Current Zoning

Current zoning of Caroline Street
source: DC Office of Zoning

Caroline Street was built as two-story buildings, and with the exception of one building that has a third story, remains two stories. That is, the buildings are a bit over 20 feet high, with the exception of one that is a bit over 30 feet.

Caroline Street, with the exception of the area between the west alley and 16th St, is currently zoned R-5-B. That is defined a moderate height and density. Permitted uses in R-5-B include apartment houses and hotels. It permits a maximum lot coverage of 60%, a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.8, and a maximum height of 50 feet (about the same as 1922 16th). (FAR is building area divided by lot size. All of the Caroline lots are measured as 1,423 square feet, so the maximum building floor area would be 2,561 square feet. The houses as built were 1,944 square feet.) In other words, the maximum that could be added to a house on Caroline is one floor up, or some combination or up and back.

The U Street C-2-A zoning allows low density commercial development, with a maximum height of 50 feet. 1922 16th is a bit over 50 feet high.

The 16th Street R-5-D zoning allows a maximum height of 90 feet. That is about the height of 1925 16th (Tiffany) and 1915 16th.

Last update 14 August 2005