Washington, DC · Title 11 DCMR (2016 Zoning Regulations)
Permits high density mixed use development with ground floor retail in the vicinity of Washington Navy Yard
Development standards in SEFC-1
Maximum FAR
6
Maximum height
110 ft
Maximum lot coverage
75%
Front setback
15 ft
Rear setback
12 ft
By-right FAR varies by building type: Non-Residential 3; Residential 6
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 SEFC-1
AllowedAll uses permitted as matter-of-right in R, RF, and RA zones, and all MU-Use Group F matter-of-right uses (unless required as special exception in §518 or prohibited by §519) MU-Use Group G inherits full R/RF/RA and MU-Use Group F baseline; Subtitle U §517.1(a)
AllowedHealth care facility (up to 6 persons cared for, up to 8 persons including supervisors/staff) Number of persons being cared for shall not exceed 6; Subtitle U §517.1(b)
AllowedPet grooming establishment Subtitle U §517.1(c)
AllowedTemporary surface parking lot accessory to the Ballpark (specified Squares only) Permitted on Squares 603, 605, 657, 660-662, 662E, 664, 665, 700, 701, 882 and specified lots in accordance with Subtitle C §718; Subtitle U §517.1(d)
Not AllowedAny use first permitted in PDR zone Subtitle U §519.1(a)
Not AllowedAnimal care and boarding (except pet grooming, veterinary office/hospital, or veterinary boarding hospital) Subtitle U §519.1(b)
Not AllowedCar wash as principal use Subtitle U §519.1(c)
Not AllowedCarting, express, moving, or hauling terminal or yard Except cooperative central delivery/pick-up system solely for businesses in area; Subtitle U §519.1(d)
Not AllowedChemical manufacturing, storage, or distribution Subtitle U §519.1(e)
Not AllowedDrive-through operation (principal or accessory) Subtitle U §519.1(f)
Not AllowedEnameling, plating, or painting as principal use (except artist's studio) Subtitle U §519.1(g)
Not AllowedFirearms retail sales establishment (principal or accessory) Subtitle U §519.1(h)
Not AllowedGasoline service station Subtitle U §519.1(i)
Not AllowedAny industrial use prohibited in PDR zone Subtitle U §519.1(j)
Not AllowedMassage establishment as principal use Subtitle U §519.1(k)
Not AllowedMaterial salvage Subtitle U §519.1(l)
Not AllowedOutdoor advertising or billboard as principal use Subtitle U §519.1(m)
Not AllowedOutdoor material storage Subtitle U §519.1(n)
Not AllowedPacking or crating operations as principal use Subtitle U §519.1(o)
Not AllowedParking lot (except Ballpark temporary surface parking per §517.1(c)) Subtitle U §519.1(p)
Not AllowedSexually-oriented business establishment Subtitle U §519.1(q)
Not AllowedSmelting or rendering Subtitle U §519.1(r)
Not AllowedIMPORTANT: In SEFC-1, BZA special exceptions from MU-Use Group G are NOT permitted (§237.3) Subtitle K §237.3 explicitly prohibits BZA special exception uses from MU-Use Group G in SEFC-1. Only Zoning Commission-approved uses per §237.4 are permitted beyond matter-of-right uses.
ConditionalBuildings/structures with M Street SE frontage or seeking additional density/height (Zoning Commission approval required) Zoning Commission review and approval required per §241-242 standards; architectural design, site plan, landscaping, and sidewalk treatment must be of superior quality; Subtitle K §237.4(a)
ConditionalAutomobile rental agency (no exterior automobile storage area) Zoning Commission approval required; no exterior automobile storage area; Subtitle K §237.4(b)
ConditionalDental lab Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(c)
ConditionalDepartment store Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(d)
ConditionalHotel Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(e)
ConditionalInternational organization Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(f)
ConditionalLibrary Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(g)
ConditionalInstitutional, religious (including parsonage, vicarage, rectory, Sunday school, related programs) Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(h)
ConditionalEducation, private and public (including trade school) Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(i)
ConditionalEducation, college/university Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(j)
ConditionalEntertainment, assembly, and performing arts Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(k)
ConditionalMedical care Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(l)
ConditionalAutomobile, truck, or motorcycle accessory sales (including installation) Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(m)
ConditionalGas station Zoning Commission approval required; Subtitle K §237.4(n)
ConditionalTemporary parking lot or garage as principal use (maximum 5-year approval, renewable) Zoning Commission approval required; principal use at or above grade; max 5-year approval period, renewable by Zoning Commission; Subtitle K §237.4(o)
"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.