Guide to Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the C-R: Commercial Redevelopment District
The Arlington County C-R: Commercial Redevelopment District is a mixed-use designation designed to encourage medium-density development near Metrorail stations, featuring a blend of high-density office, retail, and residential uses. In this Arlington County district, one-family dwellings, restaurants, and professional offices are permitted by-right (P), while high-density multiple-family developments require site plan approval (S) and generally must not exceed a base density of 3.0 F.A.R. unless specific preservation or residential bonuses are applied [Section 7.20.1, Section 7.20.3].
Permitted and Conditional Uses in the C-R District
The following tables categorize the status of various land uses within the Arlington County C-R district. Use permissions are coded as follows:
- P (Permitted): Allowed by-right.
- U (Use Permit): Requires a special exception use permit.
- S (Site Plan): Requires site plan approval.
- C (Use Permit and Site Plan): Requires both use permit and site plan approval.
- Blank: Not permitted [Section 7.1.2].
Residential Uses
| Specific Use Type | C-R District Status | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| One-family detached | P | |
| Multiple-family | S | |
| Independent living facilities | S | §12.3.12 |
| Recovery residence | U | §12.3.9 |
| Assisted living facilities | S | §12.3.12 |
| 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 Uses
| Specific Use Type | C-R District Status | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples | P | |
| Colleges and universities | U | |
| Community centers | U | |
| Community swimming pool | U | §12.4.8 |
| Child care centers | U | §12.4.1 |
| All other day care uses | U | |
| Fire and police stations | U | |
| Hospitals | U | §12.4.2 |
| Libraries | U | |
| Museums and art galleries or studios | U | |
| Parks, playgrounds and playfields | U | |
| Schools, elementary, middle, or high | U | §12.4.1 |
| Major utilities | U | §12.4.9 |
| Minor utilities (Bus shelters, bike share) | U | |
| All other minor utilities | P | §12.4.9 |
Retail, Service, and Commercial Uses
| Specific Use Type | C-R District Status | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Artisan beverage | P | §12.5.31 |
| Restaurants | P | |
| Hotels or motels | P | §12.5.11 |
| Offices (Professional, Medical, Business) | P | §12.5.16 |
| Retail sales (General, Grocery, Drug store) | P | |
| Financial services | P | |
| Movie or other theaters | P | |
| Shared commercial kitchen | P | §12.5.34 |
| Artisan workshop | P | §12.5.32 |
| Animal boarding | P | §12.5.2 |
| Upholstery shops | S | §12.5.26 |
| Pawnshop | S | |
| Vehicle sales, rental, or leasing facilities | C | §12.5.29 |
| Vehicle service establishment | U | §12.5.28 |
| Kiosks | U | §12.5.12 |
| Outdoor swimming pool (commercial) | C |
Industrial and Other Uses
| Specific Use Type | C-R District Status | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Solid waste transfer | U | |
| Recycling centers | U | |
| All agricultural uses | P | §12.7.1 |
| Telecommunications facilities | U | §12.7.2 |
| Small cell or micro-wireless facilities | P |
Prohibited Uses in the C-R District
Arlington County explicitly prohibits any use in the C-R district that is not specifically listed with a permission code (P, U, S, or C) in the principal use table. Based on the documentation, prohibited uses in the C-R district include, but are not limited to:
- Animal shelters.
- Heavy industrial uses (e.g., asphalt processing, concrete batching, wrecking/salvage yards).
- Warehouse and freight movement (except as may be incidental to a permitted use).
- Wholesale trade establishments.
- Most light industrial services (e.g., carpet cleaning plants, welding shops, woodworking).
- Large-format retail (defined as 50,000+ sq. ft. on one level).
- Fuel stations (unless classified as a vehicle service establishment and granted a use permit).
Development and Density Standards
Redevelopment in the Arlington County C-R district is subject to specific bulk and density requirements to ensure compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.
| Standard Type | One-family Dwelling | Other Residential | Hotel | All Other Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | 6,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Minimum Lot Width (ft.) | 60 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Maximum Height (ft.) | 35 | 55* | 55* | 55* |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | N/A | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
*Note: Height may be increased by one foot for every three feet beyond 165 feet from an R or RA district, up to a maximum of 110 feet [Section 7.20.3.B].
Accessory Use Standards
In the Arlington County C-R district, accessory uses such as family day care homes, home occupations, and private swimming pools are permitted by-right. However, several other accessory uses require a use permit (U), including crematoriums, drive-through facilities, and outdoor cafes [Section 7.1.3].
Sections Cited
- Article 7. Commercial/ Mixed Use (C) Districts
- Section 7.1. Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Use Tables
- Section 7.20. C-R, Commercial Redevelopment District
- Section 10.2. Unified Commercial/Mixed Use Development
- Section 12.2. Use Categories
- Section 12.3. Residential Use Standards
- Section 12.4. Public and Civic Use Standards
- Section 12.5. Commercial/Mixed Use Standards
- Section 12.7. Other Use Standards
- Section 14.3. Parking and Loading