The Home Rule Act requires that the District government develop a Comprehensive Plan. This Plan is a general policy document that provides overall guidance for future planning and development of the city. The first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1984 and 1985. In 2006 a new Comprehensive Plan was approved, which was the first major revision of the Plan. Subsequently, the first Amendment Cycle for the 2006 Comprehensive Plan was initiated in 2009.  After concluding the approval process the amendments officially became effective on April 8, 2011. 

The Comprehensive Plan of the National Capital is comprised of two parts, the District Elements and the Federal Elements. The District's Comprehensive Plan constitutes the District Elements. The National Capital Planning Commission develops the Federal Elements.

The District Elements contain 13 Citywide Elements that provide goals, objectives and policies for land use issues that impact the whole city, e.g. transportation, environment, parks and open space, arts and culture. There are also 10 Area Elements which provide goals, objectives and policies that are specific to geographic areas of the city.

Comprehensive Plan and Supporting Documents

• Volume 1:  Acknowledgements, Introduction and Citywide Elements
• Volume 2:  Area Elements
• Volume 3:  Implementation, Glossary and Index
• Future Land Use Map and Generalized Policy Map
• Progress Report
• Status of Implementation Report

For more information on the Comprehensive Plan please our project team at [email protected].