Setback requirements in Washington, DC
Accessory structures in Washington have their own setbacks, usually smaller than the house's. They change by zoning district, so look up your lot to see which table applies.
Rules last checked by a person on October 20, 2026. Guidance only; confirm with Washington before you build.
Find your district
R-1 (R-1-A, R-1-B) detached houses
| Shed: Location | Not in front of the house. A shed may sit in the required rear or side yardConfidence: medium |
|---|---|
| Shed: Side setback | 3 ft from a side lot line shared with another lot (since July 2026)Confidence: medium |
| Shed: Rear setback | 5 ft from a rear lot line shared with another lot; none along an alley, but 7.5 ft from the alley centerlineConfidence: medium |
| Garage: Location | Not in front of the house and not in the required 25 ft rear yard (special exception needed)Confidence: medium |
| Garage: Side setback | 3 ft from a side lot line shared with another lotConfidence: medium |
| Garage: Rear setback | Outside the 25 ft required rear yard; 7.5 ft from any alley centerlineConfidence: medium |
R-2 and R-3 semi-detached and row houses
| Shed: Location | Not in front of the house. A shed may sit in the required rear or side yardConfidence: medium |
|---|---|
| Shed: Side setback | 3 ft from a side lot line shared with another lot (since July 2026)Confidence: medium |
| Shed: Rear setback | 5 ft from a rear lot line shared with another lot; 7.5 ft from any alley centerlineConfidence: medium |
| Garage: Location | Not in front of the house and not in the required 20 ft rear yard (special exception needed)Confidence: medium |
| Garage: Rear setback | Outside the 20 ft required rear yard; 7.5 ft from any alley centerlineConfidence: medium |
RF rowhouse zones (RF-1 to RF-5)
| Shed: Location | Not in front of the house. Sheds may sit in the required rear or side yard |
|---|---|
| Shed: Alley setback | 7.5 ft from the centerline of any alley |
| Garage: Location | Not in the 20 ft required rear yard; a garage at the alley end of a rowhouse lot usually needs a special exception (E § 5201) |
| Garage: Rear setback | Outside the 20 ft required rear yard and 7.5 ft from the alley centerline |
Citywide placement rules
| ADU: Size inside the house | Up to 35% of the house's gross floor area (R zones) |
|---|---|
| Fence: In public space (front yard parking) | 42 in max and at least 50% open |
Sources
- DC Department of Buildings, How to get a permit. Checked 2026-10-20.
Unless you are in a historic district, the following work does not require a building permit: ... Single garden storage shed that does not exceed 50 square feet (4.65 m2) in area and is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in overall height ... Repair of existing fe…
- 44 CFR 59.1, definition of development (NFIP). Checked 2026-10-19.
Development means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures...
- 44 CFR 60.3, floodplain management criteria. Checked 2026-10-19.
Require permits for all proposed construction or other development in the community...
- 2024 IRC R105.2, Work exempt from permit (text published by the City of Benson, AZ). Checked 2026-10-19.
One-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. Fences not over 7 feet high. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a…
- DC Zoning Regulations, accessory buildings (11-D §§ 5000-5005, 11-E §§ 5000-5005), as amended by ZC Case 25-12. Checked 2026-10-20.
Accessory buildings: 22 ft and 2 stories; footprint the greater of 30% of the required rear yard or 650 sq ft (R-1, R-2) / 550 sq ft (R-3, RF); not in the required rear yard except a shed; 7.5 ft from the centerline of any alley; in R zones 3 ft from a side…
- DC DOB, Building Code Interpretation, Fence (DCBC 3112). Checked 2026-10-20.
Fences abutting streets shall not exceed 7ft in Residence... Fence located less than 10ft from a party line shall be a maximum of 7ft high [unless adjoining owners consent]... Fences located in lot interior more than 10ft may not be limited in height... Per…
- DDOT, Fences and Retaining Walls FAQs (public space). Checked 2026-10-20.
[Fences in public space] Must be at least 50% open and no more than 42 inches tall... any use of the public right-of-way [the space outside the private property line] requires permission from the District Department of Transportation.