The purposes of the D-2 zone are to accommodate high-density housing with a limited amount and type of commercial use on only the ground floor and to ensure the scale of new development is compatible with the scale of the historic areas in the vicinity of lower 16th Street, N.W., 17th Street, N.W. near the White House and Judiciary Square.
A building with frontage on a designated primary or secondary street shall meet the design requirements on Subtitle I § 602.

Residential and Mixed-Use Buildings | ||||||||
Floor Area Ratio (max.) | Height (ft.) | Penthouse Height (ft.)/Stories | Lot Occupancy (percentage)1 |
Rear Yard (ft.) | Side Yard (ft.) | Green Area Ratio | Zoning Regulation Reference | |
D-2 | 6.0 (7.8 IZ) |
90 | 20 | 100 | 2.5 in. per 1 ft. of vertical distance from the mean finished grade at the middle of the rear of the structure to the highest point of the main roof or parapet, but not less than 12 ft. |
If provided, at least 2 in. wide for each 1 ft. of height of building but no less than 5 ft. | 0.30 | Subtitle I, Chapter 5 |
3.5 (non-residential) | 100 (IZ) | 1 plus mezzanine; Second story permitted for penthouse mechanical space | ||||||
Does not generate or receive credits |
Use Permissions 2 | Courts | Parking 3 | Loading | Alley Lots | Front Build-to |
Subtitle U, Chapter 7 | Subtitle I § 207 | Subtitle C, Chapter 7 | Subtitle C, Chapter 9 | Subtitle I § 210 | Subtitle I § 203 |
The D-2 zone is not subject to front setback or front build-to requirements. The credit system relating to Transferable Development Rights (“TDR”) or Combined Lot Development (“CLD”) rights – explained in Subtitle I, Chapters 8 and 9 – does not apply to the D-2 zone.
1 Subject to applicable regulations governing courts, side or rear yards, front setback or build-to lines, easements or historic preservation.
2 Unless modified in in Subtitle I, Chapter 3 or by regulations governing a specific Downtown sub-area.
3 No parking is required in this zone, but parking spaces provided are subject to Subtitle C, Chapter 7.