Heavy Manufacturing and Industrial Zoning in Arlington County
Arlington County permits heavy manufacturing and industrial uses primarily within the Industrial (M) districts, specifically the CM (Limited Industrial), M-1 (Light Industrial), and M-2 (Service Industrial) districts. While general manufacturing is permitted by-right across these districts, the most intense "Heavy Industrial" uses, such as asphalt processing and wrecking yards, are restricted to the M-2 district and often require a special exception use permit [Section 8.1.2].
Permitted Industrial Zoning Districts
Arlington County establishes three specific districts for industrial and manufacturing activities, categorized under the Industrial (M) grouping [Section 1.7.1]:
- CM, Limited Industrial District: Intended for light manufacturing, wholesale businesses, and distribution centers [Section 8.2.1].
- M-1, Light Industrial District: Established for light industrial uses with moderate height and density standards [Section 8.3].
- M-2, Service Industrial District: The most permissive district for intense industrial activities, including heavy industrial use types [Section 8.4].
Industrial and Manufacturing Use Permissions
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance distinguishes between "Manufacturing and Production" (medium intensity) and "Heavy Industrial" (high intensity) categories. The following table details the permissions for these uses across the three industrial districts.
Table 1: Industrial and Manufacturing Use Permissions
| Use Category / Specific Use Type | CM District | M-1 District | M-2 District | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing and Production | ||||
| Foundry | P | P | P | §12.6.3 |
| Plumbing or sheet metal shops | P | P | P | §12.6.6 |
| Stone monument works | P | P | P | §12.6.10 |
| All other manufacturing and production uses | P | P | P | §12.6.4 |
| Heavy Industrial | ||||
| Asphalt processing and manufacture | U | |||
| Concrete batching | U | P | ||
| Wrecking and salvage yards | U | §12.6.14 | ||
| All other heavy industrial uses |
KEY: P = Permitted By-Right; U = Requires Use Permit Approval; Blank Cell = Not Permitted [Section 8.1.2].
Density and Dimensional Standards
Development in the Arlington County Industrial (M) districts must adhere to specific standards regarding height, lot area, and Floor Area Ratio (FAR).
Table 2: Industrial District Dimensional Standards
| Type of Standard | CM District | M-1 District | M-2 District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Height (feet) | 45 | 75 | 75 |
| Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Minimum Lot Area (sq. ft.) | — | — | — |
| Minimum Lot Width (feet) | — | — | — |
Note: For hotel uses in the CM district, specific lot area requirements of 600 sq. ft. per unit apply [Section 8.2.3].
Specific Industrial Use Standards and Limitations
Arlington County imposes several operational requirements on industrial uses to mitigate impacts on the community:
Enclosure Requirements
In the Arlington County CM district, all industrial activities must be conducted entirely within a completely enclosed building. Alternatively, they may occur within an area enclosed on all sides by a solid wall or uniformly painted board fence at least six feet in height [Section 12.6.1, Section 12.6.3, Section 12.6.5]. In the M-1 and M-2 districts, specific uses like vehicle repair and machine shops must be confined wholly within a building [Section 12.6.11, Section 12.6.12].
Heavy Industrial Site Standards
Specific "Heavy Industrial" uses must follow additional site standards:
- Wrecking and Salvage Yards: These facilities must not be located within 225 feet of an arterial highway. They must be situated on lots containing at least 25,000 square feet and be surrounded by a wall seven feet high [Section 12.6.14].
- Foundries: These are permitted only if they are limited to casting lightweight nonferrous metals [Section 12.6.3].
- Machine and Tool Repair: In any industrial district, the use of punch presses over 20 tons rate capacity, drop hammers, and automatic screw machines is prohibited [Section 12.6.12].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.7.1, General districts
- Section 8.1.2, Industrial (M) districts principal use table
- Section 8.2.1, Purpose (CM District)
- Section 8.2.3, Density and dimensional standards (CM District)
- Section 8.3.1, Purpose (M-1 District)
- Section 8.3.3, Density and dimensional standards (M-1 District)
- Section 8.4.1, Purpose (M-2 District)
- Section 8.4.3, Density and dimensional standards (M-2 District)
- Section 12.2.6, Industrial Use Categories
- Section 12.6.3, Foundries
- Section 12.6.11, Vehicle storage lots and towing services
- Section 12.6.12, Welding, machine and tool repair shops
- Section 12.6.14, Wrecking and salvage yards
- Section 18.2, General Terms Defined