Section 11-534. REAR YARDS (SP)

 

534.1To provide adequate light, view, movement of air, and visual privacy, a rear yard shall be provided for all structures located in an SP District.

 

534.2The rear yard shall have a minimum depth of two and one-half inches (2 1/2 in.) per foot of vertical distance from the mean finished grade at the middle of the rear of the structure to the highest point of the main roof or parapet wall, but shall not be less than twelve feet (12 ft.).

 

534.3In an SP District, the depth of rear yard required in §§ 534.1 and 534.2 may be measured as follows:

 

(a)Where a lot abuts an alley, from the center line of the alley to the rear wall of the building or other structure. A rear yard on the lot need not be provided below a horizontal plane twenty feet (20 ft.) above the mean finished grade measured at the middle of the rear wall of that portion of the building or other structure below the twenty foot (20 ft.) plane;

 

(b)Where a lot does not abut an alley, the depth of rear yard shall be measured as specified in the definition of "rear yard," except a rear yard need not be provided below a horizontal plane twenty feet (20 ft.) above the mean finished grade measured at the middle of the rear wall of that portion of the building or other structure below the twenty foot (20 ft.) plane; and

 

(c)In the case of a through lot or a corner lot abutting three (3) or more streets, the depth of rear yard may be measured from the center line of the street abutting the lot at the rear of the building or other structure.

 

534.4In the case of a corner lot, a court complying with the width requirements for a closed court as specified in § 536.1 may be provided in lieu of a rear yard.

 

534.5For the purposes of this section, the required court shall be provided above a horizontal plane beginning not more than twenty feet (20 ft.) above the curb grade opposite the center of the front of the building, and the width and area of the court shall be computed for the entire height of court.

 

534.6The Board of Zoning Adjustment may waive the rear yard requirements of § 534; provided, that the objectives of this section are met in accordance with the standards provided in §§ 534.7 through 534.11.

 

534.7No apartment window shall be located within forty feet (40 ft.) directly in front of another building.

 

534.8No office window shall be located within thirty feet (30 ft.). directly in front of another office window, nor eighteen feet (18 ft.) in front of a blank wall.

 

534.9In buildings that are not parallel to the adjacent buildings, the angle of sight lines and the distance of penetration of sight lines into habitable rooms shall be considered in determining distances between windows and appropriate setbacks.

 

534.10Provision shall be included for service functions, including parking and loading access and adequate loading areas.

 

534.11Upon receiving an application for an approval under§ 534.6, the Board shall submit the application to the D.C. Office of Planning for coordination, review, report, and impact assessment, along with reviews in writing from all relevant District of Columbia departments and agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the District of Columbia Housing Authority and, if a historic district or historic landmark is involved, the State Historic Preservation Officer.

 

534.12Antennas, antenna towers and monopoles shall comply with the side yard requirements as specified in chapter 27.

 

source

§§ 4303.1, 4303.2, 4303.3, and 4303.4 of the Zoning Regulations, effective May 12, 1958; as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 9741-43 (December 8, 2000), incorporating by reference the text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 8335, 8377 (October 20, 2000); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 0034(January 4, 2008).