Modifications to Proposed Town of Chevy Chase Building Ordinance

The Town Council continued its markup of the proposed new building ordinance. The Council has made the ordinance simpler and much less restrictive than the original proposal. Here are the major changes to the ordinance from the original proposal:

Everyone is guaranteed a minimum of 3000 square feet regardless of lot size (up from 2500).

Basements don't count for purposes of FAR calculation.

Attics don't count for existing homes or additions to them but the portions of attics above 6' 6" (i.e. you can walk in them) do count for new construction (or the expanded portion of existing attics).

There is a single FAR of .50 for all lots of less than 12,000 square feet.

For homes on lots greater than 12,000 square feet, the FAR is .25 for the amount over 12,000 (e.g. on a 14,000 foot lot, you could build 6500; 6000 with the FAR of .50 for the first 12,000, 500 for the 2000 above 12,000)

The garage and wall length incentives have now been made into requirements (i.e. requirements on the placement of garages and no wall can be longer than 34 feet).

Non-vegetative surface is limited to 35% or less of the front yard.