The outline on the map delineates the Barracks Row “overlay” created by the Zoning Board where fast food restaurants are technically banned.
Here’s Why There’s a Fast Food “Ban” on Barracks Row
by Larry Janezich
Posted January 12, 2026
DC Board of Zoning regulations ban or restrict fast food outlets on certain commercial corridors like Barracks Row, Georgetown and Ninth Street, NW near the Convention Center. The purpose is to prevent over-concentration and to limit adverse livability issues such as trash, rodents, and traffic. The regulations also provide that restaurants can apply for an exception to the ban.
The application for an exception is first considered by the appropriate ANC during which neighbors have an opportunity for input. The ANC then makes a recommendation to the Board of Zoning: the recommendation is advisory only – ANC stands for Advisory Neighborhood Commission.
The regulations state a number of criteria for the ANC to consider regarding whether the applicant is a fast food outlet and needs an exemption, including payment before eating, disposable tableware, production line food preparation, and pre-prepared food.
During consideration of the application, the ANC will often require the restaurant to agree to a “Settlement Agreement” on the outlet’s operational procedures regarding trash, rodent, and odor management as well of hours of operation, as the price of their support. The ANC can protest the exemption if a Settlement Agreement is not reached, which can result in an administrative delay, sometimes for months. In the final analysis, however, a restaurant is whatever the Board of Zoning or Board of Zoning Adjustment decides it is.
ANC6B has recently begun planning to hold a Barracks Row stakeholders’ roundtable to discuss ways to promote economic diversity. That issue has been discussed periodically on Barracks Row since at least 2012. Taco Bell recently received an exception and opened the first week of 2026 – Popeyes has received an exception to open next door – and WingStop across the street has an application pending before ANC6B. All three are on the 400 block of 8th Street, SE, Barracks Row which already hosts the fast food spot Boli Pizza and the less restricted “fast-casual” outlets like &Pizza, Ledo Pizza, Dunkin’, Chiko, Chipotle, Maman Joon’s Kitchen, and Union Kitchen.
In addition to some corridors and Zoning Board overlay areas, fast food outlets are banned in MU-4, MU-17, MU-24, MU-25, MU-26, MU-27 Zones.Here’s DC’s Zoning Map: https://maps.dcoz.dc.gov/HistoricZoning/
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
The Barrack Row hostility to fast food eateries, cheered on by Capitol Hill Corner, is in reality an effort to discourage the working class and the less fortunate — that is, the many hued — from being seen on 8th St. SE.
Rodents have nothing to do with it. They don’t care whose dumpster they dive, Rose’s Luxury or Taco Bell. Why should we. Dunkin’ Donuts is on the Capitol hill Corner’s hit list. Good grief. Do you know who patronizes the cafe? Bus drivers, police officers, students, nannies, medical workers — the salt of the earth.
Fortunately, this being DC the ban is a feckless effort since the exceptions to the ban are legion.
Put me in the “pro Popeyes” camp as well. A business creating jobs and selling food, while not occupying a residence (unlike so many lobbying organizations in our neighborhood) is a good thing. Yes rats and trash are a problem, but those problems can be tackled.
“Yes rats and trash are a problem, but those problems can be tackled.” Can they? And who will be tackling them exactly? Are you volunteering?
let’s leave the fight for working class and the less fortunate for another day…I can see how the word “luxury” in Rose’s Luxury could be distracting especially when viewing from a soapbox… 8th street used to have retail (clothing, home goods, furniture), childcare and play areas, gift and book shops, pastry and coffee, and gathering places… assuming that “salt of the earth” people do not need any of these services and will be happy with tobacco and taco bell is condescending to say the least…
as for rodents and their preferences, tell me that you don’t know what you are talking about without saying so…
If requiring prepayment is the definition of “fast food,” then Pineapple & Pearls is a fast food restaurant.
I agree with the ‘don’t like fast food, don’t eat it’ camp and respect the role of affordable options even if I don’t frequent them. Conversely, there’s little attraction to a commercial district over-run with fast food outlets. Every business should address issues impacting commons like trash, noise, etc