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Alexandria, VA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

RT zone coverage cap
30% of lot (§ 3-1306(B))
RT zone FAR
0.5 maximum
RT zone height limit
35 feet
R-20 zone standard
0.25 FAR, no stated coverage %
Enforcing agency
Alexandria Dept. of Planning & Zoning

Summary

Alexandria caps building footprint zone by zone rather than citywide. In the RT/Townhouse zone, the most common lot-coverage limit for rowhouse infill, Section 3-1306(B) allows "no more than 30 percent of any lot" to be covered by buildings or structures, on top of a 0.5 floor area ratio and 35-foot height cap.

3-1306 - Bulk and open space regulations. ... (B)Coverage. No more than 30 percent of any lot may be covered with buildings or structures.(C)FAR. The maximum permitted floor area ratio is .5.(D)Height. The maximum permitted height of a structure is 35 feet.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 156 | Zoning: Supplement 103).

Full Breakdown

Alexandria's Zoning Ordinance does not set one universal lot-coverage percentage for every property; each zone's own bulk and open space section fixes its own cap. 5 maximum floor area ratio and a 35-foot height limit under Section 3-1306(C) and (D). 25 by Section 3-106(B), and yard setbacks rather than a stated coverage percentage. Lot coverage is measured against the building footprint, meaning the ground-level area of principal and accessory structures on a lot, and is checked at the site plan or building permit stage by the Department of Planning & Zoning before a permit is issued.

Homeowners planning an addition, garage, or accessory dwelling should pull their property's zone designation from the city's zoning map first, because the coverage limit, FAR, and open-space requirement that apply are set entirely by which zone the parcel sits in, not by a single citywide rule.

Violations & Fines

Building beyond the zone's coverage cap without an approved site plan or variance is a zoning violation. Alexandria's Department of Planning & Zoning can withhold or revoke a building permit, order construction halted, and require an over-built structure to be reduced or removed; a property owner seeking relief from the coverage limit must apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance rather than proceed without approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one citywide max lot coverage rule in Alexandria?
No. Alexandria sets lot coverage zone by zone. The RT/Townhouse zone caps coverage at 30 percent of the lot under Section 3-1306(B), while single-unit zones like R-20 instead limit development through a 0.25 floor area ratio rather than a stated coverage percentage. Check your parcel's zone before assuming a coverage number.
What counts toward the 30 percent coverage limit?
The building footprint, meaning the ground-level area covered by principal and accessory buildings and structures, counts toward the RT zone's 30 percent cap under Section 3-1306(B). It's calculated against the total lot area and reviewed by Planning & Zoning as part of building permit or site plan review.
Can I exceed my zone's lot coverage cap?
Only with relief from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Building beyond the applicable percentage without an approved variance or site plan modification is a zoning violation that can hold up or void a building permit and force removal of the excess structure.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Alexandria

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsSetback RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSignificant RestrictionsStructure Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Alexandria rules

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