C-2: Service Commercial-Community Business District Zoning Guide
The Arlington County C-2: Service Commercial-Community Business District is a commercial designation intended to provide for broad-based retail, service, and office uses along principal arterial streets. In Arlington County, the C-2 district generally limits building height to 45 feet and maintains a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.5 for non-residential uses, while allowing for multiple-family residential development through the site plan approval process [§7.17.1, §7.17.4].
Density and Dimensional Standards
All development within the Arlington County C-2 district must comply with the following technical standards. Standards vary depending on whether the property is used for single-family residential or general commercial purposes.
| Standard | One-Family Dwellings | Hotels | All Other Permitted Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 6,000 sq. ft. | -- | -- |
| Minimum Lot Area per Unit | 6,000 sq. ft. | 600 sq. ft. (per sleeping unit) | -- |
| Minimum Lot Width | 60 feet | -- | -- |
| Maximum Height | 35 feet | 45 feet | 45 feet |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | -- | -- | 1.5 |
[Section 7.17.4]
Permitted Uses (By-Right)
The following uses are allowed in the Arlington County C-2 district as a matter of right, provided they meet all applicable supplemental standards:
- Residential: One-family detached dwellings and recovery residences (subject to capacity limits) [§12.2.3.A, §12.3.9].
- Public/Civic: Religious institutions (churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples) [§12.2.4.H].
- Offices: Local government offices, business and professional offices, medical or dental clinics, audio-visual production studios, and research and development facilities (flex) [§12.2.5.C].
- Commercial/Retail: Artisan beverages, artisan workshops, animal boarding, branch banks, and urban agriculture [§12.2.5.G.2, §12.5.31, §12.5.32].
- Industrial/Utilities: Minor utilities and small-cell telecommunications facilities [§12.2.4.K, §12.7.2].
Special Exception Uses
Special exception uses in the C-2 district require either Use Permit (U) approval from the County Board, Site Plan (S) approval, or both (C) [§7.1.2].
Site Plan Approval Required (S)
- Multiple-family dwellings.
- Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities.
- Hotels or motels.
- Restaurants, movie theaters, and indoor recreation facilities.
- Most retail sales (bakeries, drug stores, florists, grocery stores, newsstands).
- Personal services (animal care, athletic clubs, dance studios, dry-cleaning, photocopy services, and tailors).
Use Permit Approval Required (U)
- Colleges and universities.
- Community centers, libraries, museums, and recreation centers.
- Child care centers and all other day care uses.
- Hospitals and social service institutions.
- Cemeteries, country clubs, golf courses, and public parks.
- Bus, trolley, air, or rail passenger terminals.
- Elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Major utilities and publicly-owned parking areas.
- Bed and breakfasts and kiosks.
Combined Site Plan and Use Permit Required (C)
- All outdoor recreation uses (e.g., swimming pools, tennis courts).
- Mortuaries and funeral homes.
- Vehicle sales, rental, or leasing facilities.
- Vehicle service establishments.
Prohibited Uses
The following uses are not permitted within the Arlington County C-2 Service Commercial-Community Business district:
- Residential: Duplexes, semidetached dwellings, townhouses, and boarding or rooming houses [§7.1.2].
- Public: Detention or correctional facilities [§7.1.2].
- Retail: Large-format retail establishments (exceeding 50,000 square feet) [§18.2].
- Industrial: All light and heavy industrial services, including manufacturing, production, wholesale trade, and warehouse/freight movement [§7.1.2, §12.2.6].
- Service: Waste-related services, including solid waste transfer and recycling centers [§7.1.2].
Use Limitations and Conditions
In the Arlington County C-2 district, specific limitations apply to the processing of goods:
- Manufacturing Prohibitions: There shall be no manufacturing, compounding, processing, or treatment of products other than that which is clearly incidental and essential to a retail store or business. Products processed on-site must be sold at retail at these establishments.
- Exemptions: Artisan beverages, artisan workshops, and shared commercial kitchens are exempt from the general manufacturing restrictions [§7.17.6].
- Mechanical Screening: All equipment above the roofline must be screened from view by walls of equal height and similar materials [§15.7.3].
- Environmental Standards: Projects may be eligible for unified development status if they provide significant public benefits such as affordable housing or LEED sustainability measures [§10.2.3].
Sections Cited
- §1.7.1 General Districts
- §7.1.2 Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Principal Use Table
- §7.17.1 C-2 District Purpose
- §7.17.4 C-2 District Density and Dimensional Standards
- §7.17.6 C-2 District Use Limitations
- §10.2.3 Unified Commercial/Mixed Use Development
- §12.2.3 Residential Use Categories
- §12.2.4 Public, Civic and Institutional Use Categories
- §12.2.5 Retail, Service and Commercial Use Categories
- §12.2.6 Industrial Use Categories
- §12.3.9 Recovery Residences
- §12.5.31 Artisan Beverage
- §12.5.32 Artisan Workshop
- §15.7.3 Scope of Review (Historic/Architectural)
- §18.2 General Terms Defined