D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A310
"Community standards" encompasses a broad range of topics relating to the physical appearance and quality of the city's neighborhoods. The District maintains planning, building, housing, zoning, environmental and other regulations and codes aimed at protecting public safety and keeping the city's neighborhoods in excellent physical condition. However, instances of neglected and abandoned properties, illegal uses, unpermitted construction, and code violations are still common in many parts of the city. Despite dramatic improvements in code enforcement during recent years and a 50 percent drop in the number of vacant properties since 2000, more effective and responsive enforcement remains one of the most frequently raised planning issues in the District today. 310.1
Policy LU-2.2.1: Code Enforcement as a Tool for Neighborhood Conservation
Recognize the importance of consistent, effective, and comprehensive code enforcement to the protection of residential neighborhoods. Housing, building, and zoning regulations must be strictly applied and enforced in all neighborhoods of the city to prevent deteriorated, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions; reduce illegal activities; maintain the general level of residential uses, densities, and height; and ensure that health and safety hazards are promptly corrected. 310.2
Policy LU-2.2.2: Appearance of Vacant Lots and Structures
Maintain and enforce District programs (such as "Clean It Or Lien It") which ensure that vacant lots and buildings are kept free of debris, litter, and graffiti. Such sites should be treated in way that eliminates neighborhood blight, improves visual quality, and enhances public safety. 310.3
Policy LU-2.2.3: Restoration or Removal of Vacant and Abandoned Buildings
Reduce the number of vacant and abandoned buildings in the city through renovation, rehabilitation, and where necessary, demolition. Implement programs that encourage the owners of such buildings to sell or renovate them, and apply liens, fines, and other penalties for non-compliant properties. 310.4
Policy LU-2.2.4: Neighborhood Beautification
Encourage projects which improve the visual quality of the District's neighborhoods, including landscaping and tree planting, façade improvement, anti-litter campaigns, graffiti removal, improvement or removal of abandoned buildings, street and sidewalk repair, and park improvements. 310.5
Policy LU-2.2.5: Enforcement of Approval Conditions
Fully enforce conditions of approval for new development. Ensure that such projects are designed, built, and operated consistently with such conditions, and apply appropriate penalties in the event of non compliance. 310.6
Policy LU-2.2.6: Public Stewardship
Support efforts by local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, citizen/civic associations, garden clubs, homeowner groups, and other organizations to initiate neighborhood improvement and beautification programs. Provide information, guidance, and technical assistance to these groups as appropriate and feasible. 310.7
Policy LU-2.2.7: Alley Closings
Discourage the conversion of alleys to private yards or developable land when the alleys are part of the historic fabric of the neighborhood and would otherwise continue to perform their intended functions, such as access to rear garages and service areas for trash collection. 310.8
Action LU-2.2.A: Vacant Building Inventories
Maintain and continuously update data on vacant and abandoned buildings in the city, and regularly assess the potential for such buildings to support new uses and activities. This should include periodic assessment of the city's vacant building monitoring programs and exploring creative ways to deal with vacant properties and long-term vacant sites. 310.9
Action LU-2.2.B: Education and Outreach on Public Space Maintenance
Develop a public outreach campaign on the District's public space regulations (including the use of such space for announcements, campaign signs, and advertising), and resident/District responsibilities for maintenance of public space, including streets, planting strips, sidewalks, and front yards. 310.10
The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9 a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A310