MU-1MU-1 / Mixed Use, Low Intensity

Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)

The MU-1 zone is DC's lowest-intensity mixed-use zone, allowing ground-floor commercial with residential above at low density. Found in neighborhood commercial corridors where commercial and residential uses coexist at a pedestrian scale. Inclusionary Zoning applies to projects with 10 or more units. See the development standards for height and FAR.

Development standards in MU-1

Permitted uses in MU-1

• AllowedPrincipal dwelling unit (detached building)
  In MU-1/MU-2, permitted as matter-of-right via R/RF/RA baseline; Subtitle U §201.1(a)
• AllowedClerical and religious group residence (up to 15 persons)
  Subtitle U §201.1(b)
• AllowedCommunity solar facility (roof-mounted, any size)
  Subtitle U §201.1(c)(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 U §201.1(c)(2)
• AllowedAgricultural – large uses (except private stable)
  Subtitle U §202.1(c)
• AllowedAgricultural – residential uses (except private stable)
  Subtitle U §202.1(d)
• AllowedCar-sharing spaces on an unimproved lot (up to 2 spaces)
  Subtitle U §202.1(e)
• AllowedChancery existing on September 22, 1978
  Limited to government that lawfully occupied on February 23, 1990; no expansion; reconstruction permitted only to site as it existed February 23, 1990; Subtitle U §202.1(f)
• AllowedChild development / elderly development center in DC public school or public recreation center
  Written permission required from Chancellor of DC Public Schools or Director of managing agency; Subtitle U §202.1(g)
• AllowedCommunity Residence Facility (1–6 persons)
  May accommodate 7–8 persons if no existing facility for 8+ persons within 500 ft; Subtitle U §202.1(h)
• AllowedEmergency shelter (up to 4 persons)
  Not including resident supervisors or staff and their families; Subtitle U §202.1(i)
• AllowedGovernment, local uses
  Subtitle U §202.1(j)
• AllowedHealth care facility (up to 6 persons)
  May accommodate 7–8 persons if no existing facility for 7+ persons in same square or within 1,000 ft; Subtitle U §202.1(k)
• AllowedInstitutional, religious-based uses
  Does not include rescue mission or temporary revival tents; Subtitle U §202.1(l)
• AllowedPrivate garage as principal use (up to 2 motor vehicles, up to 450 sq ft)
  Subject to Subtitle D Chapter 50; Subtitle U §202.1(m)
• AllowedPublic recreation and community centers and public libraries
  Subtitle U §202.1(n)
• AllowedPublic schools (collocation)
  May collocate with other permitted schools or uses; may share on-site recreation space; on-site office use must be ancillary to school operation; Subtitle U §202.1(o)
• AllowedTemporary buildings for the construction industry
  Must be incidental to erection of permitted buildings or structures; Subtitle U §202.1(p)
• AllowedTemporary use of premises by fairs, circuses, or carnivals
  Subject to Title 19 DCMR Chapter 13; Subtitle U §202.1(q)
• AllowedMass transit facility
  Subtitle U §202.1(r)
• AllowedReuse of former DC public school
  Subject to conditions of Subtitle U §252; Subtitle U §202.1(s)
• AllowedYouth Residential Care Home (1–6 persons)
  May accommodate 7–8 persons if no existing home for 8+ persons within 500 ft; Subtitle U §202.1(t)
• AllowedAccessory apartment
  Subject to conditions of Subtitle U §253; Subtitle U §250.1(a)
• AllowedTwo boarders within the principal dwelling
  Subtitle U §250.1(b)
• AllowedCar-sharing spaces (up to 2, neither may be required parking)
  Subtitle U §250.1(c)
• AllowedChild development home or elderly day care home (accessory)
  Must be in caregiver's principal residence; max 1 sign (144 sq in); no stock in trade sold; max 1 non-resident employee; no non-domestic mechanical equipment; Subtitle U §250.1(d)
• AllowedHome Occupation
  Subject to conditions of Subtitle U §251; requires Home Occupation Permit (HOP); Subtitle U §250.1(e)
• AllowedShort-Term Rental (STR) as accessory use to principal residential use
  Subtitle U §250.1(f)
• AllowedOther accessory uses customarily incidental to R zone uses (including 1 yard/garage/home sales party per 12-month period)
  Subtitle U §250.1(g)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Business support and technology services
  Requires Home Occupation Permit (HOP); Subtitle U §251.1(a)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Child development home (up to 6 individuals)
  No more than 2 non-resident persons employed; Subtitle U §251.1(b)(1)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Expanded child development home (7–9 individuals age 15 or under)
  Max 3 non-resident employees; min 35 sq ft floor area per individual; max 320 sq ft of dwelling floor area; Subtitle U §251.1(b)(2)
• ConditionalHome Occupation – Expanded child development home (10–12 individuals age 15 or under)
  Special exception by Board of Zoning Adjustment under Subtitle X and §251.6; min 35 sq ft floor area per individual; Subtitle U §251.1(b)(3)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Cosmetologist, hair stylist, or barber
