Alexandria’s Zoning Ordinance regulates the development and redevelopment of substandard lots – residential lots that do not meet the minimum size, width, and/or street frontage requirements for their zone. Generally, the Zoning Ordinance requires SUP approval to build a new house on a substandard lot unless. This page explains why staff is reviewing these regulations, what substandard lots are, how the regulations governing them have evolved, and staff’s recommended changes. 

Updates will also be posted to this website and distributed through the City's eNews service.

August 11: Community Meeting #2 

September 25: Final recommendations and staff report released 9/25

Staff is currently targeting the following hearing dates:

October 6: Planning Commission public hearing 

October 17: City Council public hearing 

• The current zoning regulations governing height, bulk, and setbacks that apply to all infill development may address many of the concerns the SUP process was designed to manage.   
• Many substandard lots differ only marginally from the zone’s minimum requirements and are generally surrounded by lots that are similarly sized and shaped. In many cases, the difference is so slight that the lot's deviation from the minimum requirements may not justify the additional scrutiny imposed by the SUP process. 
• Most substandard lot SUP requests have been approved  
• New houses built through the SUP process are similar in terms of size and height than houses that don’t require SUP approval 

Staff recommends allowing a new house on substandard lot without special use permit approval if the lot passes the following two-part test: 

1. The lot meets has a size, width, and frontage equal to at least 90% of the zone’s minimum requirements. Example, an R-8 zoned lot would have at least the following dimensions: 
   1. Lot size: 7,200 square feet (8,000 square feet required)
   2. Lot width: 58.6 feet (65 feet required)
   3. Lot frontage: 36 feet (40 feet required)

OR 

2. The lot is similar in size and shape to surrounding lots in the same zone as the subject property. 

A lot that doesn’t “pass” this test would require SUP approval before a new house could be constructed.  

All other requirements still apply: setbacks, maximum height and floor area ratio (FAR), off-street parking, and others

Past Engagement

Community Meeting - Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m.

• April 28 Community Meeting Presentation
• April 28 Community Meeting Video Recording

Planning Commission Discussion Item - Tuesday, May 5 at 7 p.m.

• May 5 Planning Commission Discussion Item Video Recording - advance video to 1:34 (one hour and 34 minutes)

Virtual Community Meeting - Tuesday, August 11 at 7 p.m.

• August 11 Community Meeting Presentation
• August 11 Community Meeting Video Recording

Many of Alexandria’s residential lots were subdivided and recorded before the City’s Zoning Ordinance established the minimum lot size, width, and street frontage requirements that apply today. When these regulations were introduced, lots that had already been recorded at smaller dimensions became substandard – not because anything about the lots themselves changed, but because the new rules set new standards. 

Substandard lots are found throughout the city and are most common in older neighborhoods that were subdivided and developed prior to 1951. Most of these lots already have homes on them and are unaffected by the rules described below unless the owner wants to make significant changes to their property. These restrictions apply only in the R-2-5, R-5, R-8, R-12, and R-20 zones. Substandard lots in other zones – including the City’s oldest and most established neighborhoods like Old Town – are generally permitted to be developed or redeveloped without these additional restrictions. 
 

• Sam Shelby, Principal Planner, 703.746.3865
• Catherine McDonald, Urban Planner, 703.746.3844