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 0.5; Residential (IZ) 4.8; Residential 4
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-6B/H-H
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
AllowedAll matter-of-right uses permitted in R, RF, or RA zones Full R/RF/RA matter-of-right baseline applies; Subtitle H §6006.1(a)
AllowedAnimal sales, care, and boarding (subject to §6001.4(g) designated use conditions) Veterinary office max 50% GFA for boarding; no abutting residential zone; no external yards; pet grooming/supplies/convalescence boarding permitted as accessory; animal grooming with no boarding permitted; animal boarding in basement/cellar subject to conditions including 25 ft setback from R/RF/RA, no residential on same/immediately above floor, windows/doors kept closed, closed waste containers, odor filtration, impervious floors; Subtitle H §6006.1(c)
AllowedEating and drinking establishment (excluding fast food and food delivery) Prepared food shop permitted with seating for no more than 24 patrons as matter-of-right; fast food establishment and food delivery business not permitted as matter-of-right; Subtitle H §6006.1(d)
AllowedEmergency shelter (up to 4 persons) Not including resident supervisors or staff and their families; Subtitle H §6006.1(e)
AllowedEducation uses (NMU-5A/H-H, NMU-6B/H-H, and NMU-5A/H-R zones only) Matter-of-right only in NMU-5A/H-H, NMU-6B/H-H, and NMU-5A/H-R; other Group B zones require special exception; note: ordinance cites "MU-5A/H-H, MU-6B/H-H, and MU-5A/H-R" which appears to be a drafting error for the NMU equivalents; Subtitle H §6006.1(f)
AllowedFirearms retail sales establishment No portion of establishment may be located within 300 ft of any R/RF/RA/MU-1/MU-2 zone, or within 300 ft of place of worship, public or private school, public library, or playground; Subtitle H §6006.1(g)
AllowedLodging Not permitted in NMU-4/CP and NMU-4/WP zones; note: ordinance cites "MU-4/CP and MU-4/WP" which appears to be a drafting error for NMU equivalents; Subtitle H §6006.1(h)
AllowedMotor vehicle – automobile rental agency Subtitle H §6006.1(i)(1)
AllowedMotor vehicle – car wash (with stacking spaces for minimum 15 cars) Subtitle H §6006.1(i)(2)
AllowedMotor vehicle – gasoline service station (existing, with valid certificate of occupancy not replaced by another use) Subtitle H §6006.1(i)(3)
AllowedMotor vehicle – gasoline service station as accessory use to parking garage or public storage garage All portions must be entirely within garage; no part visible from sidewalk; no exterior signage; Subtitle H §6006.1(i)(4)
AllowedService (general) – self-service or full-service laundry or dry-cleaning establishment (up to 2,500 sq ft) No dry-cleaning chemicals used or stored on site; Subtitle H §6006.1(j)(1)
Not AllowedService (general) – massage establishment (principal use) Any establishment with principal use of administration of massage shall not be permitted as matter-of-right in NMU Use Group B; may be permitted as special exception; Subtitle H §6006.1(j)(2)
AllowedUtility (basic) – optical transmission nodes Limited to optical transmission nodes only; other utility uses require special exception; Subtitle H §6006.1(k)
ConditionalAnimal care and boarding (not meeting §6001.4(g) conditions) Special exception; subject to conditions of Subtitle H §§6005.1(a) and (b); Subtitle H §6007.1(a)
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 §6007.1(c)
ConditionalEmergency shelter (5–25 persons) Special exception; subject to conditions of Subtitle H §6005.1(e); Subtitle H §6007.1(d)
ConditionalEating and drinking – prepared food shop with more than 24 seats Special exception; Subtitle H §6007.1(e)(1)
ConditionalEating and drinking – fast food establishment or food delivery business Special exception; not permitted in NMU-4/WP zone (ordinance cites MU-4/WP, apparent drafting error); not within 25 ft of R/RA/RF zone unless separated by street or alley; brick wall required if lot line abuts alley at residential zone boundary; dumpsters in enclosed 3-sided brick enclosure with opaque gate; no drive-through; no customer entrance facing residential zone street/alley; shall not become objectionable due to noise/odors/lights/hours; Subtitle H §6007.1(e)(2)
ConditionalEducation, college/university (zones other than those permitted as matter-of-right) Special exception; subject to Subtitle X §102; applies to all NMU Use Group B zones not permitted as matter-of-right; Subtitle H §6007.1(f)
ConditionalMotor vehicle – gasoline service station or repair garage (excluding body/fender work) Special exception; not permitted in NMU-4/H-A and NMU-4/H-R zones; not 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 §6007.1(g)
ConditionalMotor vehicle – motorcycle sales and repair Special exception; use and all accessory facilities must be within a building; no portion within 50 ft of R/RF/RA/MU-1/MU-2 zone; Subtitle H §6007.1(h)
ConditionalParking as accessory spaces located off-lot Special exception; total spaces shall not exceed minimum required; must demonstrate economic impracticability or unsafety of on-lot parking (strip/shallow zoning, restricted lot size, unusual topography, lack of alley, traffic hazards); spaces shall not be objectionable due to noise/traffic; Subtitle H §6007.1(i)
ConditionalService (general) – self-service or full-service laundry or dry-cleaning establishment exceeding 2,500 sq ft Special exception; Subtitle H §6007.1(j)(1)
ConditionalService (general) – massage establishment (principal use) Special exception; Subtitle H §6007.1(j)(2)
ConditionalUtility (basic) uses other than optical transmission node (excluding EEF) Special exception; BZA must conclude use will 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 §6007.1(k)
ConditionalYouth Rehabilitation Home / Adult Rehabilitation Home (up to 20 persons) Special exception; maximum 20 persons not including resident supervisors or staff and their families; Subtitle H §6007.1(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.
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.