Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Promotes the conservation, enhancement, and stability of the low-density, single household neighborhood for housing and neighborhood uses
Development standards in R-1B/SH
Maximum height
40 ft
Subtitle D § 203.2
Maximum stories
3
Subtitle D § 203.2
Maximum lot coverage
40%
Subtitle D § 210.1
Minimum lot size
5000 sq ft
Subtitle D § 202.1
Minimum lot width
50 ft
Subtitle D § 202.1
Side setback
8 ft
Subtitle D § 208.2
Rear setback
25 ft
Subtitle D § 207.1
Development governed by lot occupancy / building form, not FAR (see development-standards matrix).
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 R-1B/SH
AllowedTwo (2) boarders within the principal dwelling Permitted as matter of right in all R zones; Subtitle U §250.1(b)
AllowedCar-sharing spaces (no more than two) Neither space may be a space devoted to required parking; permitted in all R zones; Subtitle U §250.1(c)
AllowedChild development home or elderly day care home Must be in caregiver's principal residence; max one sign (144 sq. in.); no stock in trade sold; max one non-resident employee; no non-domestic mechanical equipment; Subtitle U §250.1(d)
AllowedHome Occupation Subject to conditions of Subtitle U § 251; permitted in all R zones; Subtitle U §250.1(d)
AllowedBusiness support and technology services Permitted as home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(a)
AllowedChild development home (up to 6 individuals, 15 years of age or less) No more than 2 non-resident persons engaged or employed; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(b)(1)
AllowedExpanded child development home (7 to 9 individuals, 15 years of age or less) No more than 3 non-resident persons employed; min 35 sq ft floor area per individual; max 320 sq ft of dwelling floor area utilized; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(b)(2)
ConditionalExpanded child development home (10 to 12 individuals, 15 years of age or less) Permitted as special exception by BZA under Subtitle X and Subtitle U § 251.6; min 35 sq ft floor area per individual required; Subtitle U §251.1(b)(3)
AllowedCosmetologist, hair stylist, or barber Permitted as home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(c)
AllowedCottage food business Permitted as home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(d)
AllowedDressmaking, sewing, and tailoring Permitted as home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(e)
AllowedHome crafts, graphic arts, photography, and other fine arts occupations in a home studio No more than 60% of dwelling unit floor area may be devoted to the studio; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(f)
AllowedHome office of a businessperson, non-profit organization, sales person, or manufacturer's representative Dwelling shall not be used as gathering point for workers on way to another work site; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(g)
AllowedHome office of a physician, dentist, or other health care or licensed medical professional No other medical or dental practice permitted on site; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(h)
AllowedHome office of a scientist, clergyman, inventor, academician, licensed health care professional (other than physician/dentist), or other professional person Permitted as home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(i)
AllowedLodging (bed and breakfast) Dwelling must be owner-occupied as principal residence; not permitted in multiple dwelling building; breakfast only meal served to overnight guests; max 2 sleeping rooms by right (may be increased to 4 or up to 6 for historic landmark/district via § 251.6(b)); reduced by 1 for each long-term boarder; no cooking in rented rooms; 1 parking space per 2 guest sleeping rooms required; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(j)
ConditionalLodging – increased sleeping rooms (3 to 4, or up to 6 for historic landmark/contributing structure) Maximum sleeping rooms may be increased to 4, or to 6 for historic landmark or contributing historic district structure, by BZA under § 251.6(b); Subtitle U §251.1(j)(4)(A)
AllowedPractitioner performing and being paid for a service resulting in creation of a product Permitted as home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(k)
AllowedSales directly associated with home occupation (including yard sales, garage sales, home sales parties – up to 5 per 12-month period) Items sold must be directly associated with the home occupation; up to 5 sales per 12-month period by right; general retail sales or sales without appointments not permitted; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(l)
ConditionalSales directly associated with home occupation – 6th sale in 12-month period One additional sale (6th total) may be permitted if approved by BZA pursuant to § 251.6; Subtitle U §251.1(l)(2)
AllowedTutoring and instruction (not more than 5 students at one time) Includes academic tutoring, dance, languages, culinary arts, musical instrument and similar activities; max 5 students at one time; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(m)
AllowedHome occupation in an accessory apartment Max 6 visitors or clients per day; no related sales; no lodging or overnight stays as part of home occupation; requires HOP; Subtitle U §251.1(n)
Not AllowedAnimal sales, care, and boarding Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(a)
Not AllowedEntertainment, assembly, and performing arts Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(b)
Not AllowedFirearms sales Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(c)
Not AllowedMotor vehicle sales, service, or repair Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(d)
Not AllowedProduction, distribution, and repair Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(e)
Not AllowedRetail sales Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(f)
Not AllowedSexually-based business establishment Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(g)
Not AllowedWaste-related services Explicitly prohibited as a home occupation under § 251.5; Subtitle U §251.5(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?
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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.