770.1 Except as provided in this section and in Chapters 17 and 20 through 25 of this title, the height of a building or structure in a Commercial District shall not exceed that set forth in the following table:

ZONE DISTRICT	MAXIMUM HEIGHT (Feet)	MAXIMUM HEIGHT (Stories)
C-1	40	3
C-2-A	50	No Limit
C-2-B,C-3-A	65	No Limit
C-3-B	70	6
C-2-B-1	75	No Limit
C-2-C,C-3-C	90	No Limit
C-4	110	No Limit
C-5(PAD)	130	No Limit

770.2 The height of buildings or structures specified in § 770.1 may be exceeded in the instances provided in §§ 770.3 through 770.9.

770.3 Spires, towers, domes, pinnacles or minarets serving as architectural embellishments, penthouses over elevator shafts, ventilator shafts, antennas, chimneys, smokestacks, or fire sprinkler tanks may be erected to a height in excess of that which this sections otherwise authorizes. This section shall not be interpreted to bypass otherwise required special exception reviews.

770.4 In the C-4 District, a building or other structure may be erected to a height not exceeding one hundred thirty feet (130 ft.); provided, that the building or other structure shall face or abut a street not less than one hundred ten feet (110 ft.) wide between building lines.

770.5 In the C-5 (PAD) District, a building or other structure may be erected to a height not exceeding one hundred sixty feet (160 ft.); provided:

(a) The height of the building or structure shall be measured only from the Pennsylvania Avenue curb at the middle of the front of the building or other structure to the highest point of the roof or parapet exclusive of any structure on the roof; and

(b) That portion of the building or other structure that exceeds one hundred thirty-five feet (135 ft.) in height shall be set back a minimum of fifty feet (50 ft.) from the building line along Pennsylvania Avenue.

770.6 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;

(c) In the C-5 (PAD) District, it shall be set back from that portion of the perimeter of the roof fronting on a street a minimum distance equal to twice the height of the roof structure above the roof upon which it is located; and

(d) 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.

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

770.8 Where required by the 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. Official Code §§ 5-401 to 5-409 (1994 Repl. & 1999 Supp.))), a height in excess of that permitted shall be authorized by the Mayor.

770.9 The height permitted for a building eligible for the additional density permitted pursuant to § 771.4 shall be that permitted by the 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).

SOURCE: §§ 5201.1, 5201.2, and 5201.3 of the Zoning Regulations, effective May 12, 1958; as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 27 DCR 2226, 2227 (May 23, 1980); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 3975, 3978 (July 4, 1986); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 36 DCR 1509, 1523 (February 24, 1989); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 9741-43 (December 8, 2000), incorporating by reference the text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 8335, 8409-10 (October 20, 2000); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 34 (January 4, 2008); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 57 DCR 3492 (April 23, 2010); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 62 DCR 5190 (April 24, 2015).