel must contain 100 or more rooms or suites; total area devoted to function rooms/exhibit space/commercial adjuncts shall not be increased; no direct outside entrance; no part visible from sidewalk; no sign visible from outside building; Subtitle U §410.1(d)
AllowedHome occupation Subject to Subtitle U § 251 conditions; no more than 4 clients or visitors per day; no non-resident employees or workers; Subtitle U §410.1(e)
AllowedOther accessory uses, buildings, or structures customarily incidental to uses permitted in RA zones Must be customarily incidental to uses permitted in RA zones under this section; Subtitle U §410.1(f)
AllowedAccessory community dining room within an apartment house Must be solely for use of tenants and their guests within an apartment house; Subtitle U §410.1(g)
ConditionalArt gallery or museum Subject to conditions including no objectionable noise/traffic, adequate off-street parking, no adverse effect on surrounding area character, and BZA may require special design/screening; Subtitle U §420.1(b)
Not AllowedCorner store Explicitly not permitted within the RA zones, including RA-1; Subtitle U §420.1(c)
ConditionalCommercial adjuncts to a hotel containing less than 100 rooms or suites Subject to conditions: no increase in function/exhibit space, no direct outside entrance, adjunct not visible from sidewalk, no exterior signage, hotel must be self-sustaining financially; Subtitle U §420.1(d)
Not AllowedDrive-through accessory to any use Explicitly not permitted in RA zones, including RA-1; Subtitle U §420.1(e)
ConditionalEmergency shelter use for 5 to 25 persons (not including resident supervisors/staff and their families) Subject to conditions: no other shelter for 7+ persons in same square or within 500 ft., adequate parking, code/licensing compliance, no adverse neighborhood impact; BZA may approve >25 persons under limited findings; Subtitle U §420.1(f)
ConditionalNonresidential adjunct uses as accessory use within an apartment house (sale of foods, drugs, sundries, and personal services for tenants) Limited to main floor or below; no direct outside entrance; not visible from sidewalk; no exterior signage; principal entrance must be more than 1/4 mile walking distance from nearest MU, NC, or PDR zone; BZA considers proximity of MU/NC zones and apartment house size/character; Subtitle U §420.1(g)
Not AllowedParking garage constructed as a principal use on a lot other than an alley lot This use is only permitted in RA-5 zone; RA-1 is not RA-5, so this use is prohibited in RA-1; Subtitle U §420.1(h)
AllowedNew Residential Developments Section 421 applies to both RA-1 and RA-6; specific use permissions and conditions are governed by this section and supplemented by Section 422 additional use restrictions and conditions for RA zones. Insufficient detail in the provided excerpt to enumerate individual uses.; Subtitle U §421
"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.
Development standards are derived from the DC Office of Zoning's published development-standards table and checked against Title 11 DCMR; use permissions follow Subtitle U.