D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11-C, § 1303
Ground Mounted Antennas
Effective Aug 25, 202370 DCR 011297Authority: § 1 of the Zoning Act of 1938, approved June 20, 1938 (52 Stat. 797), as amended; D.C. Official Code § 6-641.01 (2018 Repl.), and pursuant to § 6 of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1206; D.C. Official Code § 2 505(c) (2016 Repl.)). Source: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary
1303.1 All ground mounted antennas, except those regulated by Subtitle C § 1306 or exempted by Subtitle C § 1307, shall comply with the following conditions:
- (a) In any R, RA, MU-1, MU-2, MU-10 through MU-14, zone, only one (1) antenna may be located per lot and may not exceed a mounted height of twelve feet (12 ft.) at its highest point above the ground on which it is located;
- (b) In any R, RA, NMU, D, PDR, MU-3 through MU-9, and MU-15 zones, and any zone of Subtitle K, an antenna may not exceed a mounted height of twenty feet (20 ft.) at its highest point above the ground on which it is located;
- (c) The antenna shall be located in either the rear yard or the side yard of the principal building on the lot, except that in the case of a corner lot no antenna may be located in the yard between the principal building structure and a street;
- (d) Each part of the antenna shall be set back from all lot lines by a minimum distance of ten feet (10 ft.);
- (e) Each antenna installation shall be located or screened such that its visibility is minimized to the greatest practical extent from any:
- (1) Public park that is within the Central Washington area as identified in the Comprehensive Plan;
- (2) Street that the lot abuts;
- (3) Public spaces;
- (4) Navigable waterways;
- (5) Historic landmarks; or
- (6) National monuments;
- (f) The antenna, to the greatest practical extent, shall be constructed of materials and colors that blend with the surroundings; and
- (g) The antenna installation shall be as small as is practical for its intended use.
1303.2 The term 'ground' as used in Subtitle C §§ 1303.1(a) and (b) does not include artificially elevated terrain such as berms or planter boxes but may include
Zoning Regulations of 2016:
General Rules
graded lawns, terraced landscapes that are formed from the natural grade, and at-grade patios.
1303.3 A proposed ground mounted antenna that does not comply with the above requirements or numeric limit may be permitted through the special exception process set forth in Subtitle C § 1312.
SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 2712 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 011297 (August 25, 2023).
Zoning Regulations of 2016:
General Rules