C-1-R Restricted Local Commercial Zoning: Allowed and Prohibited Uses in Arlington County

The C-1-R Restricted Local Commercial District in Arlington County is designed to maintain small-scale commercial pockets within predominantly residential areas, focusing primarily on personal services and limited retail. Commercial activity in Arlington County's C-1-R district is strictly regulated, generally requiring that all business be conducted within enclosed buildings and capping the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) at 0.6 for non-residential uses [Section 7.6.1, Section 7.6.3.A].

Purpose and Intent of the C-1-R Designation

The primary purpose of the C-1-R: Restricted Local Commercial District is to recognize and allow for the continuation of existing commercial development in isolated Arlington County locations. The designation aims to provide local residents with convenient access to personal services while minimizing the physical and operational impacts of these businesses on the surrounding residential character [Section 7.6.1].

Density and Dimensional Standards

Arlington County mandates specific physical constraints for the C-1-R district to ensure that commercial structures remain compatible with residential scales.

Type of Standard	One-Family Dwelling	All Other Allowed Uses
Minimum Lot Area	6,000 sq. ft.	N/A
Minimum Lot Width (Average)	60 feet	N/A
Maximum Height	35 feet	35 feet
Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)	N/A	0.6

[Section 7.6.3.A]

Allowed Principal Uses

Uses within the Arlington County C-1-R district are classified as either permitted by-right (P) or requiring a special exception via a Use Permit (U).

Residential and Institutional Uses

One-Family Detached Dwellings: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, and Temples: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Fire and Police Stations: Requires a Use Permit (U) [Section 7.1.2].
Hospitals: Requires a Use Permit (U) [Section 7.1.2].
Schools (Elementary, Middle, and High): Requires a Use Permit (U) [Section 7.1.2].
Recovery Residences: Permitted by-right or by Use Permit depending on the number of residents [Section 7.1.2].

Retail and Food Establishments

Restaurants and Artisan Beverage: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Bakeries, Drug Stores, and Florists: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Grocery Stores (Standard and Convenience): Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Meat/Fish Markets and Delicatessens: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Newsstands and Micro-fulfillment Centers: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].

Personal Service and Repair

Artisan Workshops: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Barbershops and Beauty Parlors: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Branch Banks: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].
Dry-cleaning and Laundromats: Permitted by-right (P), provided they use synthetic, nonflammable solvents and do not serve other retail branches [Section 7.1.2, Section 12.5.6].
Tailors, Milliners, and Shoe Repair: Permitted by-right (P) [Section 7.1.2].

Uses Requiring Special Exceptions

Medical or Dental Offices/Clinics: Requires a Use Permit (U) [Section 7.1.2].
Bed and Breakfasts: Requires a Use Permit (U) [Section 7.1.2].
Open-Air Markets and Urban Agriculture: Requires a Use Permit (U) [Section 7.1.2].

Prohibited Uses and Limitations

To protect Arlington County neighborhoods, the C-1-R district explicitly prohibits several categories of high-intensity or industrial use.

Explicit Prohibitions

Industry and Manufacturing: Generally prohibited, except for the crafting of items intended solely for retail sale on the same premises [Section 7.6.5.A].
Livestock Processing: The killing of poultry or livestock is strictly forbidden [Section 7.6.5.A].
Wholesaling: No wholesaling or jobbing activities may be conducted within the C-1-R district [Section 7.6.5.A].
Commercial Storage: Storing merchandise other than that sold at retail at the establishment is prohibited [Section 7.6.5.A].
Vehicle Sales and Service: This category is not listed as an allowed use in the C-1-R column of the principal use table [Section 7.1.2].

Operational Restrictions

All business in the Arlington County C-1-R district must be conducted entirely within an enclosed building. The only exceptions to this rule are:

Outdoor Cafes: Which must be accessory to an allowed food establishment [Section 7.6.5.B, Section 12.9.15].
Kiosks: Which may have limited outdoor displays of up to 20 square feet [Section 104, Section 12.5.12].
Short-Term Uses: As permitted under the county's temporary use standards [Section 7.6.5.B].

Accessory Uses

Accessory uses allowed in the C-1-R district must remain clearly incidental to the primary commercial or residential use. These include family day care homes, home occupations, and accessory homestays (all permitted by-right), as well as accessory telecommunications facilities and crematoriums, which require Use Permits [Section 7.1.3].

Sections Cited

Section 7.1.2: Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Principal Use Table
Section 7.1.3: Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Accessory Use Table
Section 7.6.1: C-1-R, Restricted Local Commercial District Purpose
Section 7.6.3: Density and Dimensional Standards
Section 7.6.5: Use Limitations
Section 12.5.6: Dry-cleaning, laundry and laundromats Use Standards
Section 12.5.12: Kiosks Use Standards
Section 12.9.15: Outdoor Cafés Use Standards
Section 18.2: General Terms Defined