Arlington County R2-7 District Setback Requirements
In the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District of Arlington County, residential structures must generally be set back 25 feet from any street right-of-way line, although this distance may be reduced to the average of existing setbacks on the same block. Side yards for one- and two-family dwellings must be at least 10 feet, with one side allowed a minimum of 8 feet, provided the total aggregate width of both side yards equals at least 30 percent of the lot width. Dwellings on interior lots within the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District are further required to maintain a minimum rear yard setback of 25 feet from the rear lot line.
Primary Setback and Yard Requirements
The R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District follows the bulk and placement regulations established in Article 3 of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance unless specifically modified by district-specific standards in Article 5 [§5.9.3.C].
| Structure Type | Front Setback (Street) | Side Setback (Minimum) | Rear Setback (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Family Detached | 25 feet [§3.2.6.A.1(e)] | 10 feet (8 feet on one side) [§3.2.6.A.2(b)] | 25 feet (Interior lots) [§3.2.6.A.2(b)] |
| Two-Family (Duplex/Semidetached) | 25 feet [§3.2.6.A.1(e)] | 10 feet (8 feet on one side) [§3.2.6.A.2(b)] | 25 feet (Interior lots) [§3.2.6.A.2(b)] |
| Townhouse Dwellings | 25 feet [§3.2.6.A.1(d)] | 10 feet + height adjustment* [§3.2.6.A.2(e)] | 25 feet [§5.9.4.A.1(e)] |
*Note: For "other residential" buildings like townhouses, the side yard is 10 feet plus one additional foot for every 2.5 feet of building height above 25 feet [§3.2.6.A.2(e)].
Front Setback Regulations
In Arlington County, the front setback for one-family, two-family, and expanded housing option developments in the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District is subject to specific measurement rules:
Averaging and Minimums
The required 25-foot distance from the street right-of-way line to the front wall of a structure may be reduced to the average of the distances of existing structures located on the same frontage. However, the absolute minimum distance allowed is 15 feet. For properties with a parking garage, the structure must be located at least 18 feet from the street right-of-way line [§3.2.6.A.1(e)].
Building Height Limit
No residential structure located within 25 feet of a street right-of-way line in the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District may exceed 2.5 stories in height [§3.2.6.A.1(e)(3)].
Side and Rear Yard Standards
Arlington County mandates specific yard depths to ensure adequate light, air, and separation between dwellings in the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District.
Side Yard Aggregate Rule
For one- and two-family dwellings, the aggregate width of both side yards must be at least 30 percent of the required width of the lot. For the purpose of these regulations, a semidetached dwelling (a single structure containing two units on two lots with a common wall) is considered as one building occupying one lot [§3.2.6.A.2(b), §3.2.6.A.2(f)].
Townhouse Specifics
Townhouse projects in the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District must adhere to the following additional placement standards:
- Rear Yard: Every townhouse unit must have a rear yard of at least 25 feet [§5.9.4.A.1(e)].
- Access Easements: If a townhouse dwelling is subdivided to a common access easement, it must be set back at least 10 feet from that easement [§5.9.4.A.1(f)].
- Grouping Limits: No grouping of townhouse units may exceed 180 feet in length [§5.9.4.A.1(b)].
Permitted Encroachments
Certain architectural features are permitted to extend into the required setbacks in the R2-7: Two-family and Townhouse Dwelling District:
- Windows and Chimneys: Bay windows, oriel windows (without floor space), and chimneys may encroach 18 inches into required yards [§3.2.6.A.3(a)(1)].
- Unenclosed Features: Balconies, eaves, decks, patios, and stoops may encroach up to four feet into required yards, provided they remain at least five feet from any property line [§3.2.6.A.3(a)(3)].
- Porches: On interior lots, porches may encroach four feet into the required front and rear yards, provided they are no closer than 21 feet to any street right-of-way line [§3.2.6.A.3(a)(4)].
Sections Cited
- §3.1.9 Setbacks and yards
- §3.2.6 Placement
- §5.9 R2-7, Two-Family and Townhouse Dwelling District
- §10.4.6 Site development standards (Expanded Housing Option)
- §18.2 General Terms Defined