DC YIMBYs

DC’s Zoning Commission is considering changes to the city’s zoning code that will help address our housing shortage. The proposal removes some of the obstacles that stand in the way of homebuyers and renters alike having more housing choices and affordable options. It’s a good first step, but there’s much more the Zoning Commission can do in this moment to address the housing needs of our city.

Ask DC to Do More

We are encouraging the city to take three additional actions.

1. Let more homeowners build in-law suites on their property, both providing affordable options to renters and offering homeowners another pathway to build wealth.
2. Remove restrictive parking requirements that limit the number of homes near public transit hubs.
3. Allow more buildings to house community-focused businesses, like childcare centers, so that families have what they need in their communities.

You can help by urging the Zoning Commission to adopt these proposals. We have a form e-mail below with specifics about the proposals that you can send. The most powerful thing you can do is to add your own story about why more housing in the District will improve life for you and your community.

What We’re Asking For

We’re asking the Zoning Commission to include three changes to their proposal to help reduce housing costs, create more housing choices, and improve our neighborhoods.

Allow More In-Law Suites

Our first proposal focuses on offering DC residents more flexibility to add in-law suites (an independent home built on the same lot as a main house) to their properties. These additions are common in American homes and take on many different names—in-law suites, granny flats, backyard cottages, accessory dwelling units, etc.

These secondary homes help homeowners, renters, and whole communities. Homeowners have an avenue to age in place, let family move in, or build wealth. Renters have more affordable options across the city, including in many high-opportunity neighborhoods. And key members of our community—from teachers to nurses—can actually afford to live in the communities they serve.

Right now, the city does permit residents to build in-law suites, but burdensome restrictions stop many homeowners from doing so. For example, there’s a strict limit on their size, which makes the project not worth it to many homeowners. The city is now proposing to allow in-law suites to be up to 600 square feet, but that’s still only half the size of what’s allowed in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The city is also proposing an arbitrary 3-foot side setback, which can severely limit the placement and size of in-law suites on certain lots. Another example is that the city wants to ban in-law suites from certain areas, despite the fact that they fit into any neighborhood’s design and aesthetic.