• By Bsrat Mezghebe
• January 24, 2023

Resource Guide: Foreign Missions in Washington

Washington, DC is home to the foreign missions of 180 countries and entities. We’ve written a resource guide that explains the various authorities and agreements NCPC uses to review missions on federal and private land, and this blog shares highlights from the guide.

Foreign missions are vital to the United States’ foreign policy objectives, including helping to promote peace and stability, and bringing nations together to address global challenges. The United States has an international obligation to help foreign governments and global organizations obtain suitable locations, which support the functioning of diplomatic activities and relationships. Mission types include the ambassador's residence and the chancery, which houses the mission’s principal offices.

The Foreign Missions Act of 1982 reaffirms the federal government’s jurisdiction over the operations of these missions and upholds a policy of support for the secure and efficient operation of foreign missions and international organizations in the United States. The act also establishes the review process for development of foreign missions on private land in Washington, which is led by the District of Columbia Foreign Mission Board of Zoning Adjustment, which includes representatives from NCPC and the National Park Service.

With regards to federal land, there are two chancery enclaves: the International Chancery Center (ICC), located at Van Ness Street and Connecticut Avenue, NW, and the Foreign Missions Center (FMC), located at 16th Street and Alaska Avenue, NW on the grounds of the former Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The International Center Act of 1968 guides NCPC review of foreign missions at the ICC, while a Memorandum of Agreement, signed in 2017 between the Department of State and NCPC, guides Commission review of foreign missions at the FMC.

The resource guide offers more information on these processes and the relevant legislation. NCPC encourages applicants to use the guide to better understand the review process and decision-making criteria when preparing their site plans and submissions.

Foreign Missions Resource Guide Legislative Authority Embassies Topics Page