In Washington, D.C., the obscure Height of Buildings Act of 1910 bans buildings taller than the Capitol dome (288 feet) – the seat of the United States Congress –  to preserve its status as the capital’s dominant symbol.

Still enforced in 2025, this law keeps skyscrapers at bay, giving the city its unique, open skyline, unlike New York or Chicago.

Rare exceptions exist for antennas, but real estate developers often fume over this restriction.