600. MATTER-OF-RIGHT USES ON ALLEY LOTS (R, RF, AND RA)

600 MATTER-OF-RIGHT USES ON ALLEY LOTS (R, RF, AND RA) 600.1 The following uses shall be permitted as a matter-of-right on an alley lot in the R, RF, and RA zones subject to any applicable conditions: (a) Agricultural, both residential and large; (b) Artist studio inside a building, subject to the following conditions: (1) An artist may teach one (1) or more apprentices; (2) Regular occupancy of the building shall be limited to one (1) artist and one (1) apprentice for each four hundred and fifty square feet (450 sq. ft.) of gross floor area; (3) All operations and storage of materials shall occur inside the building; (4) Incidental sales of artwork produced by the occupants of the studio shall be permitted within the studio; (5) Noise volume shall be governed by the regulations of Title 20 DCMR (Environment); (6) Rehearsals for performing arts may be undertaken in the artist studio; and (7) A maximum of five (5) art shows or performances open to the public are permitted per calendar year, and occupancy for the art show or performance shall be governed by the regulations of Title 12-H (Fire Code). (c) Camping by the owner of an alley lot on the alley lot in a tent, wagon, van, automobile, truck, or trailer, subject to the following conditions: (1) The use shall be located so that it is not likely to become objectionable to adjoining and nearby property because of noise, traffic, parking, lighting, sanitation, or otherwise objectionable conditions; (2) Open fires shall not be permitted; and (3) The use shall not be for more than two (2) consecutive weeks and no more than one (1) month per calendar year; (d) Community solar facility, subject to the following conditions: Roof-mounted solar array of any size; or Ground-mounted solar array, subject to the following requirements: Measures no greater than twenty feet (20 ft.) in height; Has an aggregate panel face area of one-and-one half (1.5) acres or less; Meets the yard and height development standards of the zone; and Where the panels are sited no less than forty feet (40 ft.), including any intervening street or alley, from an adjacent property in the R, RF, or RA-1 zone. (e) Parking subject to the following conditions: (1) Surface parking spaces for use by residents of the square; (2) Not more than two (2) car-sharing spaces shall be permitted on any one Alley Lot; and Parking garage on an Alley Lot not containing another use shall meet the following conditions: (A) No more than two (2) motor vehicles may be housed on the Alley Lot; (B) The building may not exceed four hundred fifty square feet (450 sq. ft.); and (C) The garage door shall open directly onto an alley; and (f) Residential use, subject to the following limitations: A building may not be constructed as or converted to a dwelling unit unless the lot is an Alley Record Lot and there is a minimum of four hundred and fifty square feet (450 sq. ft.) of lot area; In any R-1 or R-2 zone, a residential use is permitted only on an alley record lot existing as of July 10, 2026, or an alley record lot subdivided from an alley lot existing as of July 10, 2026, or an alley lot existing as of July 10, 2026, and expanded in land area to form a new alley record lot; (3) In any R zone, the use shall be limited to one (1) principal dwelling unit, except that one (1) accessory apartment shall be permitted subject to the conditions of U § 253 and the following lot area minimums: TABLE U § 600.1(f)(3): MINIMUM LOT AREA FOR MATTER OF RIGHT ACCESSORY APARTMENT ON AN ALLEY LOT Zone Lot Area Minimum (sq. ft.) Any R-1A zone 7,500 Any R-1B zone 5,000 Any R-2 zone 3,000 Any R-3 zone 2,000 In any RF zone, the use shall be limited to one principal dwelling unit, except that two principal units shall be permitted on lots that have 1,800 square feet of lot area or more; In any RA zone, the use shall be limited to two principal dwelling units; The Alley Lot has access to an improved public street as follows: Through an improved public alley or alleys with an alley width of not less than twenty-four feet (24 ft.) at any point between the lot and the public street; or The public street is within three hundred (300) linear feet of the Alley Lot as measured along an improved public alley no or alleys with an alley width of not less than fifteen feet (15 ft.) at any point; and (7) A dwelling unit may also contain a parking garage for use by residents of the dwelling; (g) Short-Term Rental as an accessory use to a principal residential use; and (h) Home occupations, pursuant to U § 251. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 3338 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 66 DCR 12137 (September 13, 2019); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 1543 (February 14, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 12690 (October 30, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 010197 (July 17, 2026). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Zoning Regulations of 2016: Use Permissions 11-U DCMR § 600