Grading, easements and demolition in Washington, DC

The details

• Erosion and sediment control: more than 50 sq ft of disturbance.High confidence
• Raze permits: DOB routes the application to HPO and other agencies for clearance. Contributing buildings in historic districts are protected.High confidence
• Easements and public space: anything beyond your property line, including much of the front yard, is DDOT's.Medium confidence

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SetbackIQ reads the zoning, flood zone, historic district, and environmental maps for your lot. Then it applies these rules.

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Common questions

When do grading, easements or tearing something down need approval in Washington?

Disturbing more than 50 sq ft of soil needs an erosion and sediment control plan. Tearing down a building needs a raze permit, and historic properties get HPO review.

Sources

1. DC Department of Energy and Environment, Erosion and Sediment Control. Checked 2026-10-21
   An ESC plan is required for building construction and redevelopment projects that disturb or move more than 50 square feet of land... [The minor track covers projects that disturb] less than 5,000 square feet of land [and don't require stormwater management…
2. DC Office of Planning, Preservation review of raze applications. Checked 2026-10-21
   [For historic properties] HPO reviews the application under the procedures required in the DC historic preservation law... If a landmark application is pending or filed, the property is protected by law for 90 days.
3. DDOT, Fences and Retaining Walls FAQs (public space). Checked 2026-10-20
   [Fences in public space] Must be at least 50% open and no more than 42 inches tall... any use of the public right-of-way [the space outside the private property line] requires permission from the District Department of Transportation.