Zoning commission hears debate over larger accessory buildings, setbacks and ADU clarifications

The Zoning Commission on Nov. 12 received testimony on a set of proposed text amendments intended to ease construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and update long-standing accessory-building rules.

Joel Lawson of the D.C. Office of Planning presented the package and said the changes aim to "remove unnecessary barriers to the provision of new housing opportunities" and to add clarity to regulations originally carried forward from ZR58 and updated under ZR16. "OP is proposing to increase the permitted size for an accessory building in the R1 and R2 zones ... from 450 square feet to 600 square feet," Lawson said, and added that OP proposes increasing R3 and RF footprints to 550 square feet.

Why it matters: OP and several housing advocates told the commission that the 2016 footprint limit (450 sq ft) is too small to accommodate reasonable ADUs, especially where owners need space for accessible design, parking and vertical circulation. Supporters argued modest increases would reduce the number of homeowners forced to seek time-consuming and costly Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) relief.

What OP proposed and alternatives: OP recommended a conservative footprint increase (600 sq ft in lower-density R zones, 550 sq ft in R3/RF), which still…