Private property in the District of Columbia is designated or zoned under the Zoning Regulations, Title 11 DCMR—a 600-page set of rules governing property use and building requirements. These regulations vary according to the zones marked on the Zoning Map and include residential, commercial, industrial and waterfront designations. For example, the R-3 zoning designation covers hundreds of properties throughout the District and generally allows row houses. There are 29 zones (see Summary of Zoning Districts), referred to as base zones.

In addition to base zones, there are other mapped zoning designations known as overlay zones. These are an additional set of zoning regulations superimposed onto the base zones. There are 20 overlay zones (see Summary of Overlay Districts) in the Zoning Regulations. Examples include the Tree and Slope Protection Overlay District (TSP) and the Downtown Development Overlay District (DD). When an overlay zone applies to a specific property, you must follow the allowed use and development standards in the base zone and the overlay zone.

To look up the zones in your neighborhood, review the Zoning Maps on the Office of Zoning website.

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