Figures marked official zoning GIS record come from the jurisdiction's own zoning map layer, not from the text of the code. That record is dated and linked above, and it is a summary of the ordinance rather than the ordinance itself — where a standard is banded or was recently amended, the code text governs. Figures citing a section are quoted from the code directly.
By-right FAR varies by building type: Non-Residential 3.5; Residential (IZ) 7.2; Residential 6
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 MU-2/DC
AllowedPrincipal dwelling unit (residential), by right A principal dwelling unit is a matter-of-right use in the R zones (Subtitle U §201.1(a)), and any use permitted as a matter of right in any R, RF, or RA zone is permitted as a matter of right in the MU zones except MU-11 (Subtitle U §501.2). Subject to any modification by this zone's own chapter and by Subtitle U §§513 and 514.
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)
"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.
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.