RA7-16 Multiple-Family Dwelling District: Allowed and Prohibited Uses in Arlington County
In Arlington County’s RA7-16 Multiple-family Dwelling District, one-family detached dwellings are permitted by-right, while multiple-family developments, townhouses, and higher-density residential projects generally require site plan approval. This district is primarily residential in nature, allowing for specific public, civic, and institutional uses through special exceptions while strictly prohibiting industrial activities and most forms of general commercial retail.
Allowed Principal Uses in the RA7-16 District
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance classifies allowed uses in the RA7-16 district into several categories. Uses are designated as permitted by-right (P), requiring use permit approval (U), or requiring site plan approval (S). Any use not listed or determined to be similar to an allowed use is prohibited [Section 6.1.2].
Residential Uses
| Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| One-family detached | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.3.10] |
| Duplexes | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Semidetached | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Multiple-family | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Townhouses | Site Plan Approval (S) | |
| Townhouses (Housing Conservation District) | Site Plan Approval (S) | [Section 12.3.8] |
| Townhouses (Langston Boulevard Planning District) | Site Plan Approval (S) | [Section 12.3.8] |
| Independent living facilities | Site Plan Approval (S) | [Section 12.3.12] |
| Recovery residence | Permitted By-Right (P) / Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.3.9] |
| Assisted living facilities | Site Plan Approval (S) | [Section 12.3.12] |
| Continuing care retirement communities | Site Plan Approval (S) | [Section 12.3.12] |
| Dormitories | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.3.3] |
| Fraternity and sorority houses | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.3.5] |
| Group homes | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.3.6] |
| Nursing homes | Site Plan Approval (S) | [Section 12.3.12] |
Public, Civic, and Institutional Uses
| Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | Use Permit (U) | |
| Community centers | Use Permit (U) | |
| Community swimming pool | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.8] |
| Museums and art galleries or studios | Use Permit (U) | |
| Libraries | Permitted By-Right (P) | |
| Recreation centers | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.6] |
| Child care centers | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.1] |
| Hospitals | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.2] |
| Cemeteries | Use Permit (U) | |
| Country clubs and golf courses | Use Permit (U) | |
| Parks, playgrounds and playfields | Use Permit (U) | |
| Bus, trolley, air, boat and rail passenger terminals | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.4] |
| Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples | Permitted By-Right (P) | |
| Schools, elementary, middle and high | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.1] |
| All major utilities | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.4.9] |
| All other minor utilities | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.4.9] |
Other Use Categories
| Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Membership clubs and lodges | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.5.13] |
| Offices, federal, state or local | Use Permit (U) | |
| Offices or clinics, medical or dental | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.5.16] |
| Bed and breakfasts | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.5.3] |
| Open-air markets | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.5.17] |
| Recycling centers | Use Permit (U) | |
| All agricultural uses | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.7.1] |
| Small cell or micro-wireless facilities | Permitted By-Right (P) | |
| Telecommunications facilities | Permitted By-Right (P) / Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.7.2] |
Prohibited Uses in the RA7-16 District
In accordance with the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, any use not explicitly identified as "P", "U", "S", or "C" in the principal use table is not allowed within the RA7-16 district [Section 6.1.2.D]. Notable prohibited uses include:
- Commercial Retail: General retail sales (except open-air markets by permit), drug stores, grocery stores, newsstands, and micro-fulfillment centers are prohibited [Section 6.1.2].
- Industrial: All light and heavy industrial services, manufacturing, production, warehouse, and freight movement uses are strictly prohibited in the RA7-16 district [Section 6.1.2].
- Vehicle Services: Car washes, vehicle body shops, and vehicle sales or leasing facilities are not allowed [Section 6.1.2].
- Corrective Institutions: Social service institutions of a corrective nature are prohibited [Section 6.1.2].
- Food Establishments: Restaurants and artisan beverage production are not permitted as principal uses [Section 6.1.2].
Allowed Accessory Uses
Accessory uses in the RA7-16 district are allowed provided they are clearly incidental and subordinate to a permitted principal use [Section 12.9.1].
| Accessory Use Type | Permission Level | Use Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Accessory dwellings | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.2] |
| Commercial vehicle parking | Permitted By-Right (P) / Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.9.4] |
| Convenience service areas | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.9.5] |
| Family day care homes | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.9] |
| Home occupations | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.11] |
| Homestay, accessory | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.12] |
| Mortuaries and funeral homes | Use Permit (U) | [Section 12.9.14] |
| Private swimming pools | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.17] |
| Recreational vehicle or trailer parking | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.16] |
| Vehicle maintenance/minor repairs | Permitted By-Right (P) | [Section 12.9.18] |
RA7-16 Density and Dimensional Standards
Development within the Arlington County RA7-16 district must adhere to the following by-right standards. These may be modified through the site plan approval process for "Special Exception" developments [Section 6.4.3].
| Standard Category | Multiple-Family (By-Right) | All Other Uses (By-Right) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Site Area | 7,500 sq. ft. | 100,000 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Lot Area | 7,500 sq. ft. | 100,000 sq. ft. |
| Minimum Lot Area per Unit | 1,800 sq. ft. | N/A |
| Minimum Lot Width | 75 feet | 200 feet |
| Maximum Height (Feet) | 35 feet | 95 feet |
| Maximum Height (Stories) | 3.5 stories | 10 stories |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | N/A | 50% |
Sections Cited
- Article 6. Multiple-Family (RA) Districts
- Section 6.1. Multiple-family (RA) Districts Use Tables
- Section 6.4. RA7-16, Multiple-family Dwelling District
- Article 12. Use Standards
- 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 12.9. Accessory Use Standards