Permitted Districts for Hotels, Motels, and Lodging in Arlington County
In Arlington County, hotels and motels are primarily concentrated in Commercial/Mixed Use (C) and Industrial (M) districts, often requiring special exception site plan approval to reach maximum density. Smaller-scale lodging, specifically bed and breakfasts, is more widely permitted across Residential (R), Multiple-Family (RA), and Commercial (C) districts subject to a use permit. Most transient lodging units must meet a minimum area requirement of 600 square feet per unit, with guest rooms in hotels and motels requiring a minimum of 240 square feet [§12.5.11, §18.2].
Districts Permitting Hotels and Motels
Arlington County classifies hotels and motels as buildings designed for transient occupancy containing 10 or more guest rooms or suites [§18.2]. These uses are generally permitted in districts intended for high-density mixed-use development or industrial service.
Commercial and Mixed Use (C) Districts
Most hotel development in the Commercial/Mixed Use (C) districts requires "S" (Site Plan Approval) or "U" (Use Permit Approval). The C-O Rosslyn and C-O Crystal City districts are specifically designed to encourage hotel uses as part of coordinated redevelopment [§7.15, §7.16].
| District Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| R-C (Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| RA-H (Hotel District) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| RA-H-3.2 (Multiple-family Dwelling and Hotel) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-1 (Local Commercial) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| MU-VS (Mixed Use Virginia Square) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-O-1.0, C-O-1.5, C-O-2.5, C-O, C-O-A (Mixed Use) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-O Rosslyn (Mixed Use Rosslyn) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-O Crystal City (Mixed Use Crystal City) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-2 (Service Commercial-Community Business) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-TH (Commercial Townhouse) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-3 (General Commercial) | Site Plan Approval (S) |
| C-R (Commercial Redevelopment) | By-Right (P) |
Industrial (M) Districts
Hotels and motels are permitted in select industrial zones in Arlington County to support business and distribution centers.
| District Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| CM (Limited Industrial) | By-Right (P) |
| M-1 (Light Industrial) | By-Right (P) |
Specialized Lodging: Bed and Breakfasts
Arlington County defines a Bed and Breakfast as a one-family dwelling containing five or fewer guest rooms for overnight stays, rented at a daily rate, and operated by a resident owner [§18.2, §12.5.3].
Bed and breakfasts are allowed by Use Permit (U) in nearly every residential and commercial district in Arlington County, including:
- Residential (R) Districts: R-20, R-10, R-10T, R-8, R-6, R-5, R15-30T, and R2-7 [§5.1.2].
- Multiple-Family (RA) Districts: RA14-26, RA8-18, RA7-16, RA6-15, and RA4.8 [§6.1.2, §7.1.2].
- Commercial (C) Districts: R-C, RA-H, RA-H-3.2, C-1-R, C-1, MU-VS, C-1-O, and all C-O variations [§7.1.2].
Lodging Development and Parking Standards
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance mandates specific dimensional and parking requirements to ensure lodging facilities remain compatible with their surroundings.
Dimensional Standards for Hotels
In high-density districts, the maximum density for hotels is often determined by the site area or specific site plan approvals.
| District | Max Density (Units/Acre) | Max Height (Stories/Feet) |
|---|---|---|
| RA-H | N/A | 12 stories / 125 feet |
| C-O-1.0 | 60 | 6 stories |
| C-O-1.5 | 110 | 10–18 stories (Site size dependent) |
| C-O-2.5 | 180 | 16 stories |
| C-O-A | N/A | 100–170 feet (Site size dependent) |
Parking Requirements for Lodging
Parking requirements vary by district and are often calculated per guest room. In Metro station areas, Arlington County may provide exemptions or reductions to encourage transit use.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hotel/Motel (General) | 1 space per guest room [§14.3.7] |
| Hotel (MU-VS District) | 0.7 space per guest room [§7.8.5.A.4] |
| Hotel (C-O District) | 0.7 space per guest room [§12.5.11] |
| Bed and Breakfast | 1 space per guest room + requirements for principal residence [§14.3.7] |
| Hotel (Crystal City) | 0.5 space per guest room [§7.16.5.H] |
Boarding Houses and Rooming Houses
Boarding and rooming houses provide lodging and/or meals for 3 to 9 guests. These are permitted by Use Permit (U) in the following Arlington County districts:
- Residential: R-10, R-8, R-6, R-5, R15-30T, and R2-7 [§5.1.2].
- Multiple-Family: RA8-18 and RA6-15 [§6.1.2]. Note that individual guest rooms in these facilities may not contain kitchens [§12.3.1].
Sections Cited
- §5.1.2 Residential (R) districts principal use table
- §6.1.2 Multiple-family (RA) districts principal use table
- §7.1.2 Commercial/Mixed Use (C) districts principal use table
- §7.8.5 MU-VS Site development standards
- §7.15 C-O Rosslyn, Mixed Use Rosslyn District
- §7.16 C-O Crystal City, Mixed Use Crystal City District
- §8.1.2 Industrial (M) districts principal use table
- §12.3.1 Boarding or rooming houses
- §12.5.3 Bed and breakfasts
- §12.5.11 Hotels or motels
- §14.3.7 Required parking and standing space
- §18.2 General Terms Defined (Hotels, Bed and Breakfast, etc.)