Zoning Regulations

The majority of properties on our two streets fall under the Chain Bridge Road/University Terrace Residential House Zone (R-21), a set of zoning regulations that place additional construction and tree protection requirements upon the usual DC residential and zoning requirements.  R-21 has now been expanded to nearby neighborhoods.  The details of the regulations can be found on the DC Government's Zoning Handbook for R-21.  

The purposes of the Chain Bridge Road/University Terrace Residential House R- 21 zone are to:
Provide for areas predominantly developed with detached houses on large lots;
Preserve and enhance the park-like setting of the area by regulating alteration or disturbance of terrain, destruction of trees, and ground coverage of permitted buildings and other impervious surfaces, and by providing for widely spaced residences;
Preserve the natural topography and mature trees to the maximum extent feasible in a residential neighborhood;
Prevent significant adverse impact on adjacent open space, parkland, stream beds, or other environmentally sensitive natural areas;
Limit permitted ground coverage of new and expanded buildings and other construction, so as to encourage a general compatibility between the siting of new buildings or construction and the existing neighborhood; and
Limit the minimum size of lots so as to prevent significant adverse impact on existing infrastructure, especially on traffic and pedestrian safety, and to achieve the other purposes listed in the zoning subsection.