Building Setbacks & Zoning in Washington, DC (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Washington, District of Columbia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Title 11 DCMR Subtitle D sets the District's residential yard minimums: a rear yard of 25 feet in R-1 and 20 feet in R-2 and R-3, two 8-foot side yards for detached houses, and a front setback pegged to whatever the existing houses on that block already use rather than a fixed number of feet.
Washington DC Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some Restrictions11 DCMR Subtitle D Sections 206-208
206 FRONT SETBACK 206.1 Except as provided elsewhere in this title, the front setback requirements shall be as set forth in this section. 206.2 For all residential buildings, a front setback shall be provided within the range of existing front setbacks of all residential buildings on the same side of the street in the block where the building is proposed. 207 REAR YARD 207.1 Except...
Structure Height Limits
In Washington, D.C., buildings on a residential street are capped at 90 feet, with the actual limit tied to the street's width under the century-old Height of Buildings Act.
Washington DC Residential Building Height
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 6-601.05(c)
On a residence street, avenue, or highway no building shall be erected, altered, or raised in any manner so as to be over 90 feet in height at the highest part of the roof or parapet, nor shall the highest part of the roof or parapet exceed in height the width of the street, avenue, or highway upon which it abuts, diminished by 10 feet, except on the street, avenue, or highway 60 to 65 feet wid...
Lot Coverage Limits
The District calls it lot occupancy, not lot coverage. Title 11 DCMR Subtitle D Section 210.1 caps how much of a residential lot a building can cover: 40% for a typical house in the R-1, R-2, and R-3 zones, 60% for places of worship, 60% for a row building in R-3, and only 20% for a public recreation or community center.
Washington DC Residential Lot Occupancy Cap
Some Restrictions11 DCMR Subtitle D Section 210.1
210 LOT OCCUPANCY 210.1 Except as provided elsewhere in this title, the maximum permitted lot occupancy shall be as set forth in the following table: TABLE D SECTION 210.1: MAXIMUM LOT OCCUPANCY Zones: R-1, R-2, R-3 -- Type of Structure -- Maximum Percentage of Lot Occupancy (%) Public Recreation and Community Center -- 20 Places of Worship -- 60 All Other Structures -- 40 Single Househo...