Arlington County RA6-15 Multiple-family Dwelling District Zoning Guide
Arlington County's RA6-15 district primarily facilitates multiple-family residential development with a standard density limit of 900 square feet of lot area per dwelling unit. While residential uses like townhouses and apartments are generally allowed by-right, most public and institutional uses require a special exception use permit from the Arlington County Board. Commercial and industrial uses are strictly prohibited within the RA6-15 designation unless specifically allowed as accessory or transitional functions.
Principal Use Permissions in RA6-15
Uses in the RA6-15 district are categorized as permitted by-right (P), requiring a special exception use permit (U), or requiring site plan approval (S). If a cell in the official use table is blank, that specific use is prohibited in the RA6-15 district [Section 6.1.2].
Residential Use Categories
| Specific Use Type | RA6-15 Permission | Use Standard Reference |
|---|---|---|
| One-family detached | P | §12.3.10 |
| Duplexes | P / S | — |
| Semidetached | P / S | — |
| Multiple-family | P | — |
| Townhouses | P | — |
| Townhouses (Housing Conservation District) | S | §12.3.8 |
| Townhouses (Langston Boulevard District) | S | §12.3.8 |
| Independent living facilities | S | §12.3.12 |
| Recovery residence | P / U | §12.3.9 |
Group Living Use Categories
| Specific Use Type | RA6-15 Permission | Use Standard Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living facilities | S | §12.3.12 |
| Boarding houses and rooming houses | — (Prohibited) | §12.3.1 |
| Continuing care retirement communities | S | §12.3.12 |
| Dormitories | U | §12.3.3 |
| Fraternity and sorority houses | U | §12.3.5 |
| Group homes | U | §12.3.6 |
| Nursing homes | S | §12.3.12 |
Public, Civic, and Institutional Use Categories
| Specific Use Type | RA6-15 Permission | Use Standard Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | U | — |
| Community centers | U | — |
| Community swimming pool | U | §12.4.8 |
| Hospitals | U | §12.4.2 |
| Parks, playgrounds, and playfields | U | — |
| Religious Institutions (Churches, etc.) | P | — |
| Schools (Elementary, middle, and high) | U | §12.4.1 |
| All other day care uses | U | — |
| All major utilities | U | §12.4.9 |
| Minor utilities (except bus shelters/bike stations) | P | §12.4.9 |
Prohibited Uses in the RA6-15 District
In Arlington County, any use not explicitly marked with a P, U, or S in the RA6-15 column is prohibited [Section 6.1.2.D]. Prohibited activities in the RA6-15 district include, but are not limited to:
- Commercial/Retail: All food establishments (restaurants, bakeries), retail sales (grocery stores, drug stores, nurseries), and vehicle sales/service are prohibited as principal uses [Section 6.1.2].
- Industrial: All light and heavy industrial services, manufacturing, production, and warehouse/freight movement uses are prohibited [Section 6.1.2].
- Office: All general office uses are prohibited, though federal, state, or local government offices and medical clinics may be allowed specifically by use permit (U) [Section 6.1.2].
- Transient Lodging: Standard hotels and motels are prohibited, though bed and breakfasts may be allowed by use permit [Section 6.1.2].
Density and Dimensional Standards for RA6-15
Arlington County enforces specific physical requirements for developments within the RA6-15 district to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.
| Type of Standard | One-Family Dwelling | Multiple-Family Dwellings | All Other Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | 6,000 | 7,500 | 5,000 |
| Minimum Lot Area per Unit (sq. ft.) | 6,000 | 900 | 5,000 |
| Minimum Average Lot Width (ft.) | 60 | 75 | 50 |
| Maximum Height (feet) | 35 | 60 | 35 |
| Maximum Height (stories) | — | 6 | — |
Note: By site plan approval, dwellings in Arlington County RA6-15 may be increased to a height not to exceed 12 stories or 125 feet, excluding mechanical penthouses [Section 6.5.5.D.1(c)].
Accessory and Transitional Uses
Arlington County allows certain accessory uses by-right or by permit when they are subordinate to a principal RA6-15 use.
- By-Right Accessory Uses: Home occupations, accessory homestays, family day care homes, private swimming pools, and routine vehicle maintenance [Section 6.1.4].
- Permitted Transitional Uses: On transitional sites (lots within 200 feet of a commercial or industrial district), Arlington County may allow duplexes, semidetached units, or medical offices via a special exception use permit [Section 6.1.3].
Sections Cited
- Section 6.1. Multiple-family (RA) Districts Use Tables
- Section 6.1.2. Multiple-family (RA) districts principal use table
- Section 6.1.3. Residential apartment (RA) districts transitional use table
- Section 6.1.4. Multiple-family (RA) districts accessory use table
- Section 6.5. RA6-15, Multiple-family Dwelling District
- Section 6.5.5. Density and dimensional standards
- Section 12.3. Residential Use Standards
- Section 12.4. Public and Civic Use Standards
- Section 14.3. Parking and Loading