DC Office of Zoning

What DC Office of Zoning does

The DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) is an independent agency of the District of Columbia government, established by the Office of Zoning Independence Act of 1990 to provide professional, technical, and administrative staff assistance to the Zoning Commission (ZC) and the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). It is the statutory system of record for zoning administration in Washington, DC, serving residents, property owners, developers, architects, lawyers, realtors, tax assessors, and other stakeholders who interact with zoning regulation, certification, and adjudication. DCOZ operates a suite of interconnected digital services centered on the Interactive Zoning Information System (IZIS), a web-based case management platform through which all ZC and BZA cases must be filed. Supporting products include the Zoning Cases Dashboard for case discovery, an Interactive Zoning Map (updated daily against real property data) for property-level zoning lookups, and an enCodePlus-powered unofficial Zoning Regulations portal providing 24/7 access to the Zoning Regulations of 2016 (ZR16) with a text amendment archive and integrated eReader. Live and recorded virtual hearings are delivered via Webex and YouTube, and a video-on-demand archive preserves past proceedings. Additional offerings include official Certification of Zoning services, the Zoning Handbook, a Racial Equity Analysis Tool, a DCCA appeals status tracker, and a Zone Conversion Table bridging ZR58 and ZR16 designations.

DCOZ is funded through District appropriations and does not operate a commercial revenue model. The only fee-based services are a $50 charge per Certification of Zoning request (with payments processed via checks/money orders to the DC Treasurer) and $0.20 per page for physical copies of zoning orders; these fees flow to the District treasury rather than to DCOZ's operating budget. Headcount is small — the firmographic record shows ~7 employees, with an earlier reference to a 24-person team as of 2012 — and is led by Director Sara Benjamin Bardin, who was appointed by the Zoning Commission effective January 1, 2012. Governance partners include the Department of Buildings (complementary zoning-permitting role), the Architect of the Capitol and the National Park Service (statutory seats on the ZC), and the National Capital Planning Commission (designee seats on both ZC and BZA). Technology partners include Cisco/Webex (virtual hearings) and enCodePlus (regulations viewer platform).

Name

DC Office of Zoning

Legal name

District of Columbia Office of Zoning

Website

https://dcoz.dc.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The DC Office of Zoning is an independent DC government agency that provides administrative, technical, and digital services to the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment, serving residents, developers, and real estate professionals in the District of Columbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Zoning Certification Fees: The agency charges a $50 fee for official Certification of Zoning requests submitted through IZIS, which includes verification of zoning district classification for property due diligence purposes.
2. Document Reproduction Fees: Physical copies of zoning orders are available at $0.20 per page. Only checks and money orders made out to the DC Treasurer are accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The DC Office of Zoning provides administrative, professional, and technical staff assistance to the Zoning Commission (ZC) and Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), two quasi-judicial bodies that prepare, adopt, and amend DC's Zoning Regulations and Map and adjudicate zoning variances, special exceptions, and appeals. Its core services include operating the Interactive Zoning Information System (IZIS) for online case filing and management, issuing official zoning certifications, maintaining the daily-updated official zoning map, publishing the unofficial zoning regulations via an enCodePlus-powered portal, and conducting virtual public hearings to enable transparent public participation in zoning proceedings.

