Arlington Zoning Overview

Arlington County is a high-density inner suburb of Washington, D.C., with approximately 238,000 residents. While legally a county under Virginia law, Arlington functions as an independent city-equivalent jurisdiction — it has no incorporated towns or cities within it and is not part of any larger county. Arlington directly borders the District of Columbia to the north and east, and contains some of the most densely developed urban areas in Northern Virginia, including the Rosslyn-Ballston transit corridor and the National Landing/Crystal City area, home to Amazon HQ2.

Arlington follows the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), based on the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC). The county's planning is administered by the Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development (CPHD), which oversees zoning, site plan review, housing policy, and historic preservation. Arlington is known for its transit-oriented development model, concentrating high-density development around Metro stations while preserving stable residential neighborhoods in other parts of the county.

Primary Zoning Districts

Arlington's residential zoning includes the R-1 district (15,000 sq ft minimum lots, 35-foot height limit), the R-2 district (10,000 sq ft minimum lots), and the R-5 district (5,000 sq ft minimum lots) for higher-density single-family development. The RA-4.8 district accommodates medium-density multifamily residential uses.

Commercial and mixed-use development is served by the C-1 (Local Commercial), C-2 (Service Commercial-Community Business), and C-O (Commercial Office) districts. The C-O district, concentrated in the Rosslyn-Ballston and Jefferson Davis Highway corridors, allows high-rise commercial and mixed-use development, with building heights in Rosslyn reaching up to 300 feet in some areas.

ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Rules

Virginia has no enacted statewide ADU preemption. SB 304 of 2024 would have required ADUs by-right but was deferred to the Virginia Housing Commission. Va. Code § 15.2-2292.1 governs only temporary family health-care structures, not general ADUs. ADU rules are set by local zoning ordinance — contact the local planning department.

Development Process

Development in Arlington generally requires obtaining appropriate permits from the county's CPHD department. The process typically involves:

1. Zoning Verification — Confirm that your proposed use is permitted in the applicable zoning district
2. Site Plan Review — Large-scale development in commercial and high-density corridors requires site plan approval by the County Board
3. Use Permit — Certain uses require a use permit approved through a public hearing process
4. Building Permit — Apply for a building permit with construction documents
5. Inspections — Schedule required inspections during construction
6. Certificate of Occupancy — Obtain final approval before occupying the structure

Key Considerations

Before starting any development project in Arlington, property owners should:

• Verify the zoning classification of their property using Arlington's online zoning map
• Determine whether the property is in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, Jefferson Davis Corridor, or another overlay district
• Review setback, height, and lot coverage requirements for their specific district
• Determine if the property is in a FEMA flood zone using FEMA's flood map service
• Confirm whether HOA covenants or deed restrictions apply
• Contact CPHD at (703) 228-3525 for pre-application guidance

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about zoning in Arlington and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Zoning codes are subject to change. Always verify current regulations with Arlington County CPHD or the municipal code before making development decisions.