Confused by Zoning Regulations in D.C.? Attend Zoning 101.

If you have ever sat through the zoning portion of an Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting, you have probably caught yourself losing focus as neighbors and lawyers talked about side yard requirements and maximum lot occupancy. These zoning technicalities can be confusing or seem mundane, until you want to put on a side deck or rear addition on your home.

To help demystify the process, the D.C. Office of Zoning (DCOZ) is conducting community meetings in every Ward in the District to inform citizens about zoning. 

The first of a series of presentations, Zoning 101, will be followed by Zoning 201 and 301 for the truly dedicated citizen student. The goal, according to the agency, is to "bring an even more solid foundation of zoning knowledge to the community."

Zoning 101 will address essential information in a 30-40 minute presentation, followed by 30 minutes for questions.

More complex questions and idiosyncrasies will be addressed in later meetings. The Ward 2 meeting is Tuesday, May 24 from 7-8:30 p.m. and will take place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Room A-10.