Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Permits mixed-use development with a focus on employment
Development standards in NMU-7B/GA
Maximum FAR
4
Maximum height
65 ft
Maximum lot coverage
75%
Rear setback
12 ft
By-right FAR varies by building type: Non-Residential 2.5; Residential (IZ) 4.8; Residential 4
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 NMU-7B/GA
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 §6008.1(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 §6008.1(c)
AllowedEating and drinking establishment (excluding fast food) Fast food establishment not permitted as matter-of-right; may be permitted as special exception; Subtitle H §6008.1(d)
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 §6008.1(e)
AllowedLodging Not permitted in NMU-5A/WP zone; Subtitle H §6008.1(f)
AllowedService (general) – self-service or full-service laundry or dry-cleaning establishment (up to 5,000 sq ft) No dry-cleaning chemicals used or stored on site; Subtitle H §6008.1(g)(1)
Not AllowedService (general) – massage establishment (principal use) Any establishment with principal use of administration of massage shall not be permitted in NMU Use Group C; Subtitle H §6008.1(g)(2)
AllowedUtility (basic) – optical transmission node Subtitle H §6008.1(h)(1)
AllowedUtility (basic) – Electronic Equipment Facility (EEF, up to 25% of above-ground GFA) EEF must not exceed 25% of above-ground constructed gross floor area of the building; Subtitle H §6008.1(h)(2)
AllowedUtility (basic) – Electronic Equipment Facility (EEF) located below ground floor Subtitle H §6008.1(h)(3)
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 §6009.1(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 §6009.1(b)
ConditionalEating and drinking – fast food establishment Special exception; subject to conditions of Subtitle H §6007.1(e); not permitted in NMU-5A/WP zone; Subtitle H §6009.1(c)
ConditionalMotor vehicle – gasoline service station or repair garage Special exception; 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 §6009.1(d)(1)
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 §6009.1(d)(2)
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 §6009.1(e)
ConditionalAutomated parking garage as principal use Special exception; must be located and designed so as not likely to become objectionable to adjoining or nearby property due to noise, traffic, or other objectionable conditions; Subtitle H §6009.1(f)
ConditionalService (general) uses not meeting §6008.1(g) conditions Special exception; Subtitle H §6009.1(g)
ConditionalUtility (basic) uses not meeting §6008.1(h) conditions Special exception; 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 §6009.1(h)
"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.
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.