Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Permits medium density mixed-use development with an emphasis on residential use. MU-5B has a higher base height (75 ft.) than MU-5A (65 ft.) and a larger penthouse allowance (20 ft.). Found along neighborhood commercial corridors including Bladensburg Road NE and Minnesota Avenue NE. FAR 3.5 (4.2 with IZ). Lot occupancy 80%. Rear yard 15 ft. required.
Development standards in MU-5B
Maximum FAR
3.5
Maximum height
75 ft
Maximum lot coverage
80%
By-right FAR varies by use: residential 3.5; non-residential 1.5; Inclusionary (IZ) 4.2 (11 DCMR Subtitle G, Table G § 201.1).
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 MU-5B
AllowedCollege or university uses MU-5B shares MU-5 use permissions; no zone-specific restriction noted; Subtitle U §512.1(b)
AllowedDaytime care uses for not more than twenty (20) persons Not including resident supervisors or staff and their families; Subtitle U §512.1(c)
AllowedEating and drinking establishment uses (general) MU-5B is not excluded from eating and drinking establishments generally; Subtitle U §512.1(d)
AllowedFast food establishment or food delivery service MU-5B is not in the excluded list; permitted subject to conditions: no part of lot within 25 ft. of residential zone unless separated by street or alley; brick wall requirement if lot abuts alley with residential zone boundary; refuse dumpster enclosure requirements; no drive-through; Subtitle U §512.1(d)(2)
AllowedPrepared food shop MU-5B is not in the 18-seat restriction list; no seat limitation applies; Subtitle U §512.1(d)(3)
AllowedEducation uses, private Subtitle U §512.1(e)
AllowedEntertainment, assembly, and performing arts uses Bowling alley subject to conditions: not within 25 ft. of residentially zoned property unless separated by street or alley; soundproofing required as necessary; Subtitle U §512.1(f)
AllowedFirearms retail sales establishments No portion of establishment may be within 300 ft. of any R, RF, RA, MU-1, or MU-2 zone, or within 300 ft. of a place of worship, public or private school, public library, or playground; Subtitle U §512.1(g)
AllowedOptical transmission node Subtitle U §512.1(i)
AllowedRetail uses (excluding large format retail use) Large format retail use is excluded; Subtitle U §512.1(j)
Not AllowedLarge format retail use Explicitly excluded from retail uses permitted under this section; Subtitle U §512.1(j)
AllowedService (general) uses Laundry or dry cleaning facility shall not exceed 2,500 sq. ft. gross floor area; automobile accessories installation is permitted in MU-5B (not in exclusion list); Subtitle U §512.1(k)
AllowedAnimal boarding use located in a basement or cellar space Subject to conditions: not within 25 ft. of R, RF, or RA zone lot; no residential use on same floor or floor immediately above; windows and doors kept closed; no animals in external yard; closed waste disposal containers collected weekly; odor control system required; impervious and washable floor and wall finish materials to 48 in. height; Subtitle U §512.1(l)
"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.
Standards as recorded by ZoneScore: Subtitle G §§201.1, 203.2, 205.1, 210.1 (TABLE G §201.1, TABLE G §203.2, TABLE G §205.1, TABLE G §210.1)
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.