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Corner sight triangles in Washington, DC

DC's zoning code has no corner sight-triangle rule for private yards. At corners, DDOT keeps the sight distance triangle in public space clear: anything other than trees, such as walls, fences, hedges and perennials, should be no more than 3 ft high, and street trees keep their lower branches trimmed to 8 ft.

A person last checked these rules on October 20, 2026. This is guidance only, so confirm with Washington before you build.

The details

  • Much of a DC corner front yard is public space, where fences are also capped at 42 in and must be at least half open.High confidence
  • Sight-triangle limits come from DDOT's Public Realm Design Manual § 3.6.1, which cites the Design and Engineering Manual 37.5.2.High confidence
  • Anything taller than 42 in in public space goes to the Public Space Committee.High confidence

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Common questions

What can I put near the corner of a corner lot in Washington?
DC's zoning code has no corner sight-triangle rule for private yards. At corners, DDOT keeps the sight distance triangle in public space clear: anything other than trees, such as walls, fences, hedges and perennials, should be no more than 3 ft high, and street trees keep their lower branches trimmed to 8 ft.

Sources

  1. 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.
  2. DDOT, Public Realm Design Manual v2.1 (March 2019), § 3.6.1 sight distance at intersections (citing Design and Engineering Manual 37.5.2). Checked 2026-10-21
    Street trees may be planted within the sight distance triangle [with lower branches trimmed up to 8 feet]... Non-plant materials and perennials should be no more than 3 feet high... [Trees] No closer than 40 feet from the curb face at intersections and stre…

Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal or professional advice for any one property. Codes change. SetbackIQ is not a zoning determination, a permit, or a survey, and it does not replace an architect, engineer, or lawyer. Confirm with your building and zoning offices before you build, buy, or sign a contract.