C-O-1.0 Mixed Use District Setback Requirements in Arlington County
In the Arlington County C-O-1.0 Mixed Use district, the standard front setback is 40 feet from the centerline of any street. No side or rear yards are required by default; however, if a structure in the C-O-1.0 district contains windows or abuts a residential (R or RA) district, the setback must be at least 8 feet for the first 10 feet of building height, increasing by 2 feet for every additional 10 feet of height.
Primary Setback Standards for C-O-1.0
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance establishes that the C-O-1.0 district must adhere to general placement and bulk requirements found in Article 3 unless specific exceptions are provided within the district's primary regulations [§7.10.3.C]. Because the C-O-1.0 district rules do not define unique setbacks, the following general standards for commercial districts in Arlington County apply:
| Setback Category | Minimum Requirement for C-O-1.0 District |
|---|---|
| Front Setback (from Street) | 40 feet from the centerline of the street [§3.2.6.A.1(a)] |
| Side Yard (Standard) | None required [§3.2.6.A.2(a)] |
| Rear Yard (Standard) | None required [§3.2.6.A.2(a)] |
| Side/Rear Yard (Abutting R or RA) | 8 feet for the first 10 feet of building height, plus 2 feet for every additional 10 feet (or fraction thereof) of building height [§3.2.6.A.2(a)] |
| Side/Rear Yard (with windows) | 8 feet for the first 10 feet of building height, plus 2 feet for every additional 10 feet (or fraction thereof) of building height [§3.2.6.A.2(a)] |
Detailed Placement Regulations
Front Setbacks from Streets
In Arlington County, the C-O-1.0 district is classified among the commercial districts (excepting C-1, C-1-O, C-1-R, and C-O) that require a setback of no less than 40 feet from the centerline of any street or officially designated street right-of-way [§3.2.6.A.1(a)]. The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance specifies that for the purpose of determining these setbacks, a limited access highway is treated as an abutting lot rather than a street [§3.2.6.A.1].
Side and Rear Yard Exceptions
While the standard side and rear yard requirements for the C-O-1.0 Mixed Use district are zero, specific building characteristics or neighboring conditions trigger mandatory setbacks in Arlington County [§3.2.6.A.2(a)]:
- Abutting Residential Districts: If any wall of a structure in the C-O-1.0 district is on a lot line that abuts an R (One-Family Residential) or RA (Multiple-Family Residential) district, a setback is required based on the building's height.
- Openings and Windows: If a wall contains windows or openings (regardless of whether they can be opened), the height-based setback must be observed.
- Height-Based Calculation: The required distance is 8 feet for the initial 10 feet of building height. For every additional 10 feet of height (or fraction of 10 feet), an additional 2 feet of setback must be added [§3.2.6.A.2(a)].
Related Placement Provisions
- Encroachments: Certain architectural features such as bay windows, chimneys, and balconies are permitted to encroach into required yards by up to 18 inches or 4 feet depending on the feature type and location [§3.2.6.A.3].
- Visual Clearance: On corner lots within the C-O-1.0 district, Arlington County prohibits buildings or obstructions between a height of one foot and 10 feet higher than the curb level within the sight triangle (10 feet from the intersection of street right-of-way lines) [§3.2.6.A.4(b)].
Sections Cited
- §3.2.6. Placement
- §3.2.6.A.1. Setbacks from any street
- §3.2.6.A.2. Side and rear yards
- §3.2.6.A.3. Encroachments allowed into required yards and courts
- §3.2.6.A.4. Visual clearance (corners)
- §7.10. C-O-1.0, Mixed Use District
- §7.10.3. Density and dimensional standards