D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, r. 11-C1504
Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024
1504.1 Except as exempted by Subtitle C §§ 1504.2 to 1504.4, a penthouse or rooftop structure shall be set back from the edge of the roof upon which it is located, measured from a point where a line extending from the top of the roof intersects with the outside face of the building enclosing wall, as follows: (a) A distance equal to its height from the front building wall of the roof upon which it is located;(b) A distance equal to its height from the rear building wall of the roof upon which it is located;(c) A distance equal to its height from a side building wall of the roof upon which it is located if: (1) The side building wall is not located on a property line;(2) The side building wall faces a public or private street or alley right-of way, or a public park; (3) The adjacent property along the shared side lot line has a lower permitted matter-of-right building height; or(4) The adjacent property along the shared side lot line is improved with a building that is a designated landmark or contributing structure to a historic district with a height at least ten feet (10 ft.) below the maximum height permitted in its zone;(d) A distance equal to its height from building walls that border all sides of an open court on the property; or(e) A distance equal to two (2) times its height from any building wall of the roof upon which it is located which fronts onto Independence Avenue, S.W. between 12th Street, S.W. and 2nd Street, S.W., or fronting onto Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. between 3rd Street, N.W and 15th Street, N.W., subject to any constraints on penthouses or rooftop structures contained within adopted PADC Guideline documents.1504.2 The front, rear, side, and open court setback requirements of Subtitle C §§ 1504.1(a)-(d) shall not apply to features meeting the following conditions:
(b) Roof membranes, and green roof mediums that do not exceed a height of two feet (2 ft.), measured from the surface of the roof upon which they sit;(c) Roof decks, platforms, or other rooftop features that do not exceed a height of twelve inches (12 in.) maximum above the roof, measured from the surface of the roof upon which they sit;(d) On the roof of any building or structure not noted in Subtitle C § 1504.3(c), solar panels not attached to or hanging down from the side of a penthouse, rooftop structure, or parapet, that do not exceed a height of four feet (4 ft.) maximum above the roof, measured from the surface of the roof upon which they sit;(e) Guardrails required by the building code for a deck not located on the highest roof of a building;(f) Guardrails or privacy fences on the top of a one- (1) story accessory building, provided the total height of the building including the guardrail or privacy fence does not exceed the height permitted for an accessory building in the zone; or(g) Mechanical equipment or screening for mechanical equipment on the roof of a public school, recreation center, or library.1504.3 In addition to the exemptions of Subtitle C § 1504.2, the rear, side, and open court setback requirements of Subtitle C §§ 1504.1(b)-(d) shall not apply to features meeting the following conditions:
(a) For a rooftop deck on the highest roof a building, guardrails required by the building code that do not exceed a height of three feet, six inches (3 ft., 6 in.), when the facade is not facing a public or private street or a public park;(b) Gooseneck exhaust ducts serving kitchen and toilet ventilating systems, roof mounted antennas, trash chutes, plumbing vent stacks, HVAC compressors, or other similar mechanical equipment;(c) On the roof of a one (1) family dwelling or flat, or an accessory building to those uses, solar panels not attached to or hanging down from the side of a penthouse, rooftop structure, or parapet, that do not exceed:(1) For rooftop-mounted panels, a two feet (2 ft.) maximum height above the roof, measured from the surface of the roof upon which they sit; or(2) For parapet-mounted panels, a one foot (1 ft.) maximum height above the top of the side wall parapet.(d) Roof hatches that do not exceed a height of four feet (4 ft.), measured from the surface of the roof upon which they sit; or(e) Skylights that do not exceed a height of two feet (2 ft.), measured from the surface of the roof upon which they sit.1504.4The open court setback requirements of Subtitle C § 1504.1(d) shall further not apply to a rooftop access stairwell or elevator.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, r. 11-C1504
Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447 (9/6/2016); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 10932 (9/6/2016); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 64 DCR 6110 (6/30/2017); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 13834 (12/24/2021)