Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Supports the Development of Federal Reservation 13
Development standards in HE-3
Maximum FAR
7.2
Subtitle K § 402.1
Maximum lot coverage
80%
Subtitle K § 404.1
By-right FAR varies by building type: Residential 7.2
Read from District of Columbia Zoning Regulations of 2016 (Title 11 DCMR), effective through 2026-04-03. Amendments adopted after that date (most recent 2026-07-17) are not yet reflected.
How complete is this market? Across 134,966 parcels we answer 93.9% 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 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(h)(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(h)(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(i)
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(j)
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.
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Every development standard on this page shows where it came from. Figures cited to a section are quoted from Title 11 DCMR itself and verified word for word against the code text. Figures linked to an official zoning GIS record come from the DC Office of Zoning's own mapped zoning data, which is dated and re-queryable but is a summary of the code rather than the code — where a standard is banded or recently amended, the ordinance text governs. Anything we cannot source is shown as “not recorded” rather than filled in. Use permissions follow Subtitle U.