Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the R15-30T Townhouse Dwelling District
In Arlington County, the R15-30T district allows one-family detached dwellings by-right with a minimum lot area of 5,000 square feet, while townhouse and semidetached projects require special exception site plan approval to reach densities of 16 to 30 units per acre. Most commercial, retail, and industrial activities are strictly prohibited within this residential designation, with the exception of specific institutional uses like schools and places of worship which may be allowed via use permits.
Overview of the R15-30T District
The R15-30T: Townhouse Dwelling District in Arlington County is designed to provide for low-rise, one-family townhouse developments primarily within designated Metro Transit Corridors. The district serves as an essential transition zone between high-density commercial or residential areas and lower-density one-family or two-family neighborhoods [Section 5.8.1]. Arlington County regulations for the R15-30T district emphasize the preservation of existing dwellings and the architectural integration of new projects into the surrounding neighborhood context [Section 5.8.1].
Permitted Principal Uses
Arlington County classifies uses in the R15-30T district as either "Permitted" (P), which are allowed by-right; "Special Exception" (U or S), which require a use permit or site plan approval; or "Prohibited" (blank cells in the use table) [Section 5.1.2].
Residential and Institutional Use Table
The following table details the status of various use types within the R15-30T district in Arlington County:
| Use Category | Specific Use Type | Permission Status |
|---|---|---|
| Household Living | One-family detached | Permitted (P) |
| Townhouse, semidetached, one-family and stacked units | Site Plan (S) | |
| Recovery residence | Permitted (P) or Use Permit (U) | |
| Group Living | Dormitories, Group homes, Fraternity/Sorority houses | Use Permit (U) |
| Public/Civic | Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples | Permitted (P) |
| Schools (Elementary, Middle, High), Colleges, Universities | Use Permit (U) | |
| Community centers, Libraries, Museums, Art galleries | Use Permit (U) | |
| Child care centers, Hospitals, Social service institutions | Use Permit (U) | |
| Parks, playgrounds, and playfields | Use Permit (U) | |
| Commercial | Membership clubs and lodges | Use Permit (U) |
| Bed and breakfasts | Use Permit (U) | |
| Offices (Federal, State, and Local) | Use Permit (U) | |
| Open-air markets | Use Permit (U) | |
| Industrial | All agricultural uses | Permitted (P) |
| Telecommunications facilities | Permitted (P) or Use Permit (U) |
[Section 5.1.2]
Accessory and Transitional Uses
Arlington County allows certain secondary uses within the R15-30T district, provided they are incidental to a lawful principal use.
Accessory and Transitional Use Table
| Use Type | Classification | Permission Status |
|---|---|---|
| Accessory | Accessory dwellings, Family day care homes | Permitted (P) |
| Home occupations, Accessory homestay, Guest house | Permitted (P) | |
| Private swimming pools, Recreational vehicle parking | Permitted (P) | |
| Commercial vehicle parking | Permitted (P) or Use Permit (U) | |
| Mortuaries and funeral homes, Crematoriums | Use Permit (U) | |
| Transitional | Duplexes or Semidetached (on transitional sites) | Use Permit (U) or Site Plan (S) |
| Medical/Dental offices (in existing one-family detached) | Permitted (P) or Site Plan (S) | |
| Transitional parking areas | Use Permit (U) |
[Section 5.1.3, Section 5.1.4]
Prohibited Uses in the R15-30T District
Under Arlington County zoning laws, any use not explicitly marked with a "P," "U," or "S" in the district use table is prohibited [Section 5.1.2.D]. Prohibited uses in the R15-30T district include, but are not limited to:
- Retail and Personal Service: Bakeries, drug stores, grocery stores, animal boarding, dry-cleaning plants, and standard retail shops [Section 5.1.2].
- Automotive: Vehicle sales, rental, leasing, service establishments, and body shops [Section 5.1.2].
- Industrial: Light industrial services, manufacturing, heavy industrial uses, and warehouse/freight movement [Section 5.1.2].
- Entertainment: Movie theaters, indoor/outdoor recreation (except as specifically noted for institutional properties), and amusement parlors [Section 5.1.2].
Density and Dimensional Standards
Development in the R15-30T district must adhere to specific bulk and placement requirements established by Arlington County.
| Standard Type | Requirement for One-Family | Requirement for Townhouse/Other |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 5,000 sq. ft. | 5,000 sq. ft. (By-right) |
| Minimum Lot Width | 50 feet | 20-75 feet (Special Exception) |
| Maximum Height | 35 feet | 35 feet (By-right) or 45 feet (Special) |
| Density (Units/Acre) | N/A | 16 - 30 units per acre |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 45% (or 48% with porch) | Per Site Plan |
[Section 5.8.3, Section 3.2.5.A]
Sections Cited
- Article 3. Density and Dimensional Standards
- Section 3.2.5. Coverage
- Article 5. Residential (R) Districts
- Section 5.1.2. Residential (R) districts principal use table
- Section 5.1.3. Residential (R) districts transitional use table
- Section 5.1.4. Residential (R) districts accessory use table
- Section 5.8.1. R15-30T, Townhouse Dwelling District Purpose
- Section 5.8.3. R15-30T Density and dimensional standards
- Section 5.8.5. R15-30T Site development standards
- Section 14.3.7. Required parking and standing space