Guide to the C-3: General Commercial District in Arlington County
In Arlington County, the C-3: General Commercial district is designed for high-intensity retail and commercial development, offering greater density and height than lower-intensity commercial zones. The district permits a broad range of uses including one-family dwellings, hotels (at 75 feet in height), and specific light industrial operations such as plumbing or sheet metal shops. Most commercial developments in the C-3: General Commercial district require a minimum of 10 percent of the total site area to be dedicated to landscaped open space [§7.19.1, §7.19.5, §7.19.6].
Purpose of the C-3 District
The primary purpose of the C-3: General Commercial district is to accommodate the retail categories found in the C-1 and C-2 districts while providing for additional density, height, and intensity of use. This Arlington County district is intended to support major commercial activity centers and regional shopping needs [§7.19.1].
Permitted Land Uses
The C-3: General Commercial district allows for a mixture of residential, public, and high-intensity commercial activities. Permitted uses are categorized as "By-Right" (P), requiring only administrative approval, or "Special Exception" (U or S), requiring use permits or site plan approval from the Arlington County Board.
Residential and Public Uses
| Use Type | Permission Status | Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| One-family Detached Dwelling | By-Right (P) | §12.3.10 |
| Recovery Residence | By-Right (P) / Use Permit (U) | §12.3.9 |
| Religious Institutions (Churches, Mosques, etc.) | By-Right (P) | - |
| Schools (Elementary, Middle, High) | Use Permit (U) | §12.4.1 |
| Colleges and Universities | Use Permit (U) | - |
| Hospitals | Use Permit (U) | §12.4.2 |
| Libraries | Use Permit (U) | - |
| Community Centers | Use Permit (U) | - |
Commercial and Industrial Uses
| Use Type | Permission Status | Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Bakeries | By-Right (P) | §12.5.21 |
| Artisan Beverage and Artisan Workshop | By-Right (P) | §12.5.31, §12.5.32 |
| Hotels and Motels | By-Right (P) | §12.5.11 |
| Offices (Medical, Dental, or Professional) | By-Right (P) | §12.5.16 |
| Vehicle Sales, Rental, or Leasing | By-Right (P) / Use Permit (U) | §12.5.29 |
| Building, Heating, or Plumbing Contractors | By-Right (P) | - |
| Printing, Publishing, and Lithography | By-Right (P) | - |
| Plumbing or Sheet Metal Shops | By-Right (P) | §12.6.6 |
| Stone Monument Works | By-Right (P) | §12.6.10 |
[§7.1.2, §8.1.2]
Density and Dimensional Standards
Development in the C-3: General Commercial district must adhere to specific requirements regarding lot size, width, and building height.
| Type of Standard | One-Family Dwellings | Hotels | All Other Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 6,000 sq. ft. | 600 sq. ft. per unit | - |
| Minimum Lot Width | 60 feet | - | - |
| Maximum Height | 35 feet | 75 feet | 75 feet |
| Maximum Floor Area | - | - | Based on compliance* |
*Maximum floor area in the C-3: General Commercial district is determined by compliance with ordinance requirements with no less than nine feet between floors, unless modified by a site plan in specific areas like the Clarendon Revitalization District [§7.19.5].
General Character and Site Development
The C-3: General Commercial district is characterized by urban-scale commercial infrastructure. In Arlington County, these sites are often located along major transit corridors or within designated revitalization districts.
Landscaping and Utilities
- Landscaping: A minimum of 10 percent of the total site area must be landscaped open space in accordance with Arlington County standards [§7.19.6.A].
- Undergrounding: All utility services for new development or redevelopment within the C-3: General Commercial district must be placed underground [§7.19.7].
Clarendon Revitalization District Overlay
When the C-3: General Commercial district is located within the Clarendon Revitalization District, additional regulations apply to the character of the streetscape:
- Entry Doors: Structures must contain functioning entry doors at least every 50 linear feet along the building façade [§9.2.2.B.1].
- Parking Placement: Above-ground parking structures or surface parking must be located behind a structure containing other uses if they are within 120 feet of the centerline of major streets [§9.2.2.B.2].
- Density: The Arlington County Board may approve a density of up to 3.0 F.A.R. via site plan, with optional increases based on the Clarendon Sector Plan [§9.2.2.D.1].
Sections Cited
- §7.1.2 Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Principal Use Table
- §8.1.2 Industrial (M) Districts Principal Use Table
- §9.2.2 C-3 District (Clarendon Revitalization)
- §12.3.9 Recovery Residences
- §12.3.10 One-family detached dwellings
- §12.4.1 Day care uses
- §12.4.2 Hospitals
- §12.5.11 Hotels or motels
- §12.5.16 Offices or clinics, medical or dental
- §12.5.21 Retail, sales uses, outdoor display
- §12.5.29 Vehicle sales, rental and leasing facilities
- §12.5.31 Artisan beverage
- §12.5.32 Artisan workshop
- §12.6.6 Plumbing or sheet metal shops
- §12.6.10 Stone monument works
- §14.2 Landscaping
- §14.3 Parking and Loading
- §7.19.1 C-3 General Commercial District: Purpose
- §7.19.5 C-3 General Commercial District: Density and dimensional standards
- §7.19.6 C-3 General Commercial District: Site development standards
- §7.19.7 C-3 General Commercial District: Additional regulations