health and fitness establishments

General Definition A “health and fitness establishment” is any establishment that is equipped and arranged to provide instruction, services, or activities which improve or affect a person’s physical condition by physical exercise or provide relaxation services. Health and fitness establishments include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) establishments containing high-intensity uses, including: (1) gymnasiums where the predominant use of floor space involves the use of exercise equipment or weights; or (2) gymnasiums and other indoor recreation establishments used for activities, including basketball, martial arts for adults, handball, paddleball, racquetball, squash, tennis, rock climbing, soccer, or volleyball; (b) other establishments used for exercises including aerobics, exercise dance, youth martial arts, Pilates, or yoga studios; and (c) therapeutic or relaxation service establishments including tanning salons, spas, bathhouses, isolation flotation tanks, or meditation facilities. Establishments containing high-intensity uses listed above are subject to the supplemental use regulations of paragraph (c)(2) of Section 32-163 and of Section 123-33, as applicable. For “physical culture or health establishments” existing on December 9, 2021, that were allowed pursuant to special permit by the Board of Standards and Appeals, such establishments may continue under the terms and conditions established at approval and may continue after the expiration of such special permit, provided that such establishment is not enlarged, expanded, or otherwise changed in a manner that deviates from the approved establishment. As an alternative, a “physical culture or health establishment” existing on December 9, 2021, may continue pursuant to the applicable provisions for health and fitness establishments, and may enlarge, expand, or change the range of activities therein, in accordance with the District regulations, provided that any applicable supplemental use regulations are met.