Arlington County Zoning for Breweries, Taprooms, and Micro-Distilleries
In Arlington County, breweries and micro-distilleries are classified as "Artisan Beverage" facilities and are permitted by-right in most commercial, industrial, and mixed-use districts. These establishments must be conducted entirely within an enclosed building, are capped at 20,000 square feet of gross floor area, and must dedicate at least five percent of their floor area to on-site retail sales or consumption (taprooms).
Permitted Zoning Districts
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance allows "Artisan Beverage" uses (which explicitly include breweries, distilleries, wineries, cideries, meaderies, kombucha brewers, and hard seltzer producers) in the following districts:
By-Right Permissions (P)
Establishments are permitted by-right in these districts, meaning they may be approved administratively if they meet all standard requirements [Section 4.1.2, Section 8.1.2]:
- Commercial/Mixed Use Districts: R-C, RA-H-3.2, C-1-R, C-1, C-O-1.0, C-O-1.5, C-O-2.5, C-O, C-O-A, C-O Rosslyn, C-O Crystal City, C-2, C-TH, C-3, and C-R [Section 7.1.2].
- Industrial Districts: CM, M-1, and M-2 [Section 8.1.2].
- Form Based Code Districts: CP-FBC (Columbia Pike Form Based Code) [Section 11.1.5].
Site Plan Approval Required (S)
In the RA4.8 (Multiple-Family Dwelling) district, artisan beverage uses require site plan approval from the Arlington County Board [Section 7.1.2].
District Permission Summary
| District Category | Districts Allowing By-Right (P) | Districts Requiring Site Plan (S) |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | R-C, RA-H-3.2, C-1-R, C-1, C-O variants, C-2, C-TH, C-3, C-R | RA4.8 |
| Industrial | CM, M-1, M-2 | None |
| Other | CP-FBC | None |
Artisan Beverage Use Standards
All artisan beverage facilities in Arlington County must adhere to specific performance and size standards to remain in compliance with the zoning code [Section 12.5.31]:
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Building Enclosure | All production activities must be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building. |
| Outdoor Storage | Outdoor storage of any production materials is strictly prohibited. |
| Retail / Taproom Area | A minimum of 5% of the gross floor area must be used for retail sales or on-site consumption of beverages created on-site (unless the space has no direct pedestrian access to the street). |
| Maximum Size | The maximum gross floor area for a single facility is 20,000 square feet. |
| Distribution | Off-site distribution is permitted provided that all loading occurs on-site. |
| Fulfillment | All fulfillment and delivery activities must occur within the building or on-site. |
Definitions
Arlington County defines these uses under the term Artisan Beverage:
"A facility or firm that creates, brews, ferments, or distills beer, wine, cider, distilled spirits or other similar alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, for on-premises consumption and small-scale packaging, distribution, and retail sales." [Section 18.2]
Sections Cited
- Section 7.1.2: Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 8.1.2: Industrial (M) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 11.1.5: Columbia Pike Form Based Code District Principal Use Table
- Section 12.5.31: Artisan Beverage Use Standards
- Section 18.2: General Terms Defined (Artisan Beverage)