Adding space in Washington, DC is a zoning puzzle before it’s a construction project — lot occupancy limits, rear-yard setbacks, and historic district review can kill an addition before it starts. Sonny’s Renovations designs home additions in DC that get approved: rear additions, pop-ups, and row house expansions, engineered, permitted, and built by one veteran-owned design-build crew.
Additions we build in the District
- Rear additions — the classic DC row house move: extend the kitchen and add a bath or bedroom above.
- Pop-up additions — a third story or mansard raise where zoning allows, designed to keep the streetscape (and the neighbors) happy.
- Basement dig-outs and cellar conversions — legal ceiling heights, egress, and underpinning done right.
- Garage and carriage house conversions — accessory structures turned into offices, gyms, or rental units.
Zoning and historic review, before you spend big
Every DC addition starts with two questions: what does zoning allow on your lot, and are you in a historic district? We check lot occupancy, setbacks, and height limits in the Discover step — free — and design within them. If your home falls under historic review, we prepare drawings that anticipate the board’s concerns instead of fighting them. Then we handle DOB permits and inspections through completion.
What a DC addition costs
Rear additions on DC row houses commonly run $150,000–$350,000 depending on footprint, stories, and finishes; pop-ups and basement dig-outs are driven heavily by structural scope. Our Budget step gives you a transparent line-item number with financing options before anything is built — and before you’ve overcommitted to a design zoning won’t approve.
DC addition FAQs
Can I add a story to my DC row house?
Often — it depends on your zone’s height limit, whether you’re in a historic district, and what your foundation can carry. We evaluate all three up front, free, before you spend anything on design.
How long do DC permits take for an addition?
Plan on 2–6 months depending on complexity and whether historic review is involved. Because our drawings are made by the team that will build them, revisions move fast.
Do you also work in Maryland?
Yes — we’re based in Fort Washington, MD and build across the DMV. See home additions in Maryland.
Start your DC addition
Free consultation anywhere in Washington, DC. Call (301) 648-3181 or start your project online. Remodeling inside the existing walls instead? See bathroom remodeling in DC.
