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 1; Residential 1
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 NMU-3A/MW
AllowedNMU zone designated uses (animal sales/care/boarding, arts/design/creation, eating/drinking, entertainment/performing arts, financial/general services, retail) Designated uses must occupy no less than 50% of ground floor GFA in designated use area; max 20% financial services/travel agencies/ticket offices; eating/drinking max 25% of linear street frontage (except NMU-5A/PAE, NMU-4/H-H, NMU-4/H-A, NMU-4/H-R, NMU-5A/H-H, NMU-5A/H-R, NMU-6B/H-H, NMU-7B/H-H, NMU-7B/ES, NMU-7B/H-A, NMU-8B/H-H zones); drive-through not permitted in any NMU zone; Subtitle H §6001
AllowedAgriculture, large Subtitle H §6003.1(b)
AllowedArts, design, and creation Subtitle H §6003.1(c)
AllowedChancery Subtitle H §6003.1(d)
AllowedCommunity solar facility (roof-mounted, any size) Subtitle H §6003.1(e)(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 of zone; panels sited no less than 40 ft from adjacent R/RF/RA-1 zone; Subtitle H §6003.1(e)(2)
AllowedDaytime care Subtitle H §6003.1(f)
AllowedEducation, private Subtitle H §6003.1(g)
AllowedEducation, public Subtitle H §6003.1(h)
AllowedGovernment, local Subtitle H §6003.1(i)
AllowedInstitutional, general and religious Subtitle H §6003.1(j)
AllowedMedical care Subtitle H §6003.1(k)
AllowedOffice, including chancery Subtitle H §6003.1(l)
AllowedParking Subtitle H §6003.1(m)
AllowedParks and recreation Subtitle H §6003.1(n)
AllowedResidential Subtitle H §6003.1(o)
AllowedRetail Subtitle H §6003.1(p)
AllowedServices, financial Subtitle H §6003.1(q)
AllowedShort-Term Rental (STR) as accessory use to principal residential use Subtitle H §6003.1(r)
AllowedTransportation infrastructure Subtitle H §6003.1(s)
AllowedOther accessory uses customarily incidental and subordinate to principal uses Subtitle H §6000.5
Not AllowedDrive-through or drive-in operation (principal or accessory) Prohibited in all NMU zones; Subtitle H §6001.5
Not AllowedAdditional matter-of-right uses specific to NMU Use Group A (§6004) NOTICE: Subtitle H §6004.1 contains only a placeholder ("Enter text here") as of the current ordinance (Final Rulemaking Order No. 24-10, January 16, 2026). No additional matter-of-right uses beyond the §6003 shared baseline have been enacted for NMU Use Group A. Check encodeplus.com/regs/washington-dc for updates.
ConditionalAnimal boarding (not meeting §6001.4(g)(3) basement/cellar conditions) Special exception; must occur entirely within enclosed building; noise mitigation required; windows/doors kept closed; no external yards; waste in closed containers collected weekly; odor filtration required; impervious floor/wall materials; BZA may impose additional requirements; Subtitle H §6005.1(a)
ConditionalAnimal care uses (not meeting §6001.4(g) designated use conditions) Special exception; shall not abut R/RF/RA zone; no objectionable noise/odor/waste; entirely within enclosed soundproofed building; windows/doors kept closed; HEPA air filtration; no external yards; pet supply sales permitted as accessory; not for housing stray/abandoned animals; BZA may impose additional requirements; Subtitle H §6005.1(b)
ConditionalCommunity solar facility (not meeting §6003.1(e) 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 H §6005.1(d)
ConditionalEmergency shelter (up to 15 persons) Special exception; no other emergency shelter for 7+ persons in same square or within 500 ft; adequate screened off-street parking required; must meet code and licensing requirements; shall not adversely impact neighborhood; BZA may approve more than one within 500 ft only if cumulative effect will not adversely impact neighborhood; Subtitle H §6005.1(e)
ConditionalEating and drinking – prepared food shop with more than 24 seats Special exception; Subtitle H §6005.1(f)
ConditionalEducation, college/university Special exception; subject to Subtitle X §102; Subtitle H §6005.1(g)
ConditionalMotor vehicle – gasoline service station (new or enlarged) Special exception; shall not be located within 25 ft of R/RF/RA zone; shall not create dangerous traffic conditions; parking spaces may be arranged so not all accessible at all times; Subtitle H §6005.1(h)(1)
ConditionalUtility (basic) uses other than optical transmission node (excluding EEF) Special exception; use shall not inhibit neighborhood revitalization, reduce vibrant streetscapes, deplete street life, or inhibit pedestrian/vehicular movement as consequence of design, operation, low employee presence, or proximity to other EEFs; Subtitle H §6005.1(i)
ConditionalYouth Rehabilitation Home / Adult Rehabilitation Home (up to 15 persons) Special exception; maximum 15 persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families; Subtitle H §6005.1(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.