Product overview

The DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ) operates a suite of interconnected digital services supporting the zoning process for the District of Columbia. The core platform is the Interactive Zoning Information System (IZIS), a web-based case management system for filing, viewing, and managing Zoning Commission (ZC) and Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) cases. This is supported by the Zoning Cases Dashboard for case discovery, the Interactive Zoning Map for property zoning lookups, and an enCodePlus-powered Zoning Regulations portal providing 24/7 access to ZR16 with a built-in eReader and text amendment archive. DCOZ also provides virtual hearing capabilities via Webex with YouTube live streaming, a Video-on-Demand archive of past hearings, a combined ZC/BZA calendar, certification of zoning services, a Racial Equity Analysis Tool, DCCA case status tracking, a zone conversion reference table, and the Zoning Handbook. All these services work together to administer the zoning application processes, schedule hearings, issue legal orders, and ensure public transparency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interactive Zoning Information System (IZIS) A web-based system for online case filing, viewing, processing, and management of Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment cases. All zoning case types must be filed using IZIS.
• Zoning Cases Dashboard A comprehensive dashboard providing a daily-updated list of all cases filed before the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment, with a map viewer, search and filtering tools, and links to official case records in IZIS.
• Interactive Zoning Map An interactive official DC Zoning Map updated daily to ensure consistency with zone changes and real property data, allowing users to look up zoning classification for any property in the District.
• Zoning Regulations of 2016 (Unofficial Version) Portal An interactive online portal built on enCodePlus technology providing 24/7 access to the Zoning Regulations of 2016, including a complete archive of text amendments, with a built-in eReader, text amendment table, and cloud-hosted rulemaking document library.
• Video-on-Demand Archive An archive of recorded Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment public meetings and hearings, allowing viewers to watch past proceedings on demand. Videos are posted as soon as they become available, typically the day after hearings.
• Live Virtual Hearings Service A virtual participation platform for Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment public meetings and hearings using Webex, allowing members of the public to join remotely and provide testimony by telephone or video.
• ZC/BZA Calendar A combined calendar for Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment hearings and meetings, allowing the public to view scheduled proceedings.
• Certification of Zoning An official written certification of zoning classification for a property, requested through IZIS with a $50 fee, providing definitive authentication of the zoning district from official records. Response provided within 10 business days.
• Zoning Commission Racial Equity Analysis Tool A tool released by the Zoning Commission in April 2022 (revised February 2023) to analyze the racial equity implications of zoning matters under consideration.
• DCCA Case Status Case status tracking for Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment decisions appealed to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, including petitioner information, current status, decisions, and searchable records from 2013 to present.
• Zone Conversion Table A reference tool showing conversions between zone designations from the Zoning Regulations of 1958 (ZR58), original ZR16, and ZR16 as amended by Case No. 18-16.
• Zoning Handbook An online guide to the Zoning Regulations of 2016, intended to help citizens of Washington, DC understand and participate in the zoning process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Case records and information available 24/7 through IZIS
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• enCodePluscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023enCodePlus is the technology platform provider for DCOZ's unofficial zoning regulations viewer. The platform supports efficient administrative collaboration, streamlines internal planning and zoning processes, and delivers integrated research and communication features.
• Webex (Cisco)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Webex is used for virtual public hearings and meetings of the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment, enabling remote public participation.
• Department of Buildings (DOB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990DCOZ and DOB are separate agencies with complementary roles in zoning and permitting processes. DOB's Office of the Zoning Administrator (ZA) interprets and administers Zoning Regulations as adopted by the ZC. DCOZ handles case processing for ZC and BZA, while DOB handles enforcement and permitting.
• National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1938NCPC designee serves on both the Zoning Commission and the Board of Zoning Adjustment. NCPC reviews and regulates federal public buildings. DCOZ coordinates with NCPC on comprehensive planning and zoning matters.
• Architect of the Capitol (AOC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1920The Architect of the Capitol (or representative) serves as the fourth member of the five-member Zoning Commission. AOC is responsible for the continuous operation, maintenance, and preservation of the U.S. Capitol and other historic buildings.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1920The Director of the National Park Service (or representative) serves as the fifth member of the Zoning Commission. NPS is responsible for planning, compliance, land acquisition, and legislative affairs for parkland in DC and portions of MD, VA, and WV.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Philadelphia City Planning Commission: Municipal planning commission for Philadelphia handling zoning code administration and civic engagement, parallel to DCOZ in administering a municipal zoning framework.
• Chicago Department of Planning and Development: Municipal planning agency administering Chicago's zoning ordinance, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Plan Commission support — directly comparable to DCOZ in administering zoning cases and supporting a quasi-judicial body.
• San Francisco Planning Department: Municipal planning department administering San Francisco's zoning and supporting the Planning Commission, providing a directly comparable model for a city-level planning/zoning administrative agency.
• Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections: Municipal agency in Seattle handling permitting, zoning interpretation, and code enforcement, comparable to DCOZ in delivering zoning and land-use regulatory services to a major US city.
• Boston Planning & Development Agency: Municipal planning/development agency for Boston responsible for zoning review and the Zoning Board of Appeal support — directly comparable to DCOZ's role of providing staff support to quasi-judicial zoning bodies.
• NYC Department of City Planning: Municipal planning agency for New York City administering zoning regulations, land use reviews, and the City Planning Commission — the most direct functional peer to DCOZ given analogous scope of zoning administration and quasi-judicial body support.
• Los Angeles City Planning Department: LA's municipal planning agency that processes zoning administration cases and supports the City Planning Commission, comparable to DCOZ in zoning case management and regulation publication.

Others

• enCodePlus: Zoning technology platform provider that powers DCOZ's unofficial zoning regulations portal; comparable as an enabling technology vendor to municipal planning agencies rather than a direct competitor.
• American Planning Association: National professional association for urban planners that supports municipal planning agencies including DCOZ through policy guidance, training, and accreditation — an industry ecosystem peer.
• National Capital Planning Commission: Federal planning agency for the National Capital Region that coordinates with DCOZ via designee seats on the ZC and BZA — an adjacent federal peer rather than direct competitor given overlapping but distinct jurisdictions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OZinDC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/DCOfficeofZoning
• Facebookfacebook.com/102752416428242
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dc-office-of-zoning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DC Office of Zoning