400.1 Except as specified in this chapter and in chapters 20 through 25 of this title, the height of buildings or structures in a Residence District shall not exceed that given in the following table:

ZONE DISTRICT	MAXIMUM HEIGHT (Stories)	MAXIMUM HEIGHT (Stories)
R-1-A,R-1-B,R-2	40	3
R-3,R-4,R-5-A
R-5-B	50	no limit
R-5-C	60	no limit
R-5-D	90	no limit
R-5-E	90	no limit

400.2 Except as provided in § 2510, the height of buildings or structures specified in § 400.1 may be exceeded as provided in §§ 400.3 through 400.13.

400.3 A spire, tower, dome, pinnacle, minaret serving as an architectural embellishment, or antenna may be erected to a height in excess of that which this section otherwise authorizes in the district in which it is located.

400.4 A chimney or smokestack may be erected to a height in excess of that authorized in the district in which it is located when required by other municipal law or regulation.

400.5 A building or other structure may be erected to a height not exceeding ninety feet (90 ft.); provided, that the building or structure shall be removed from all lot lines of its lot for a distance equal to the height of the building or structure above the natural grade.

400.6 A church may be erected to a height of sixty feet (60 ft.); provided, that it shall not exceed the number of stories permitted in the district in which it is located.

400.7 If housing for mechanical equipment or a stairway or elevator penthouse is provided on the roof of a building or structure, it shall be erected or enlarged as follows:

(a) It shall meet the requirements of § 411;

(b) It shall be set back from all exterior walls a distance at least equal to its height above the roof upon which it is located; and

(c) It shall not exceed eighteen feet, six inches (18 ft., 6 in.), in height above the roof upon which it is located. Mechanical equipment shall not extend above the permitted eighteen foot, six inch (18 ft., 6 in.), height of the housing.

400.8 Housing for mechanical equipment, a stairway, or elevator penthouse may be erected to a height in excess of that authorized in the district in which it is located.

400.9 An institutional building or structure may be erected to a height not exceeding ninety feet (90 ft.); provided, that the building or structure shall be removed from all lot lines of its lot a distance of not less than one foot (1 ft.) for each foot of height in excess of that authorized in the district in which it is located.

400.10 In an R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 District, a public school building or structure may be erected to a height not exceeding sixty feet (60 ft.).

400.11 In an R-5-A, R-5-B, and R-5-C District, a public school building or structure may be erected to a

height not exceeding ninety feet (90 ft.).

400.12 In an R-5-B District, a college or university building or structure covered by an approved campus plan may be erected to a height not exceeding sixty feet (60 ft.).

400.13 Where required by An Act To Regulate the Height of Buildings in the District of Columbia, approved June 1, 1910 (36 Stat. 452, as amended; D.C. Official Code §§ 6-601.01 to 6-601.09 (formerly codified at D.C. Code §§ 5-401 to 5-409 (1994 Repl. & 1999 Supp.))), a height in excess of that permitted shall be authorized by the Mayor.

400.14 A public recreation and community center in any residential zone may be erected to a height not to exceed forty-five feet (45 ft.).

AUTHORITY: Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is the Zoning Act of 1938, approved June 20, 1938 (52 Stat. 797, as amended; D.C. Official Code §§ 6-641.01 to 6-641.15 (formerly codified at D.C. Code §§ 5-413 to 5-432 (1994 Repl. & 1999 Supp.)).

SOURCE: §§ 3201.1 3201.2, and 3201.3 of Zoning Regulations, effective May 12, 1958; as amended by: Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 3975 (July 4, 1986); Final Rulemaking published at 36 DCR 1509, 1522-23 (February 24, 1989); Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 8305, 8306 (November 13, 1992); Final Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 9741-43 (December 8, 2000), incorporating by reference the text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 8335, 8336-67 (October 20, 2000); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 10137 (November 28, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 9580 (December 1, 2006).