Capitol Hill Home Renovation and Remodeling
We design and build for Capitol Hill home renovation projects, from whole-home remodels to kitchen updates. Because most of the neighborhood is in a historic district, a renovation here is shaped by review from the Historic Preservation Office (HPO). We prepare the plans and permit applications needed for HPO and Department of Buildings approval, helping you navigate the process for your rowhouse, basement or addition.
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Renovation Facts for Capitol Hill
Most renovations in Capitol Hill are shaped by the rules of its historic district, which require exterior work to be approved by the Historic Preservation Office, and by the RF-1 zone's rules on additions and second units.
- Historic district
- The Capitol Hill Historic District was designated locally in 1973 and listed on the National Register in 1976, then expanded in 2003 and again in 2015, when Swampoodle was added.Source: D.C. Office of Planning, Capitol Hill Historic District
- Who approves exterior work
- The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) can approve in-kind repair and replacement, small additions and minor alterations; sizable additions, major alterations and new construction go to the nine-member Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), which meets monthly. An HPO-approvable permit is typically cleared within 1 to 3 days of the Department of Buildings forwarding it.Source: D.C. Office of Planning, Historic Preservation Review Process for Property Owners
- Public notice
- For an HPRB case, HPO notifies the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, the owner posts notice on the property and sends plans to the abutting owners, and the ANC may ask for a deferral of up to 45 days. The Board gives the ANC's view "great weight".Source: D.C. Office of Planning, Historic Preservation Review Process for Property Owners
- Zoning (RF-1 rowhouse zone)
- Most of the rowhouse rules sit in the RF-1 zone: buildings and additions up to 35 feet and three stories, row dwellings up to 60% lot occupancy, a 20-foot minimum rear yard, and two dwelling units per lot (both in the main house, or one in the house and one in an accessory building). Check your lot on the D.C. zoning map first.Source: D.C. Office of Zoning, 11-DCMR Subtitle E (RF zones), sections 302 to 306; D.C. Office of Zoning, zoning map
- Housing
- In ZIP codes 20002 and 20003, 65% of owner-occupied homes are single-family attached houses (rowhouses) and 5% are detached; 66% of owner-occupied homes were built in 1939 or earlier. Median home value: $826,400 (20002) and $957,700 (20003).Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year (tables B25003, B25032, B25036, B25077), our sums by ZIP code
- Permit activity
- In 2025, 20003 and 20002 were the two D.C. ZIP codes that filed the most water heater permits.Source: D.C. Building Permits in 2025 (DOB, Open Data DC)
Read November 5, 2026.
What This Means for Your Capitol Hill Renovation
Most homes in Capitol Hill are inside a historic district, which means any work that alters the exterior of your property requires approval. The D.C. Historic Preservation Office (HPO) reviews all plans to ensure they are appropriate for the district. HPO staff can approve minor alterations, in-kind replacements and small additions, often within a few days. Sizable additions, major alterations and new construction are sent to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). This process involves a public meeting, and the board gives “great weight” to the opinion of the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC).
Zoning rules also guide what you can build. If your property is in the RF-1 rowhouse zone, any building or addition is limited to three stories and 35 feet in height. Your house and any accessory buildings may cover no more than 60% of your lot, and you must maintain a rear yard of at least 20 feet. The RF-1 zone also allows for a second dwelling unit on your lot, either within the main house or in an accessory building. We can help you confirm your property’s zoning and design a project that meets the district's requirements for lot occupancy, height and setbacks.
The neighborhood's housing stock consists mainly of single-family rowhouses, with 66% of owner-occupied homes built in 1939 or earlier. Common projects include whole-home remodels to update layouts and systems, basement underpinning to create more usable space, and kitchen renovations. A renovation that is entirely interior, with no changes to the outside of the house, does not require historic preservation review. We design and build renovations for older D.C. homes, providing the plans and management needed for projects of any scale.
Capitol Hill Renovation and Remodeling Projects
Where we work in Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill east and west of Lincoln Park, Eastern Market, Barracks Row, Stanton Park, Swampoodle, H Street and Near Northeast.
ZIP codes 20002 and 20003.
Renovation questions from Capitol Hill homeowners
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Whether it's a water heater or a whole-home renovation, our Arlington-based team is ready to help. Fill out the form or call us directly.
Phones answered every day, 10 AM to 9 PM
Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George's counties, MD