  Requires Home Occupation Permit (HOP); Subtitle U §251.1(c)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Cottage food business
  Requires Home Occupation Permit (HOP); Subtitle U §251.1(d)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Dressmaking, sewing, and tailoring
  Requires Home Occupation Permit (HOP); Subtitle U §251.1(e)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Home crafts, graphic arts, photography, and fine arts in home studio
  Practiced by individual; no more than 60% of dwelling unit floor area may be devoted to studio; Subtitle U §251.1(f)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Home office of businessperson, non-profit organization, salesperson, or manufacturer's representative
  Dwelling shall not be used as gathering point for workers on way to another work site; Subtitle U §251.1(g)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Home office of physician, dentist, or other licensed medical professional
  No other medical or dental practice shall be on the site; Subtitle U §251.1(h)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Home office of scientist, clergyman, inventor, academician, or other professional
  Requires Home Occupation Permit (HOP); Subtitle U §251.1(i)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Lodging (bed and breakfast, up to 2 sleeping rooms)
  Owner-occupied principal residence; not in multiple dwelling building; breakfast only to overnight guests; 1 parking space per 2 guest rooms; Subtitle U §251.1(j)
• ConditionalHome Occupation – Lodging (bed and breakfast, 3–4 sleeping rooms, or up to 6 for historic landmark/district)
  Increase to 4 rooms, or to 6 for historic landmark or certified historic district, requires BZA approval under §251.6(b); Subtitle U §251.1(j)(4)(A)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Practitioner performing a service resulting in creation of a product
  Subtitle U §251.1(k)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Sales directly associated with home occupation (up to 5 yard/garage/home sales per 12-month period)
  Items sold must be directly associated with home occupation; general retail sales or sales without appointments prohibited; Subtitle U §251.1(l)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Tutoring and instruction (up to 5 students at one time)
  Includes academic tutoring, dance, languages, culinary arts, musical instrument instruction; Subtitle U §251.1(m)
• AllowedHome Occupation – Home occupation in accessory apartment (up to 6 visitors/clients per day)
  No related sales; no lodging or overnight stays as part of home occupation; Subtitle U §251.1(n)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Animal sales, care, and boarding
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(a)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Entertainment, assembly, and performing arts
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(b)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Firearms sales
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(c)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Motor vehicle sales, service, or repair
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(d)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Production, distribution, and repair
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(e)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Retail sales
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(f)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Sexually-based business establishment
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(g)
• Not AllowedHome Occupation – Waste-related services
  Explicitly prohibited as home occupation; Subtitle U §251.5(h)
• AllowedMultiple dwelling units per lot (RF baseline)
  RF-1: up to 2 units; RF-4: up to 3 units; RF-5: up to 4 units; Subtitle U §301.1(b)
• AllowedPrincipal dwelling unit in existing accessory building (in existence January 1, 2013)
  Permanent access required; no expansion except as special exception; accessory building shall not have roof deck; Subtitle U §301.1(c)
• AllowedBoarding house (up to 8 persons total)
  No transient guests (minimum 90-day stay); no sign; no advertisement as hotel/motel/inn; no cooking facilities in individual units; Subtitle U §301.1(h)
• AllowedCommunity Residence Facility (up to 6 persons, RF baseline)
  May accommodate 7–8 persons if no existing facility for 8+ persons within 500 ft; Subtitle U §301.1(i)
• AllowedCorner store (RF-1 zones, matter-of-right conditions)
  Subject to matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U §254; Subtitle U §301.1(j)
• AllowedReuse of former DC public school building (RF)
  Subject to matter-of-right conditions of Subtitle U §252; Subtitle U §301.1(k)

Sources

• Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations) — read the ordinance
• DC Office of Zoning — official zoning map / authority
• Standards as recorded by ZoneScore: 11 DCMR Subtitle G (Mixed Use zones), MU-1

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