R-8 One-Family Dwelling District Regulations in Arlington County
The R-8 One-family Dwelling District in Arlington County is established to provide for low-density residential areas primarily characterized by single-family detached homes on lots with a minimum area of 8,000 square feet. This Arlington County zoning designation maintains a strictly controlled building environment with a maximum height limit of 35 feet and specific building footprint caps to preserve neighborhood scale and open space.
Purpose and General Character
The Arlington County R-8 district is designed to manage the relationship between lot area and the intensity of land use. These regulations are intended to secure safety from fire and other dangers, ensure resident privacy, provide adequate light and air, and prevent the overcrowding of land within Arlington County residential neighborhoods [§3.2.1]. The character of the R-8 district is defined by its low-intensity residential nature, focusing on one-family detached dwellings while allowing for specific institutional and community uses that support a residential environment [§5.5].
Permitted Land Uses
In the R-8 One-family Dwelling District, Arlington County permits several uses by-right (without a special permit) and others only through a special exception process such as a use permit or site plan approval.
Principal Residential and Community Uses
| Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| One-family detached dwellings | Permitted By-right |
| Recovery residences (8 or fewer residents) | Permitted By-right |
| Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples | Permitted By-right |
| Agricultural uses | Permitted By-right |
| Group homes | Use Permit Required |
| Schools (elementary, middle, and high) | Use Permit Required |
| Hospitals | Use Permit Required |
| Libraries, museums, and community centers | Use Permit Required |
| Community swimming pools | Use Permit Required |
| Telecommunications facilities | Permitted By-right / Use Permit |
[Table §5.1.2]
Accessory Uses
Arlington County allows several accessory uses on R-8 properties, provided they are incidental to the primary dwelling. These include:
- Accessory Dwellings: Permitted within or attached to the main dwelling, or in a detached accessory building, subject to strict size and setback standards [§12.9.2].
- Family Day Care Homes: Allowed for up to 12 children, with specific licensing and neighborhood liaison requirements [§12.9.9].
- Home Occupations: Includes professional offices and accessory homestays (short-term rentals), provided no more than 25% of the dwelling is used for the business [§12.9.11, §12.9.12].
- Guest Houses: Permitted for temporary guests but may not be rented as a separate dwelling [§12.9.10].
Density and Dimensional Standards
Arlington County enforces strict dimensional requirements for the R-8 district to ensure uniform development patterns and prevent excessive lot coverage.
Development Standards Table
| Type of Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 8,000 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Lot Width (Average) | 70 feet |
| Maximum Building Height | 35 feet |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 35% |
| Maximum Main Building Footprint | 2,800 sq. ft. |
| Footprint with Front Porch (min. 60 sq. ft.) | 3,136 sq. ft. |
[§5.5.3, §3.2.5.A]
Placement and Setbacks
Structures in the Arlington County R-8 district must adhere to specific setback requirements to maintain the streetscape and buffer between properties.
| Setback Type | Minimum Distance Requirement |
|---|---|
| Front Yard (from Street) | Larger of 50 ft. from centerline or 25 ft. from right-of-way |
| Side Yard | 10 feet (one side may be reduced to 8 feet) |
| Aggregate Side Yard | At least 30% of the total lot width |
| Rear Yard (Interior Lot) | 25 feet |
[§3.2.6.A, §3.2.6.B]
Parking and Loading Requirements
Arlington County requires off-street parking for all residential uses in the R-8 district. These spaces must be constructed and maintained according to specific county standards.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| One-family detached (not on cul-de-sac) | 1 space per dwelling unit |
| One-family detached (on cul-de-sac) | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Accessory Dwelling | 1 additional space (subject to parking surveys) |
| Religious Institutions | 1 space per every 5 sanctuary seats |
[§14.3.7]
Special Development Options
The Arlington County zoning code allows for alternative development forms within the R-8 district under specific conditions:
Expanded Housing Option (EHO)
Subject to a permit from the Zoning Administrator, R-8 lots may be developed with duplexes, semidetached units, or small multiple-family buildings (maximum 6 units). These developments are subject to a maximum site area of 43,560 square feet and specific gross floor area caps (e.g., 4,800 sq. ft. for duplexes) [§10.4.4].
Residential Cluster Development
Arlington County permits the clustering of one-family dwellings on sites between one and two acres. This allows for the preservation of natural landforms or historical features by concentrating building forms while preserving major common open space [§10.3.1, §10.3.3].
Sections Cited
- Article 1. Introductory Provisions
- Article 3. Density and Dimensional Standards
- Article 5. Residential (R) Districts
- Article 10. Unified Developments
- Article 12. Use Standards
- Article 14. Site Development Standards
- Article 18. Definitions