THE DC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
(is big)

This webpage will help you navigate the 25 Chapters or “Elements” of the DC Comprehensive Plan.

SOME UPDATES:

NOVEMBER 2021 — The amended Comprehensive Plan maps (FLUM, GPM) are made final by the Council and city.
AUGUST 2021 — The new D.C. Comprehensive Plan is enacted as law after Congressional Review.
JULY 2021 — Mayor Bowser takes a final look at the tome of proposed Comp Plan changes and signs them into law.
MAY 2021 — The DC City Council takes a vote on the Comp Plan and sends it to the Mayor and National Capital Planning Commission. On the same day, residents from around the city file a lawsuit with claims that the Plan changes are being pushed forward unlawfully.
NOVEMBER 2020 — Council Chair, Phil Mendelson published a webpage dedicated to the Comprehensive Plan, and then hosts a hearing about the Mayor’s Comp Plan changes that lasted two days and many hours across almost two hundred testimonials here!
MARCH 2020 — Mayor Bowser “Advances” Her Final Set of Comp Plan Amendments to the City Council.

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT — DISCOVER HOW THE MAYOR HAS SIGNED INTO LAW THE UPZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 200 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF LAND/AIR RIGHTS ACROSS THE CITY AND IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

SEE THE DC MAPS AND MOST OF THESE LAND USE CHANGES HERE.

The Grassroots Planning Roadmap below shows for each Comprehensive Plan Element (Chapter) associated links, as follows:

The first link is to the original 2006 Comprehensive Plan Element.
The second link will be to the Mayor’s Office of Planning “redline” amendments to that Element.

Citywide Elements (online)

Chapter 1 Introduction
The Introduction Chapter provides an overview of the background, purpose and organization of the document.
Current law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-introduction
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 2 Framework
The Framework Chapter provides the foundation for the rest of the Comprehensive Plan.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-oldframework
Council Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 3 Land Use
The Land Use Chapter provides the general policy guidance on land use issues across the District.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-landuse
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 4 Transportation
The Transportation Element provides policies and actions to maintain and improve the District’s transportation system and enhance the travel choices of current and future residents, visitors and workers.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-transportation
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 5 Housing
The Housing Element describes the importance of housing to neighborhood quality in the District of Columbia and the importance of providing housing opportunities for all segments of our population.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-housing
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 6 Environmental Protection
The Environmental Protection Element addresses the protection, restoration, and management of the District’s land, air, water, energy, and biologic resources.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-environment
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 7 Economic Development
The Economic Development Element addresses the future of the District’s economy and the creation of economic opportunity for current and future District residents.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-economy
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 8 Parks Recreation and Open Space
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element addresses the future of parks, recreation, and open space in the District of Columbia. It recognizes the important role parks play in recreation, aesthetics, neighborhood character, and environmental quality.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-openparks
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 9 Urban Design
The Urban Design Element addresses the District’s physical design and visual qualities.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-urbandesign
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 10 Historic Preservation
The Historic Preservation Element guides the protection, revitalization and preservation of the city’s valuable historic assets.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-histpreservation
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 11 Community Services and Facilities
The Community Services and Facilities Element provides policies and actions on health care facilities, child care and senior care facilities, libraries, police stations, fire stations, and other municipal facilities such as maintenance yards.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-community
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 12 Educational Facilities
The Educational Facilities Element addresses the location, planning, use and design of the District’s educational facilities and campuses.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-education
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 13 Infrastructure
The Infrastructure Element provides policies and actions on the District’s water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, solid waste management, energy, and telecommunication systems.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-infrastructure
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 14 Arts and Culture
The Arts and Culture Element provides policies and actions dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the arts in the District.
Current Law: https://tinyurl.com/compplan-artsculture
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link

Area Elements (online)

Area Elements of the Comprehensive Plan — Find the Comp Plan Chapter for your Neighborhood

Chapter 15 Capitol Hill Area Element
The Capitol Hill Planning Area encompasses the 3.1 square miles located east of the US Capitol, north of I-695, and south of Florida Avenue and Benning Road.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574812
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 16 Central Washington Area Element
The Central Washington Planning Area is the heart of the District of Columbia.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574842
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 17 Far Northeast and Southeast Area Element
The Far Northeast and Southeast Planning Area encompasses the 8.3 square miles located east of I-295, and north of Naylor Road, SE.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574892
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 18 Far Southeast Southwest Area Element
The Far Southeast/Southwest Planning Area encompasses 10.1 square miles east of the Anacostia Freeway, and south of Good Hope Road/Naylor Road.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574882
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 19 Lower Anacostia Waterfront Near Southwest Area Element
The Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Planning Area encompasses 3.0 square miles of land located along both sides of the Anacostia River in the southwest and southeast quadrants of the District.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574902
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 20 Mid-city Area Element
The Mid-city Planning Area encompasses the 3.1 square miles located in the geographic center of the District of Columbia.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574872
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 21 Near Northwest Area Element
The Near Northwest Planning Area encompasses the 3.9 square miles located directly north and west of Central Washington.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574832
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF link
Chapter 22 Rock Creek East Area Element
The Rock Creek East Planning Area encompasses the 7.4 square miles located east of Rock Creek Park, north of Spring Road, NW, and west of North Capitol Street and Riggs Road.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574822
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 23 Rock Creek West Area Element
The Rock Creek West Planning Area encompasses 13 square miles in the northwest quadrant of the District.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574852
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link
Chapter 24 Upper Northeast Area Element
The Upper Northeast Planning Area encompasses 8.7 square miles and includes about two-thirds of the District’s northeastern quadrant.
Current Law: https://planning.dc.gov/node/574862
Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF Link

Chapter 25 IMPLEMENTATION ELEMENT (online)

Mayor’s Redline Oct 2019: PDF link

CLICK HERE

TO SEE CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING MAPS

Click here for more information about how the Mayor changed the Comprehensive Planning maps in your neighborhood.
Click here to see comments flowing into the Office of Planning about the Mayor’s wholesale rewrite of the Comp Plan.

THE DC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (is big)