DC's Inclusionary Zoning program (Title 11 ZR58) grants up to 20% bonus density and floor-area-ratio in exchange for setting aside 8-10% of units as affordable, administered by DHCD with rents tied to the area median income.
Adopted in 2009 and expanded in 2019, Inclusionary Zoning applies to most residential projects of 10 or more units. Developers receive a 20% density bonus and a 20% reduction in minimum lot size in exchange for designating 8% (rental) or 10% (for-sale) of bonus floor area as affordable. Affordable units are priced at 60% area median income (AMI) for rentals and 80% AMI for ownership; the 2019 IZ Plus amendment added 50% AMI rentals on certain public-land disposition sites. DHCD manages the lottery and certifies eligible buyers and renters citywide.
Failure to deliver IZ units triggers covenant enforcement by DHCD, including liens, certificate-of-occupancy holds, and recovery of the value of the unbuilt affordable units.
Washington, DC
DC's zoning regulations allow higher density and reduced parking minimums within a quarter mile of Metro stations under Title 11 Subtitle C, supporting Compr...
Washington, DC
DC has one of the strongest rent control programs in the United States under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 (DC Code Section 42-3501.01 et seq.). Rent increa...
See how Washington's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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