Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Supports the Development of Federal Reservation 13
Development standards in HE-3
Maximum FAR
7.2
Maximum height
110 ft
Maximum stories
10
Maximum lot coverage
80%
Minimum lot size
1800 sq ft
Front setback
12 ft
Rear setback
12 ft
By-right FAR varies by building type: Residential 7.2
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 HE-3
AllowedAgriculture, residential Subtitle K §410.3(a)
AllowedArts, design, and creation Subtitle K §410.3(b)
AllowedYouth Rehabilitation Home / Adult Rehabilitation Home (up to 6 persons) May accommodate 7–15 persons if no existing community-based institutional facility for 7+ persons in same square or within 500 ft; larger facility requires special exception per §412.1; Subtitle K §410.3(c)
AllowedCommunity solar facility (roof-mounted, any size) Subtitle K §410.3(d)(1)
AllowedCommunity solar facility (ground-mounted, up to 20 ft height, up to 1.5 acres panel face area) Must meet yard and height standards; panels sited no less than 40 ft from adjacent R/RF/RA-1 zone; Subtitle K §410.3(d)(2)
AllowedDaytime care Subtitle K §410.3(e)
AllowedEating and drinking establishment (excluding drive-through, fast food, and food delivery) Drive-through, fast food restaurant, and food delivery service not permitted as matter-of-right; carry-out limited to uses customarily accessory to eating/drinking establishment; fast food may be permitted as special exception under §412.1(f); Subtitle K §410.3(f)
AllowedEmergency shelter (up to 4 persons) Not including resident supervisors or staff and their families; Subtitle K §410.3(g)
AllowedEntertainment, assembly, and performing arts Subtitle K §410.3(h)
AllowedGovernment, local Subtitle K §410.3(i)
AllowedLodging Subtitle K §410.3(j)
AllowedOffice Subtitle K §410.3(k)
AllowedParks and recreation Subtitle K §410.3(l)
AllowedResidential Subtitle K §410.3(m)
AllowedRetail Subtitle K §410.3(n)
AllowedService, general and financial Subtitle K §410.3(o)
AllowedAntenna uses Subject to standards and procedures of Subtitle C Chapter 13; Subtitle K §410.2
AllowedAccessory uses customarily incidental and subordinate to principal uses Except when required as special exception by §412 or prohibited by §415; Subtitle K §414.1
AllowedShort-Term Rental (STR) as accessory use to principal residential use Subtitle K §414.3
AllowedParking as accessory use (above-grade parking structures prohibited as matter-of-right) At-grade accessory surface parking lots not permitted; above-grade parking structures require special exception per §412.1(i); Subtitle K §414.2
ConditionalCollege or university campus plan (including hospital, dormitory, fraternity, sorority) Special exception; located only on Squares A, B, C, and/or K; must comply with height/FAR/lot occupancy standards of each square; must meet Subtitle X Chapter 1 requirements; Subtitle K §412.1(a)
ConditionalCommunity-based institutional facility (9–15 persons) Special exception; Subtitle K §412.1(b)(1)
ConditionalCommunity-based institutional facility (1–15 persons) Special exception; Subtitle K §412.1(b)(2)
ConditionalAddition or replacement of Central Detention Facility or Correction Treatment Facility Special exception; located only on Squares N and O; detailed plan required showing location, height, bulk of improvements; Subtitle K §412.1(b)(3)
ConditionalCommunity service center (non-profit, job training, family counseling, cooperatives) Special exception; not organized for profit; no net income to private shareholders; Subtitle K §412.1(c)
ConditionalCommunity solar facility (not meeting §410.3(d) matter-of-right conditions) Special exception; landscaped area min 5 ft wide facing public space/residential/parks; native trees maintained; diverse native plantings; trees min 6 ft at planting; application referred to DC Dept of Energy and Environment; Subtitle K §412.1(d)
ConditionalEmergency shelter (5–15 persons) Special exception; Subtitle K §412.1(e)
ConditionalFast food establishment or food delivery business Special exception; no drive-through; shall not become objectionable due to noise/sounds/odors/lights/hours; adequate facilities for deliveries and trash collection; BZA may impose design/screening/lighting/soundproofing conditions; Subtitle K §412.1(f)
ConditionalHospital use Special exception; located only on Square B and/or C; certificate of need required from Dept of Human Services; detailed plan required; HE-2 zone hospital may exceed 80 ft height to maximum 130 ft; Subtitle K §412.1(g)
ConditionalSkilled care facility or intermediate nursing care facility Special exception; under Health Care Facilities and Community Residence Regulations; Subtitle K §412.1(g)(2)
ConditionalAbove-grade parking structure Special exception; shall not directly front onto primary or secondary street; preferred uses must occupy ground floor to min 30 ft depth; upper floors separated from primary/secondary street by commercial or residential uses; Subtitle K §412.1(i)(1)
ConditionalNew or expanded at-grade surface parking lot accessory to existing use (up to 5-year term, renewable up to 2 times) Special exception; Subtitle K §412.1(i)(2)
ConditionalPrivate school (including teacher/staff residences) Special exception; located only on Squares A, B, C, and/or K; must comply with height/FAR/lot occupancy standards of each square; must meet Subtitle X Chapter 1 requirements; Subtitle K §412.1(j)
ConditionalUtility (basic) uses and supporting infrastructure (electrical substation, natural gas regulator, pump station, telecommunications, co-generation) Special exception; BZA may require additional setbacks and screening; Subtitle K §412.1(k)
ConditionalOther principal uses not permitted by §410 and not prohibited by §415 Special exception; Zoning Commission must find use appropriate in furthering purposes of HE zones; subject to general special exception criteria of Subtitle X and Subtitle K §416; Subtitle K §412.1(l)
Not AllowedMassage establishment (principal use) Prohibited as both principal and accessory use; Subtitle K §415.1(a)
Not AllowedAny industrial use first permitted in an MU zone Prohibited as both principal and accessory use; Subtitle K §415.1(b)
Not AllowedAt-grade surface parking lot (except as special exception per §412.1(i)(2)) Prohibited except as provided in §412.1(i)(2); Subtitle K §415.1(c)
Not AllowedDrive-through establishment Any establishment where goods are sold/rented or services rendered directly to occupants of motor vehicles while in the vehicles; Subtitle K §415.1(d)
Not AllowedSelf-service storage establishment Prohibited as both principal and accessory use; Subtitle K §415.1(e)
Not AllowedSexually-oriented business establishment Prohibited as both principal and accessory use; Subtitle K §415.1(f)
Not AllowedVehicle sales, repair, and servicing (including gas stations, car washes, quick lubrication, emission test sites) Includes full-serve and mini-serve gas stations, unattended key card stations, car washes, quick lubrication services, and vehicle emission test sites; Subtitle K §415.1(g)
"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.