Marquees are permanent architectural elements traditionally associated with and only appropriate for larger buildings of a public or semi-public nature, such as apartment houses, hotels, department stores, theaters, and office buildings. Marquees provide shelter, weather protection, and architectural embellishment, and can also include identifying signage at the building entrance.
Unlike an awning or canopy, a marquee is a more permanent architectural element applied to a building. Adding a marquee to a historic building is usually not appropriate if one never existed, but a marquee is often appropriate for large-scale new construction in a historic district. A marquee may be appropriate for a larger building but is generally not appropriate for a smaller building or single-family house.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-C2518